Thai Police Respond As Campaigning Politicians Ask For Protection

[webfact]

Police respond as campaigning politicians ask for protection

By The Nation

As many as 199 candidates in the upcoming general election have sought police protection during their campaigns.

Police spokesman MajGeneral Prawut Thawornsiri yesterday disclosed that 400 police officers had been assigned to provide protection.

Two shootings took place on Thursday, and many people believe they were politically motivated.

In the first incident, Mongkhon Weerawatpong was shot dead at a restaurant in Chiang Rai in broad daylight. Mongkhon, a village head, had reportedly supported the Pheu Thai Party.

In the other incident, a gunman opened fire on the house of Bang Bon municipal councillor Wichan Ruangklan, riddling his car with more than 10 bullet holes.

"The shooting took place just minutes after Wichan went indoors. Had he still been outside, he would have suffered serious injuries," former Bangkok MP Sakon Muangsiri said.

Sakon and Wichan are affiliated with the Democrat Party.

Wichan has been campaigning for Sakon's elder brother Pol Colonel Dr Samart Muangsiri. Samart is the Democrat Party's MP candidate in Bangkok's Bang Bon district.

"He has been helping with my election campaign from morning until nightfall. He has no enemies," Samart said.

Prawut said Chiang Rai, Narathiwat and Nakhon Sawan had been marked as provinces needing special attention when it came to possible violence related to the election.

He said Bangkok and 15 other provinces including Samut Prakan and Chon Buri were categorised as needing surveillance but not as much.

Crime Suppression Division spokesman Pol Colonel Prasopchok Prommoon said task forces had been dispatched to provinces with fierce political competition.

"We have prepared investigators who will directly tackle crimes related to the election," he said.

The election will be held on July 3.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva yesterday instructed police to step up security ahead of the election.

"We need to ensure that people can vote without fear," the prime minister said.

Samart said people would feel shaken if even highprofile figures like Wichan could face such direct threats.

In Bangkok yesterday, many policemen took part in a tactical demonstration on how to protect election candidates from acts of violence during their campaigns.

-- The Nation 2011-06-04

[edwinchester]

I wonder who is safer? Those politicians who ask for police protection or those that put their faith in lying down in an open coffin and an amulet?

[timekeeper]

I wonder who is safer? Those politicians who ask for police protection or those that put their faith in lying down in an open coffin and an amulet?

they might try getting one of those tattoos that protects you against sword and gun attacks.............

[JoePai]

Quote ; As many as 199 candidates in the upcoming general election have sought police protection during their campaigns.

What a sad state of affairs - says much about Thailand .....................

[slapout]

I wonder who is safer? Those politicians who ask for police protection or those that put their faith in lying down in an open coffin and an amulet?

they might try getting one of those tattoos that protects you against sword and gun attacks.............

The Thai electorate are the ones who need protection, from both groups who are mentioned.

[SICHONSTEVE]

"He has been helping with my election campaign from morning until nightfall. He has no enemies," Samart said.

Is he sure about that - seems that there is someone out there that doesn't like him to me - if that's anything to go by!!!

[animatic]

Maybe clean up politics by refusing them all any protections. They will gradually kill themselves off, like red blood cells attacking a virus.

[themockrat]

In response to the photo of the initial post ...what exactly was going on there? A real situation? Or just "showing off" as always. May as well drive up with a submarine through the khlong.

[Lite Beer]

228 election candidates seek police protection; 700 campaign billboards vandalised

BANGKOK, June 5 - As the general election in Thailand is less than one month away and competition is running high, a total of 228 candidates from 10 political parties have requested police protection, a Royal Thai Police Bureau spokesman said Sunday. .

Spokesman Pol Maj Gen Prawut Thavornsiri told a press conference that 228 candidates from the North, Northeastern and Central regions representing 10 political parties contesting in the July 3 general election have sought police protection. .

Fierce competition is observed in the election in 37 constituencies of which three of them - in the northernmost province of Chiang Rai, the central province of Nakhon Sawan, and in the troubled-southern province of Narathiwat - have received special attention by police. due to the possibility of extreme violence, said Pol. Maj. Gen. Prawut. .

So far about 700 election campaign billboards which were posted on footpath or main roads had been vandalised, he said. .

.

Pol Maj Gen Prawut urged election candidates not to erect campaign posters or billboards which could obstruct street or walkway traffic. .

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Also, he urged people to stay away from betting on election results, as it was against the law. Violators could face between one to five-year imprisonment, or a maximum fine of Bt200, 000 or both. (MCOT online news).

-- TNA 2011-06-05

[jimbeam1]

Great advertising. Come to Thailand. Land of Smiles.

jb1