Pathum Thani Police Chief Shifted Over Raid On Slum Dwellers

[webfact]

Police chief shifted over raid on slum dwellers

By The Nation

Pathum Thani police chief was transferred yesterday for failing to prevent a raid on Sunday by 200 "men in black" on homes of villagers on a large plot of land north of Bangkok. It was allegedly funded by an influential businessman.

Pol Maj General Watthana Khetsamut was accused of failing to pre-empt the attack by the armed men on a number of shelters built on the land plot, sold recently sold to millionaire businessman Thammanas Phromphao.

The land is the former site of a garment factory located off Phaholyothin Road in Pathum Thani. An arrest warrant has been issued for Thammanas for allegedly ordering of the attack, which involved around 200 raiders, and poor villagers from the Council of People from Four Regions.

An unnamed aide close to Thammanas is also wanted on another warrant for his role in the attack, which ended with two people wounded.

The raiders and people who had built shelters on the block clashed in an hour-long fight in which clubs and batons were used against farming tools and kitchen knives. Shots were also fired.

As seen on TV news footage, the raid was coordinated in a military style with many homes set on fire after the 200 men arrived in vehicles and on foot.

Thammanas is a former Army captain who resigned and turned to running several businesses.

He bought the 616-rai plot for Bt3.2 billion from Thai Asset Management Corp. After paying a deposit of Bt320 million in May, eviction orders were announced to residents - poor villagers from the provinces who came to Bangkok and camped on the plot for months.

Thammanas and his aide have been charged with arson and possession of firearms without permission.

Watthana, speaking earlier yesterday before learning of his transfer, said another 10 men would be apprehended pending arrest warrants.

Yesterday, a team of 200 police entered the compound and interviewed 20 guards employed by Thammanas who were stationed there after the raid. They were photographed and had their identity and personal details recorded.

Arrest warrants were approved late yesterday for another two unnamed suspects.

-- The Nation 2011-07-05

[OzMick]

Police chief transferred for not predicting that....................... I didn't know that clairvoyance was a job requisite.

[londonthai]

probably there was intelligence about the planned attack, but he failed to act on it.

he allowed the battle, with gunfight and homes on fire, to last for 1h and yet nobody was arrested on the spot.

with billions of B on stake, he, most probably, turned blind eye on what was happening

[RogueExpat]

A bit of a dilemma really.

The land doesn't belong to the slummers, they didn't have permission to be there, they were asked to leave, they wouldn't, they were forcebly evicted. In reality, where's the problem?

And then some bleeding heart lefty decides to make an issue out of it, and the police chief becomes the sacrificial lamb, when more than likely, he was just stuck in between parties, and his conscience was telling him not to let illegal trespassers impede progress.

Whether he had prior knowledge, or not, is debateable IMO, however, the problem of the illegal trespassers was solved in one swoop. Otherwise it could have taken years, and countless more headaches for the police chief, to remove them.

[londonthai]

In reality, where's the problem?

And then some bleeding heart lefty decides to make an issue out of it, and the police chief becomes the sacrificial lamb

the problem is 2 wounded, 14 arrest warrants, including the new owner of the land and his aide.

it was not some bleeding lefty, who decided to move the cop, but his superior, whom it's difficult to call a man of a social compassion. Because of the swift action of his superior, the cop was probably acting against the rules or against orders.

Edited July 5, 2011 by londonthai

[champken]

Why is it that if a Thai cop does wrong and by that i mean almost anything, he is only ever transferred and not sacked or prosecuted?

[Thaddeus]

Thammanas is a former Army captain who resigned and turned to running several businesses.

He bought the 616-rai plot for Bt3.2 billion from Thai Asset Management Corp.

My god, I didn't know that being an Army Captain paid so well, how long ago did he resign?

[evanson]

probably there was intelligence about the planned attack, but he failed to act on it.

he allowed the battle, with gunfight and homes on fire, to last for 1h and yet nobody was arrested on the spot.

with billions of B on stake, he, most probably, turned blind eye on what was happening

He'd 'most probably' (ah the naivety) been paid off beforehand. And there's certainly at least one top cop who should be 'shifted' in my neck of the woods ...

[cdnvic]

One post containing a personal attack deleted.

[otherstuff1957]

"millionaire businessman Thammanas Phromphao" has been in the news before:

Klong Toei vendors, concessionaire employees clash By The Nation Published on March 24, 2009

A quick quote for those who don't like to click on links:

an ice vendor, alleged that the attack was led by a senior official of the firm called Thammanas Phromphao and said many police officers stood by idly and did nothing to stop the men from attacking the vendors.

[relidiousenut]

Why is it that if a Thai cop does wrong and by that i mean almost anything, he is only ever transferred and not sacked or prosecuted?

I think its called suspended pending enquiry

[Pattel]

As I understand it he paid a 320M Baht deposit. That normally equates to your intent to buy the land at a later date.

So he paid a group of thugs to clear squatters off land that he does not yet own.

[webfact]

Police Transferred for Failure to Prevent Violent Eviction

Pathumtani Province police officers requested arrest warrants for those responsible for a fire attack and a brawl between a group of poor rural people and the owner of a piece of land.

Meanwhile, the police commander of the district in question has been punished for failing to stop the chaos from taking place.

National Police Spokesperson, Police Major General Prawut Tawonsiri, reported that the national police chief has ordered that Pathumthani Provincial Police Commander, Police Major General Wattana Ketsamutr, transferred to an inactive post as punishment for failing to prevent a clash between a group calling themselves the Northeastern people's network and 200 men dressed in black hired to evict them.

The dispute came after squatters encroached on the 616-rai plot of land where the company Thai Melon Polyester had shut down its operations.

They built dwellings on the land and were carrying out systematic agricultural activity.

Many of the poor people claimed they were threatened and told to relocate or face arson.

Meanwhile, Klong Luang Police Station's investigators have requested an arrest warrant for Police Captain Tammanat Prompao, along with a 48 year old unidentified man, for hiring thugs to use violence and arson attacks to evict the squatters .

Police Major General Prawut added that police officers will bring the culprits to justice as the case is extremely serious.

-- Tan Network 2011-07-05

[mccw]

The injured will probably get paid a puny sum not to press charges and all will b forgotten. I've seen many cases in the media where the victim get reparations early on and then at court the judge takes it in to account and just slaps a little fine on the purportrator but nothing much more.

Basically they shouldn't b on the land though. Only there for a matter of "months" so not even an established community with roots. They should of moved when told.

[EyesWideOpen]

I can see why the army is fighting to keep control, if an army captain on perhaps a 40,000 baht a month salary can pony up 3.2 billion baht to buy land.....

This story is shades of Chuwit clearing out the people on his property on Sukumvit a few years ago. Still strange though. From the story it sounds like they were squatters, seems simple enough for an extremely wealthy Thai to get them to move using the police. Hiring thugs to burn them out seems a bit over the top. Maybe he was trying to copy Chuwit?? :-)

[Britannia]

This little bit should make some of the posters think again about some of their comments

Meanwhile, Klong Luang Police Station's investigators have requested an arrest warrant for Police Captain Tammanat Prompao, along with a 48 year old unidentified man, for hiring thugs to use violence and arson attacks to evict the squatters .

Police Major General Prawut added that police officers will bring the culprits to justice as the case is extremely serious.

[tingtongfarang]

This little bit should make some of the posters think again about some of their comments

Meanwhile, Klong Luang Police Station's investigators have requested an arrest warrant for Police Captain Tammanat Prompao, along with a 48 year old unidentified man, for hiring thugs to use violence and arson attacks to evict the squatters .

Police Major General Prawut added that police officers will bring the culprits to justice as the case is extremely serious.

Police Major General Prawut added that police officers will bring the culprits to justice and will be transferred as the case is extremely serious.

[otherstuff1957]

<br />I can see why the army is fighting to keep control, if an army captain on perhaps a 40,000 baht a month salary can pony up 3.2 billion baht to buy land..... <br /><br <br /><br /><br />

<br /><br /><br />

He's actually a Police Captain, not an Army Captain. The Thai police use military ranks for their officers.

[ginjag]

Why is it that if a Thai cop does wrong and by that i mean almost anything, he is only ever transferred and not sacked or prosecuted?

Inactive post, I think he will be transferred to. H Ha. Because he was INACTIVE.

The reason being not sacked is he will have paid for his position and if sacked he would reveal who he paid.............usually his boss B)

[Britannia]

Why is it that if a Thai cop does wrong and by that i mean almost anything, he is only ever transferred and not sacked or prosecuted?

Inactive post, I think he will be transferred to. H Ha. Because he was INACTIVE.

The reason being not sacked is he will have paid for his position and if sacked he would reveal who he paid.............usually his boss B)

No really? Police paying for their job, I dont believe that, why that would be criminal