Police officer shot dead during Bangkok protests: hospital

[aaacorp]

This is what happens when police are ordered to violently attack protesters.

Yet another classic backfire and you know who to blame here.

Police were firing live rounds as well as rubber bullets and another life is claimed.

Rest in peace.

Police: Stop the aggression and you will avoid this.

So nothing will be ever done wrong by mad dog Suthep and some of his followers? l one protester die and it s police fault. One red shirt burn in a bus set by protester it s police fault and now a policeman get shot in the chest ( so from somebody in front pf him and it is still police fault....

You re amazing

[Thait Spot]

Load of <deleted>..... you are try to tell ME what my country would do to protesters?

You don't go shooting tear gas and rubber bullets and live rounds at people who are just 'pushing and shoving' there way into places.

Go get educated.

In Sweden, for example, a demonstrator was shoot in the back with live ammo for just throwing rocks at the police. And he was not disrupting any democratic process. Shooting a police offer dead in any European country or in the states would automatically mean live shots being fired directly in to the masses.

You know for a fact who did it?

Or are you just another kangaroo in a wig?

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[rogerdee123]

The first one to die at the hands of the protesters now criminal charges for murder must be placed against Suthep. Brave policeman RIP

Well everyone hates to see anyone killed but this was bound to happen sooner or later. There will undoubtedly be more deaths and injuries.

Yingluck better get prepared because she will eventually be charged with murder also ... just like Suthep .. and Apiset ..... when the first protester is killed.

Much if not most of this political violence from 2008 until now and including injuries and deaths in the next several weeks is the product of her brother's greed and revenge.

[fab4]

Actually, the only reason the senate rejected the bill is because of the protests. If it wasn't for the protests, the senate would have passed it. As it was, it was rejected, but that just meant it could have been passed by the lower house after a 180 day delay. Then the government dissolved parliament, basically killing the bill off.

The protests worked.

You seem very sure of yourself. Do you have a hot line to members of the Senate?

Protesters took to the streets on the 4th November. On 5th November the Government said they would drop the bill if the Senate rejected it. On the 6th November the Senate Speaker said that the majority of the Senate would likely reject the bill. On the 7th November the BBC had this to say

After the 2006 coup the new constitution turned the Senate into a semi-appointed body, in the hope of diluting the influence of political parties. But it has still rarely challenged the incumbent government.

Much the same was expected to happen with the amnesty bill. But the Senate president has already announced that most senators will reject the bill in its current form.

Whether this defiance is down to the escalating public opposition to the bill or to the convictions of the senators themselves is not clear. They are due to start debating it on 8 November.

[soi41]

Funny old world isn't it??

Normally amongst the posters here police are descriped as the scum of the earth, now one of them managed to get himself shot, and suddenly he becomes a brave hero fighting for democratic rights??

All the same, I feel very sorry for the family, he left behind!

[gerry1011]

The saddest thing is that Suthep, who incites the people to commit all kinds of wrongdoings during these protests against an elected government and the will of the majority of the Thai people, will be very quick to hold "anyone else" responsible for this additional death.

How could anyone justify this additional death, or suggest that the death of this policeman was "necessary" or "unavoidable" in a fight to topple democracy?
This new round of protests is completely irrational. Criminal.
The reds decided to stop their rally after the first day of violence, in a very wise move aimed at trying to avoid more injuries.
It is a shame that Suthep will, most probably, never stop, at any cost, be it 4 or 1000 deaths...
Suthep has no conscience. He should be the one that left this world, instead of the policeman.

[metisdead]

Inflammatory troll posts have been removed as well as the replies. Apologies to those who took the effort to reply.

[xminator]

The first one to die at the hands of the protesters now criminal charges for murder must be placed against Suthep. Brave policeman RIP

No should be brought against Yingluck

Abhisit and Suthep are charged with murder for the 2010

So turn about is fair play and the current leader should now be charged with murder ... "Now boarding flight 666 destination Dubai"

Just my opinion

Don't play stupid. You know why Abhisit and Suthep is charged with murder. Military deployed as riot control fully armed with assault rifles and issued live rounds. That is NOT international standards for riot control.

Have you seen soldiers doing riot controll this time? No? If this kind of "demonstrations" had taken place in even peacefull nordic contries, there would be tear gas, water cannons, police horses and dogs, arrests where leaders would be held for weeks in holding cells.

Also remember that Thailand is a country where police do carry firearms. As far as I have seen the riot police is not issued with them, again in accordance with international standards of riot control (the idea is not for riot safety, but because firearms can be seized by the mob and used against the police).

[MMarlow]

The first one to die at the hands of the protesters now criminal charges for murder must be placed against Suthep. Brave policeman RIP

Who shot him?

[MMarlow]

Murdering policemen is no big thing amongst the Ferrari-driving Thai elite so I doubt it will change the tactics of Suthep.

What you're probably thinking of wasn't murder.

[philw]

This is what happens when police are ordered to violently attack protesters.

Yet another classic backfire and you know who to blame here.

Police were firing live rounds as well as rubber bullets and another life is claimed.

Rest in peace.

Police: Stop the aggression and you will avoid this.

I suppose you will say the same thing when a protester gets shot, right? It was their fault... if they hadn't been protesting, they wouldn't have been shot... stop protesting if you want to avoid this, etc... You will apply the same blaming-the-victim mentality when a protester dies, right?

That's probably outside his remit, at 17 posts a day since joining......

[metisdead]

A flame post has been removed.

[MMarlow]

The first one to die at the hands of the protesters now criminal charges for murder must be placed against Suthep. Brave policeman RIP

Try not to be silly please

Why is that a silly comment? Please enlighten me.

How about because it's based on pure speculation?

[Somtamnication]

The sad thing is that actual shooter will never be known. He just got away for killing someone's father and husband.

This country has a long way to understand and **want** true democracy.

[haroldc]

First, I offer my condolences to the family, friends, and associates of the police officer who was killed. At this point, the details of the shooting are still unknown and there are reports that a number of protestors also have been shot with live ammunition. Regardless of who was responsible, the loss of anyone's life should not be demeaned by being used to promote a political agenda.

I would like to make one observation. I am fluent in spoken and written Thai at a near-native level. I listen to the speeches given by Khun Suthep (and CAPO, the UDD, etc), and Khun Suthep consistently says that protestors must be absolutely non-violent. Prior to the 9 December demonstration, for example, he told people that they should bring food and water with them as most shops would likely to be closed. And then he said that if they brought fruit, they should cut and peel it at home because they should not even bring a fruit-knife.

Human beings have different emotional makeups, police and protestors included. In the heat of anger, some people forget their duties, responsibilities, and even their morality. And there is always the possibility that apolitical mercenaries may be involved.

I am an old man, so Thailand's future is not my future. It is, however, the future of my wife and my four children, all of whom are Thai citizens.

[meechai]

The sad thing is that actual shooter will never be known. He just got away for killing someone's father and husband.

This country has a long way to understand and **want** true democracy.

Actually I think they may have already grabbed him

[MMarlow]

.

Well considering several media reports that have declared as soon as protesters opened the gates they were shot at with tear gas and rubber bullets. The pictures are there to back it up.

Don't you think it very strange that after all the restraint the police decide to launch into a violent offensive totally out of the blue and a police officer ends up being shot? I think it very strange..... almost like the whole thing was staged from the start.

Let's just say that the evidence points more to a propaganda stunt than what it is actually attempting to portray.

Unless any of us were there and saw it with our own eyes then none of us know what happened. We can only postulate.

...or even SPECulate.

...or even speculate. Or even both.

[ginjag]

The first one to die at the hands of the protesters now criminal charges for murder must be placed against Suthep. Brave policeman RIP

Who shot him?

Yes who shot him. Friendly fire, hostile protester, outside element to fan the flames, Government supporter, OR was a policeman actually killed. We have no idea yet and maybe we will never know. Similar to so many events in 2010, we will never know because so much is covered up- sorry but it seems like an everyday happening here. Any photo's of evidence of the scene ??? doubt we will see any.

[Curt1591]

Unfortunately, in this seemingly never ending conflict, there is plenty more of this crap to come.

[Spare]

The sad thing is that actual shooter will never be known. He just got away for killing someone's father and husband.

This country has a long way to understand and **want** true democracy.

Actually I think they may have already grabbed him

Is this real photo or another one of those Red shirt photo shop?

Why, like the PAD (Yellow shirt) incident a few years back, the shooter was also photograph with the portrait behind; very very similar (SEE ATTACHED)

Edited December 26, 2013 by Spare

[ratcatcher]

The first one to die at the hands of the protesters now criminal charges for murder must be placed against Suthep. Brave policeman RIP

No should be brought against Yingluck

Abhisit and Suthep are charged with murder for the 2010

So turn about is fair play and the current leader should now be charged with murder ... "Now boarding flight 666 destination Dubai"

Just my opinion

Don't play stupid. You know why Abhisit and Suthep is charged with murder. Military deployed as riot control fully armed with assault rifles and issued live rounds. That is NOT international standards for riot control.

Have you seen soldiers doing riot controll this time? No? If this kind of "demonstrations" had taken place in even peacefull nordic contries, there would be tear gas, water cannons, police horses and dogs, arrests where leaders would be held for weeks in holding cells.

Also remember that Thailand is a country where police do carry firearms. As far as I have seen the riot police is not issued with them, again in accordance with international standards of riot control (the idea is not for riot safety, but because firearms can be seized by the mob and used against the police).

"Military deployed"

Ask yourself, why were the military there?

If the answer is "Because the police were otherwise occupied, maybe golfing or watching TV", then you have the answer. But then, you were here in 2010 so you would know that.

This time it is the police vs protesters and the army has no need to be involved...........at least not just yet.

If you must compare Thailand to "peaceful Nordic countries" then can we assume those countries are also governed by a corrupt family dynasty bent on bringing the country to its financial knees?

This whole situation is being fought out by people much more powerful than either Yingluck or Suthep and we will never see them.

[Ned]

BBC is reporting that the pioliceman and others were shot by the protestors. It also reported that soldiers were present inside the stadium and stood around watching procedings.

Looks like a military takeover is on the cards very soon.

[beautifulthailand99]

The Reds have stayed their hand for a while - heres a reasonable account in the Wall St Journal - they wont accept the derailing of the elections and are saying they will come out on the streets.

http://blogs.wsj.com/searealtime/2013/12/26/qa-a-red-shirt-leader-weighs-in-on-thailands-unfolding-drama/

[Bluespunk]

BBC is reporting that the pioliceman and others were shot by the protestors. It also reported that soldiers were present inside the stadium and stood around watching procedings.

Looks like a military takeover is on the cards very soon.

Just read the BBC report and they didn't say any such thing in the report I read. Which report says this? I know they try to keep news up to date and accurate so may have missed the one where they say the protestors were shooting at police and others.

[noikrit]

For all the TV Detectives ... Latest from Police .... QUOTE ....
A preliminary investigation found that gunshots were fired from a building near the Thai-Japanese stadium into the protest site, he said, adding that a senior police officer, Pol Gen Charamporn Suramanee, was assigned to conduct first-hand investigation...... Still early days but seems an investigation by the Police has comenced ........ Condolences to the Officers Family .....

[Ricardo]

BBC is reporting that the pioliceman and others were shot by the protestors. It also reported that soldiers were present inside the stadium and stood around watching procedings.

Looks like a military takeover is on the cards very soon.

Just read the BBC report and they didn't say any such thing in the report I read. Which report says this? I know they try to keep news up to date and accurate so may have missed the one where they say the protestors were shooting at police and others.

Just saw a story at the BBC's website, which says "A police officer was killed earlier in clashes with protesters trying to stop parties registering for the poll".

Agree that it does not say how he was killed, or by whom, or mention soldiers inside a stadium.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-25517281

Hopefully Ned will provide a link, to the report he describes in his post.

[pisico]

RIP.

Nowhere did I read he was shot by protesters, but I do hope the individual pays for their crime.

Do you need a video and a signed confession to surmise who did it?

Maybe, as my Anti-Thaksinista-yellow-democrat-Thai friends always explain such cases when their camp is at fault: "It was an accident! Like when Se Dang was assassinated by a high velocity bullet of a sniper." The retired general Se Dang "accidentally walked into the trajectory of the sniper's bullet.! Oh dear! Thainess has no logic to it!

[ginjag]

Maybe I missed the announcement as to who the police officer was, NAME-TOWN-FAMILY...rank. Died from a gunshot/gunshots ???? shot to what part of the body that caused the death. ??? is it too early for the info to be released.

Excuse me if these details have been published. I only read that for half an hour they tried to revive/save him.

[metisdead]

Troll posts and replies have been removed.

[Nowhereman60]

Where is Suthep while all this is happening. Have not heard of word from him since the officer was shot. Usually he got his big mouth running by now telling lies about the situation.