Army-police rift widens - Navy commander threatens to sue over 'mistaken identity'

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POLITICS
Army-police rift widens
The Nation


A public health official jokes with protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban during a march yesterday from Pathumwan to Asoke intersections. Public health personnel from all over the country participated in the protest.

Navy commander threatens to sue over 'mistaken identity'

BANGKOK: -- Rifts between the police and the military appeared to be widening yesterday, as the Army commander in chief asked the national police chief to speed up investigation into recent attacks and a senior naval commander threatened to sue the police over allegations that a naval officer was behind the Sunday grenade attack.

Police also failed in their earlier push for an emergency decree to be issued to deal with the growing protest movement, with military commanders saying they saw no need for the decree.

Caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, meanwhile, said yesterday that her government was considering whether to impose the decree, while caretaker Foreign Minister Surapong Towichukchai-kul, who is in charge of the Centre for the Administration of Peace and Order (CAPO), said the law would be invoked if violence continued.

Army commander in chief General Prayuth Chan-ocha, however, said yesterday that he had telephoned national police chief Pol General Adul Sangsingkaew and asked him to ensure that the "society gets clear facts" about the incidents. He has also said the assailants must face legal action and punishment.

Prayuth, in response to criticism that the military has been passive about dealing with the political conflict, said it had already done a lot. He also said the armed forces were not involved in any conflicts with any groups of people.

Meanwhile, Naval Special Warfare commander Rear Admiral Winai Klom-in yesterday threatened to file a lawsuit against the Royal Thai Police if it can be established that the police caused misunderstanding via social media that one of his subordinates had flung a grenade at Victory Monument.

Winai said he believed the police were aware that the distribution of false information - by comparing a Naval Special Warfare Command officer's picture with that of the suspect online - had affected his command.

"The way the police did it could be seen as an attempt to discredit our agency," Winai said, adding that the officer whose face was linked with that of the bomb suspect was on a mission to fight against drug trafficking.

The police yesterday issued a statement confirming that the Navy officer in question was not the one who lobbed a grenade at the Victory Monument protest site. Pol General Ek Angsananont, deputy national police chief, also denied that police had distributed the naval officer's photograph along with the arrest warrant for the bomb suspect.

Checkpoints, jointly manned by police and soldiers, have been set up as part of increased security after a series of attacks targeting protesters and their leaders.

National police chief Adul Sangsingkaew has ordered the setting up of checkpoints and day patrols, CAPO deputy spokesman Pol Maj-General Anucha Romayanant said.

Anucha said the checkpoints would focus on foiling attempts to smuggle weapons into protest areas, adding that the authorities were also working with protest leaders to boost security measures.

Adul also dismissed reports of a conflict between police and the military officers involved in the anti-government rally, which has continued for over two months.

Since December 26, four people have been killed and more than 260 injured in several attacks by unknown assailants, with grenade attacks on Friday and Sunday.

Metropolitan Police officer Pol Colonel Choosak Techarakpong inspected the Victory Monument protest site - which has been targeted several times - with People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) guards to help set up checkpoints. Choosak said uniformed police officers would be sent to maintain security at the protest site and that four checkpoints would be set up around the venue.

He added that up to 40 police would man each checkpoint and as many as 20 would patrol the rally site during the day.


-- The Nation 2014-01-21

[Nowhereman60]

Who is the Army Commander and Chief to tell the police anything. The Army has no control over the police unless General you want to have a coup and take over the police. As for the Navy they are becoming sue happy. They must have a large staff of lawyers.

[chooka]

<deleted>, the Navy wants to sue the police simply because a suspect may be a sailor. This is making Thailand look like a total laughing stock and the biggest asylum on the planet.

[LucidLucifer]

<deleted>, the Navy wants to sue the police simply because a suspect may be a sailor. This is making Thailand look like a total laughing stock and the biggest asylum on the planet.

I agree, totally baa...... , but you need to remember we're in a country where the libel laws forbid you from telling the truth.

[WinnieTheKhwai]

Who is the Army Commander and Chief to tell the police anything. The Army has no control over the police unless General you want to have a coup and take over the police. As for the Navy they are becoming sue happy. They must have a large staff of lawyers.

^ Um, this is still Thailand.

Most other places you'd be right of course.

Edited January 20, 2014 by WinnieTheKhwai

[retsdon]

On the face of it they have a point. You would have thought a simple phone call to the suspect's CO would be enough to establish if the guy had at least the possibility of being the bomber. But of course, this is Thai politics where nobody can trust anyone's word and everyone needs to be considered a potential accomplice to murder. It's like Game Of Thrones out there.

[NongKhaiKid]

In my years of involvement with Thailand, first as tourist then as resident there has always been a lot said about the animosity between the police and army.

I seem to remember many years ago an army Major was arrested, and subsequently convicted, in connection with the murder of a provincial governor in a hotel. He was seen on television laughing insanely which raised doubts as to his sanity but forget he was a murder suspect the army blew a gasket complaining about the insult that he had been arrested in uniform.

The current situation has degenerated into farce and not to be outdone the navy weighs in with threats of the ever popular defamation suit.

T call all concerned children insults youngsters the world over.

[Thait Spot]

The army and navy are quite right here. They are emphasising what most sane people are saying - the police are clearly not doing enough.

As for the photos doing the rounds - if the police issued those then they have a lot to answer for

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[Nowhereman60]

The army and navy are quite right here. They are emphasising what most sane people are saying - the police are clearly not doing enough. As for the photos doing the rounds - if the police issued those then they have a lot to answer for Sent from my Nexus 4 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

Suthep boilroom is now open for business.

[noitom]

This looks like a good fist fight taking shape between the Thai army and the Thai police. Those appointed and paid to hold the peace will be the ones to really bust it up.

[JRSoul]

<deleted>, the Navy wants to sue the police simply because a suspect may be a sailor. This is making Thailand look like a total laughing stock and the biggest asylum on the planet.

No, the Navy wants to sue whoever libelled a serving officer by publishing his photo alongside that of a terrorist because of a mild resemblance and without an iota of proof that he was the man concerned. And in almost any country, they would win the case hands down.

[culicine]

Who is the Army Commander and Chief to tell the police anything. The Army has no control over the police unless General you want to have a coup and take over the police. As for the Navy they are becoming sue happy. They must have a large staff of lawyers.

Because the police are crap and have done NOTHING to enforce the law. They are corrupt and incompetent and an international embarrassment.

[Prbkk]

It's never a good sign when an organisation with power and authority seeks to silence critics and avoid questions by threatening legal action. They tend to lose credibility and respect as a consequence of making the threat, no matter how strong the merits of their point

[15Peter20]

Who is the Army Commander and Chief to tell the police anything. The Army has no control over the police unless General you want to have a coup and take over the police. As for the Navy they are becoming sue happy. They must have a large staff of lawyers.

Because the police are crap and have done NOTHING to enforce the law. They are corrupt and incompetent and an international embarrassment.

The problem is that if the police do their job properly by enforcing the law, there will be the kind of violence that the army requires to step in and perform the coup.

So on the one hand the police aren't doing enough and on the other if they do anything at all it will be too much.

It's like the army saying to the police 'Go ahead...make my day!'

[Somtamnication]

Who is the Army Commander and Chief to tell the police anything. The Army has no control over the police unless General you want to have a coup and take over the police. As for the Navy they are becoming sue happy. They must have a large staff of lawyers.

If I was the police, I would listen. The military have bigger guns.

[millwall_fan]

Who is the Army Commander and Chief to tell the police anything. The Army has no control over the police unless General you want to have a coup and take over the police. As for the Navy they are becoming sue happy. They must have a large staff of lawyers.

^ Um, this is still Thailand.

Most other places you'd be right of course.

The police have done nothing so far because the army wont let them. As Winnie says, T.I.T. The army are a state within a state - in what other country do the army own TV stations, a bank, hotels, golf courses - the police could easily remove these remaining protesters if the army would back the civil power.

[Spalpeen]

When three SEALs were caught red handed at the protest site carrying silenced weapons it put the Navy squarely under suspicion. The 'drugs operation' cover story was obviously bogus.

What's the logic of one taxpayer funded agency suing another? It's just an attempt to intimidate the police. There's an arrest warrant out for a suspect. Let's have his name. The bomber dropped his hat at the scene. Have the SEAL guy give a DNA sample and that would clear him or otherwise.

[iancnx]

Another primary school playground spat!

[gerry1011]

Before we believe what the army says... it's going to take some time.

In 2010, and for years, the army lied about shooting the red shirts.

So let's see who are these bombers....

Sent from my HTC One using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[JRSoul]

When three SEALs were caught red handed at the protest site carrying silenced weapons it put the Navy squarely under suspicion. The 'drugs operation' cover story was obviously bogus.

What's the logic of one taxpayer funded agency suing another? It's just an attempt to intimidate the police. There's an arrest warrant out for a suspect. Let's have his name. The bomber dropped his hat at the scene. Have the SEAL guy give a DNA sample and that would clear him or otherwise.

Earth to wherever you are - I know news travels at only the speed of light, and that takes a long time, but if you read the OP you might see

"The police yesterday issued a statement confirming that the Navy officer in question was not the one who lobbed a grenade at the Victory Monument protest site."

[poisonus]

The police deserve to be sued.

Not only do they sit back and do nothing, people are quite correct to assume that in fact they are helping the attackers by being relaxed over security. I have my own suspicions that they are helping in more ways than that, but that's my opinion.

In the BP today it is reported that the army have issued an alert to the public that there is evidence of weapons and bombs stockpiling in BKK for use against the protesters. If the army know this, then the police know also, so why does it take the army to tell us about it? The police are clearly not interested.

Ko Tee and his red shirt hardcore terrorists has given a deadline for protesters to go home or they will attack them, again it takes the army to denounce the threats and bile coming from that camp while the police and CAPO sit back and stay silent.

When Suthep said they would surround the houses of YL and the cabinet and detain them, the word 'detain' was deliberately changed into 'capture' and 'kidnap' by police chiefs and CAPO and all hell broke loose. Obviously Suthep meant kept in house arrest. But the police and CAPO went way over the top in their condemnation.

People have died, and not once have the police or CAPO voiced a single syllable of condemnation. They have clearly shown their bias and it does not sit with the people.

It is no surprise that the rift between the pigs and the army is widening, and it could not come at a better time. The police are beefing up their numbers with 100 police minivans and 15 police buses being moved into central BKK and pictures of hundreds of police in riot style stormtrooper uniforms amassing at police HQ.

Today and tomorrow could prove to be the decisive days to bring this to an end.

The government and police WILL come out second best. The red shirts will come out worst if they try it.

BRING IT ON!!

Edited January 21, 2014 by poisonus

[Orac]

I have seen a couple of rumours that the Navy Commander is related to Suthep though I would be surprised if true as would have thought the media would mention it.

Sent from my iPad using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[chooka]

The police deserve to be sued.

Not only do they sit back and do nothing, people are quite correct to assume that in fact they are helping the attackers by being relaxed over security. I have my own suspicions that they are helping in more ways than that, but that's my opinion.

In the BP today it is reported that the army have issued an alert to the public that there is evidence of weapons and bombs stockpiling in BKK for use against the protesters. If the army know this, then the police know also, so why does it take the army to tell us about it? The police are clearly not interested.

Ko Tee and his red shirt hardcore terrorists has given a deadline for protesters to go home or they will attack them, again it takes the army to denounce the threats and bile coming from that camp while the police and CAPO sit back and stay silent.

When Suthep said they would surround the houses of YL and the cabinet and detain them, the word 'detain' was deliberately changed into 'capture' and 'kidnap' and all hell broke loose. Obviously Sutheo meant kept in house arrest. But the police and CAPO went way over the top in their condemnation.

People have died, and not once have the police or CAPO voiced a single syllable of condemnation. They have clearly shown their bias and it does not sit with the people.

It is no surprise that the rift between the pigs and the army is widening, and it could not come at a better time. The police are beefing up their numbers with 100 police minivans and 15 police buses being moved into central BKK and pictures of hundreds of police in riot style stormtrooper uniforms amassing at police HQ.

Today and tomorrow could prove to be the decisive days to bring this to an end.

The government and police WILL come out second best. The red shirts will come out worst if they try it.

BRING IT ON!!

There is a rumour that they have offered 500Kbt for the identity of the bombing suspect. Just what my wife told me. So if true they are definitely trying

[whybother]

When three SEALs were caught red handed at the protest site carrying silenced weapons it put the Navy squarely under suspicion. The 'drugs operation' cover story was obviously bogus.

What's the logic of one taxpayer funded agency suing another? It's just an attempt to intimidate the police. There's an arrest warrant out for a suspect. Let's have his name. The bomber dropped his hat at the scene. Have the SEAL guy give a DNA sample and that would clear him or otherwise.

Go back and read the news about the three "SEALS". They weren't caught at the protest site. They were picked up somewhere else well away from the protests and they happened to have guard IDs.

[MaxLee]

"Meanwhile, Naval Special Warfare commander Rear Admiral Winai Klom-in yesterday threatened to file a lawsuit against the Royal Thai Police if it can be established that the police caused misunderstanding via social media that one of his subordinates had flung a grenade at Victory Monument."

Through social media we see EVERYTHING, Mr. Chief Admiral. If you want to blame someone or something, blame the Internet and all the social media, for making your Navy lose face.

[whybother]

here is a rumour that they have offered 500Kbt for the identity of the bombing suspect. Just what my wife told me. So if true they are definitely trying

It's not rumour. It is being widely reported in the news.

[poisonus]

There is a rumour that they have offered 500Kbt for the identity of the bombing suspect. Just what my wife told me. So if true they are definitely trying

Did it ever cross your mind that they are hoping that someone with links to the PDRC ends up being exposed because they already have connections within the red camp that have told them it wasn't them? So they are pinning their hopes on it being from the protester side and are desperate to get it exposed??

Because we all know the police are linked directly to Ko Tee and the main red shirt hard cores.

[whybother]

It's never a good sign when an organisation with power and authority seeks to silence critics and avoid questions by threatening legal action. They tend to lose credibility and respect as a consequence of making the threat, no matter how strong the merits of their point

They're not trying to "silence critics". They have shown that the navy officer wasn't the bomber, and they want to sue the police if they were the source of the false reports.

[poisonus]

"Meanwhile, Naval Special Warfare commander Rear Admiral Winai Klom-in yesterday threatened to file a lawsuit against the Royal Thai Police if it can be established that the police caused misunderstanding via social media that one of his subordinates had flung a grenade at Victory Monument."

Through social media we see EVERYTHING, Mr. Chief Admiral. If you want to blame someone or something, blame the Internet and all the social media, for making your Navy lose face.

<deleted>, the navy knew that pictures were used that only the police have access to apart from themselves, that is why they KNOW the police planted the pictures on the social media.

[nickoffskiov]

this is tit so the bomb thrower is more likely to be a doctor/worker from one of the nearby hospitals