Public Health officials told to be on alert: February 2 election

[webfact]

Public Health officials told to be on alert
Pongphon Sarnsamak,
Suriyan Panyawai
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Public Health Ministry has instructed its officials to be on the alert for violent incidents ahead of the February 2 election.

Dr Narong Sahametapat, the ministry's permanent secretary, Tuesday ordered the heads of provincial public health offices in 18 provinces to be on the look out for clashes and be ready to provide emergency medical attention to the injured.

The Public Health Ministry's deputy permanent secretary, Dr Wachira Pengjuntr, said he had been monitoring the rallies led by the People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) in 18 provinces and so far, no casualties had been reported, although in Phatthalung, public health officials have had to move to another office.

"Some provincial public health offices have been shut, while some officials have moved to work in other places. The protesters are just making symbolic moves," he said.

Dr Narong Apikulwanich, chief of the ministry's emergency medical services operation, said his agency has not received any reports of violence during the PDRC rally to shut down several government offices in Bangkok, such as the Government Savings Bank and Export-Import Bank.

As many as 272 people have been injured and four killed in violent clashes since December 26. Up to 25 of the injured are still being treated in hospital.


-- The Nation 2014-01-21

[Scamper]

" Dr Narong Sahametapat, the ministry's permanent secretary, Tuesday ordered the heads of provincial public health offices in 18 provinces to be on the look out for clashes and be ready to provide emergency medical attention to the injured. "

A nice sentence to keep in mind for those that felt Dr. Narong was out of keeping for expressing his political point of view, as it clearly has not impeded his role in the ministry.

[Sunderland]

The earlier notice seemed premature on a day of relative calm, but with a state of emergency being imposed from midnight, it could get ugly tomorrow. The next 24-48 hours will determine how strong the anti-government feeling really is. Are people really ready to die for the cause?

[EricBerg]

The earlier notice seemed premature on a day of relative calm, but with a state of emergency being imposed from midnight, it could get ugly tomorrow. The next 24-48 hours will determine how strong the anti-government feeling really is. Are people really ready to die for the cause?

It's not about if people are ready to die for the cause, it's more about if people are ready to kill for the cause. Regretfully the answer is yes, some are ready to kill and will kill as some already did.

[webfact]

POLITICS
Public Health officials told to be on alert
Pongphon Sarnsamak,
Suriyan Panyawai
The Nation


File Photo

Agencies ready for emergencies; red cross urges Protesters not to use its emblem

BANGKOK: -- THE PUBLIC Health Ministry has instructed its officials to be on the alert for violent incidents ahead of the February 2 election.

Dr Narong Sahametapat, the ministry's permanent secretary, yesterday ordered the heads of provincial public health offices in 18 provinces to be on the look out for clashes and be ready to provide emergency medical attention to the injured.

Separately, the Thai Red Cross Society yesterday warned medical workers against using the Red Cross symbol when joining PDRC rallies, saying that the misuse of the emblem would violate the society's universal principle of impartiality and humanitarianism.

The Red Cross issued its warning on Faceook, saying that people from all walks of life have the right to express their political opinion, but they should not use the Red Cross emblem as it would create a misunderstanding about the Thai Red Cross Society's principle of impartiality. Members of the public are also encouraged to call the 1664 hotline in case they find the Red Cross flag being misused.

The Red Cross move came after a group of medical workers joined a PDRC march from Siam Discovery Centre to the Asoke intersection, with some of them holding Red Cross flags.

Meanwhile, the Public Health Ministry's deputy permanent secretary, Dr Wachira Pengjuntr, said yesterday he had been monitoring the rallies led by the People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) in 18 provinces and so far, no casualties had been reported, although in Phatthalung, public health officials have had to move to another office.

"Some provincial public health offices have been shut, while some officials have moved to work in other places. The protesters are just making symbolic moves," he said.

Dr Narong Apikulwanich, chief of the ministry's emergency medical services operation, said his agency has not received any reports of violence during the PDRC rally to shut down several government offices in Bangkok, such as the Government Savings Bank and Export-Import Bank.

As many as 272 people have been injured and four killed in violent clashes since December 26. Up to 25 of the injured are still being treated in hospital. Dr Panpimol Wipulakorn, deputy director of the Mental Health Department, said the ongoing political turmoil has been stressful for many people, especially those living near the protest sites and those closely following the news reports.

Echoing the Red Cross warning, Medical Council of Thailand president Dr Somsak Lohlekha has issued a warning for medical workers to properly express their political opinions after a group of medical workers who joined a PDRC protest held up a banner reading "I left patients to overthrow Yingluck".

"Medical workers should not do anything that would violate the code of conduct and destroy the image of doctors," he said.


-- The Nation 2014-01-22

[chooka]

red cross urges Protesters not to use its emblem

Yea and if these people give a <deleted> about the Red Cross they are bearing their naked <deleted> at the Red Cross and laughing their tits off. They shut down a major Red Cross fund raising in an attempt to help Suthep and don't give a <deleted> about the red cross unless they want something for free.

Who knows maybe the international Red Cross has now got involved and joined forces with the madman Suthep, last time I will be donating to them or giving blood if they start joining forces with lunatics.

Edited January 21, 2014 by chooka

[h90]

red cross urges Protesters not to use its emblem

Yea and if these people give a <deleted> about the Red Cross they are bearing their naked <deleted> at the Red Cross and laughing their tits off. They shut down a major Red Cross fund raising in an attempt to help Suthep and don't give a <deleted> about the red cross unless they want something for free.

Who knows maybe the international Red Cross has now got involved and joined forces with the madman Suthep, last time I will be donating to them or giving blood if they start joining forces with lunatics.

The international Red Cross that visit the KZs for Hitler and Guantanamo for Bush and didn't found anything to complain?

[wirat69]

.... but where did all these flags come from. They look quite similar to the flags regularly used by The Thai Red Cross Society on numerous occasions, including The Red Cross Fair et al... and school parades...

ALL of it is an abuse of the protected emblem of the International Committee of the Red Cross, based in Geneva and consisting of 12 Swiss citizens. It's primary use is for times of war or conflict to denote protected buildings and personnel. Its use is protected by the Geneva Conventions and domestic ratifying legislation.

"Paradoxical" springs to mind.

So The Thai Red Cross Society, who "teach by example", considers it fine to misuse the protected Red Cross emblem very multiple times daily, allow others in the Kingdom to do likewise and then protest when medical staff protesters follow their own extremely poor example....

... and The Thai Red Cross Society are charged with the responsibility to expunge misuse of the protected Red Cross emblem through legislation and through their own Constitution,.,.,,

Or is that a dichotomy?

[RubbaJohnny]

Parochial poorly educated demonstrators perhaps do not understandthe protocol.

Therefore the ICRC needs to make it very clear to those who do what is required.

To compromise the independence of the Red Cross is a most unfortunate side effect of ignorance.A brief glance at the website may help.Odd use of John Lennon's work also.

[chooka]

.... but where did all these flags come from. They look quite similar to the flags regularly used by The Thai Red Cross Society on numerous occasions, including The Red Cross Fair et al... and school parades...

ALL of it is an abuse of the protected emblem of the International Committee of the Red Cross, based in Geneva and consisting of 12 Swiss citizens. It's primary use is for times of war or conflict to denote protected buildings and personnel. Its use is protected by the Geneva Conventions and domestic ratifying legislation.

"Paradoxical" springs to mind.

So The Thai Red Cross Society, who "teach by example", considers it fine to misuse the protected Red Cross emblem very multiple times daily, allow others in the Kingdom to do likewise and then protest when medical staff protesters follow their own extremely poor example....

... and The Thai Red Cross Society are charged with the responsibility to expunge misuse of the protected Red Cross emblem through legislation and through their own Constitution,.,.,,

Or is that a dichotomy?

They are clearly demonstrating under the international red cross symbol/flags. The Thai medical symbol/flag is green. I don't know why they aren't using their own which represents them to be Thai Health officials.

I can only assume that they are trying to make people think that the International Red Cross is supporting Suthep 100%

Maybe next Suthep will have his people waving British, American and Australian flags to show he has full support of other countries.

Edited January 22, 2014 by chooka