Protest leader shot dead, 10 hurt in melee with reds outside Bang Na polling station

[webfact]

Protest leader shot dead, 10 hurt in melee with reds outside Bang Na polling station
The Nation




The hat of Suthin Taratin, a leader of the People

BANGKOK: -- An anti-government protest leader was killed yesterday afternoon while leading a blockade at a polling station for advance voting in Bang Na in Bangkok, while 10 others were injured, according to the city's Erawan Emergency Centre.

Suthin Taratin, leader of People's Army to Overthrow the Thaksin Regime, was declared dead at Vibharam Hospital after being shot in the head outside the polling station in Wat Sri-iam Temple compound. Police have yet to identify the shooter at press time. The 10 injured were rushed to nearby hospitals.

The shooting happened at about 2pm as Suthin and protesters were confronted by red-shirt supporters at the temple. After reports of a skirmish between the two sides, police rushed to the scene to find a ransacked Toyota pick-up truck with a smashed windshield and windows, while two loudspeakers were dumped in a roadside ditch, and t-shirts with anti-government protest symbols scattered around the area.

Police retrieved a bullet-proof vest, a home-made shotgun, two shotgun cartridges, one M16 bullet, a foot-long knife, whistles, slingshots and metal balls from the truck as evidence. Police also found a pool of blood on the road island and one spent bullet.

Bang Na investigator Pol Lt Col Preuk Chaiwattana said witnesses claimed that anti-government protesters arrived at the polling station around noon and that red-shirts supporters arrived about an hour later. The red shirts circled the area for about 30 minutes before the clash occurred. Witnesses said gunshots were heard before fighting broke out.

Following the incident, former MP and anti-government protest leader Satit Wongnongtaey took to the Pathumwan rally stage to report that the protesters' caravan was leaving Wat Sri-iam when an armed red-shirt supporter shot at the truck with the loudspeakers and hit Suthin. He also claimed police on duty at the temple didn't offer any assistance. Satit later said soldiers rescued the anti-government protesters from the red shirts. He urged fellow protesters not to enter the area for their own safety, as red-shirts had allegedly surrounded the temple.

Deputy police chief Pol Gen Aek Angsananont led senior police to inspect the scene of the shooting at 4.30pm. He urged investigators to speedily interview witnesses and those involved, as well check CCTV security cameras in the area.

Meanwhile, at a polling station in Nong Kaem district, about 1,000 protesters showed up to force the district office to close, but left after officials presented them with a statement saying advance voting had been suspended.

However fighting erupted at the district office gate, as some 10 anti-government security guards allegedly assaulted a plainclothes policeman - later identified as Pol Col Itthikorn Lunsakaewong of Nong Kaem police station. The policeman was allegedly taking pictures of demonstrators and resisted attempts by the guards to search him.

The guards also allegedly seized his 11mm pistol and Bt6,000 in cash, before fleeing in trucks when uniformed police tried to intervene.

Itthikornm, who was treated for his injuries in hospital, filed a complaint with police.

Elsewhere, numerous scuffles took place at advance voting booths, including a confrontation between protesters and red-shirts at a polling station in Nakhon Ratchasima.


-- The Nation 2014-01-27

[howzat]

Makes you wonder what sort of jobs these protesters have that allows them to take so much time off work. These violent thugs with half a brain(am being generous) probably don't even know what the protest is about but just use it as an excuse to create some some street cred. with their other half brained mates who have got nothing better to do to fill their boring days because they have limited intelligence to do something worthwhile like find a job.

[Ricardo]

On a Sunday, perhaps both the Red-Shirt protesters, and the anti-government protesters, have normal jobs which let them take one or two days per-week off, say office or factory-jobs ?

I'd note that by-far the largest turnouts, in November & December, were at week-ends.

Even violent thugs get days-off from work !

[kurtgruen]

I thought, Police was supposed to be unarmed. This cop had a pistol.

[noikrit]

Strange how some TV posters keep refering to the protesters as violent thugs ... when they are the ones getting killed .......

[Bluespunk]

Makes you wonder what sort of jobs these protesters have that allows them to take so much time off work. These violent thugs with half a brain(am being generous) probably don't even know what the protest is about but just use it as an excuse to create some some street cred. with their other half brained mates who have got nothing better to do to fill their boring days because they have limited intelligence to do something worthwhile like find a job.

A man has been murdered and this is the type of vile, abusive post you make.

Edited January 26, 2014 by Bluespunk

[noitom]

They have nothing to do. They are the backers of Thailand's black economy. They have their "people" out at bar and sex venues, counterfeit warehouses and production facilities, human trafficking, money laundering, under the radar of real estate rentals and all the other unregulated black Thai cash economy sources.

[EricBerg]

Well, Chalerm already warned Suthep and other protestleaders that they should report to the police themselves else people might get hurt or even killed. And then it would bethe responsibilty of Suthep and his people.

Seems Chalerm has paranormal sight.

[EricBerg]

Let's hope this will not set a precedent for an eye for an eye hatred. Because if so there will be much blood flowing. If the police cannot keep the situation safe then perhaps the army can.

[Bluespunk]

They have nothing to do. They are the backers of Thailand's black economy. They have their "people" out at bar and sex venues, counterfeit warehouses and production facilities, human trafficking, money laundering, under the radar of real estate rentals and all the other unregulated black Thai cash economy sources.

I would ask for evidence but you don't have any.

[NongKhaiKid]

There are photos of various incidents around Bkk and in the ones I've seen the police are conspicuous by their absence.

Both Chalerm and Tarit are blaming EC officials for not calling the police in but with an obvious powder keg situation are they saying the police happily sat in their stations waiting for a call ?

There should have been a big police presence in the area of every polling station but where were they ?

[Yunla]

RIP.

My prayers are with the family of the deceased, and with those who were injured who I hope will have a comfortable recovery and no permanent disabilities from this barbaric assault.

As always, in every nation on Earth, when the talking stops it becomes the green-light for physical resolutions to the issues that should instead be solved by dialogue within the political sphere. In every faction of the political spectrum, the supporters are comprised of 99% good, honest, hardworking and above all peaceful human beings. This applies to all political sides. The remaining 1% of all sides, is the unhinged radical faction who are not only ready to use violence at the drop of a hat, but in many cases look forward to it and hope the opportunity will arise. This has never changed since forever. The problem that Thailand faces is that the constant cycle of street action (by both major parties) is seen by the 1% as an opportunity to engage in their own sordid and abhorrent acts, and they feel that they are acting in the name of some noble political ideal as opposed to just unleashing their own murderous psychoses. This is why resolution has to be attained by talking. Any politician who refuses to talk and work towards consensus should be removed from office. Talking is their job. Street action is by its nature divisive, unless f.ex both parties are in the street and the leaders are debating on stage. Weapons will always replace words, so we should cherish words, and also we should hold systems of public / media / political debate as the most powerful asset we have got as a species.

Edited January 26, 2014 by Yunla

[Ricardo]

I thought, Police was supposed to be unarmed. This cop had a pistol.

and was in plain-clothes, mingling with the protesters, not the first time that the guards have caught a policeman doing this.

This is either an innocent cop, gathering intelligence (for what purpose ? criminal or political ?), or a potential agent-provocateur, no way to tell which.

[londonthai]

"A leader of the people", as in the foto title, is a misnomer. He was a leader of a neo fascist political party, advocating a non elected parliament, as a political model for thailand. He ended up as Mussolini, killed on the streets by the people

[Hornell]

Macrohistory is actually mainly correct in what he says although the way he says it won't appeal to many! Being a farang over here doesn't mean that one gives up one's right to speak one's mind, but doing so publicly (eg in these forums) without engaging brain is what drives the thinking man away from them simply to avoid reading all the drivel. keep it up Macro....

[Bluespunk]

"A leader of the people", as in the foto title, is a misnomer. He was a leader of a neo fascist political party, advocating a non elected parliament, as a political model for thailand. He ended up as Mussolini, killed on the streets by the people

Utter nonsense. A man is murdered and all you can do is demonise him.

[londonthai]

"A leader of the people", as in the foto title, is a misnomer. He was a leader of a neo fascist political party, advocating a non elected parliament, as a political model for thailand. He ended up as Mussolini, killed on the streets by the people

Utter nonsense. A man is murdered and all you can do is demonise him.

He was a demon

[Cricketnut]

Strange how some TV posters keep refering to the protesters as violent thugs ... when they are the ones getting killed .......

And what of the four red shirts killed in Ramkamhaeng? Its tit for tat people with no end in site... Call off the soi dogs and let the people vote as is their constitutional right.

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[englishoak]

Strange how some TV posters keep refering to the protesters as violent thugs ... when they are the ones getting killed .......

Ummm they are, strange some dont know the proper definition of violence. Id like to see people try and do this in any civilised country and walk away without any incident... forget it.

May he RIP im sure his family will be consoled he died for ...... mmm hang on we are still a little bit short on details since it all kicked off , just what did he die for btw freedom by any chance or democracy ? anything worthy you can think of ? because all I see is another wasted life turned to dust.

[howzat]

You are correct. A vile and abusive post aimed at the vile and abusive thug that murdered the poor guy just for the hell of ot it. Get real my friend and don't be patronising

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[Bluespunk]

"A leader of the people", as in the foto title, is a misnomer. He was a leader of a neo fascist political party, advocating a non elected parliament, as a political model for thailand. He ended up as Mussolini, killed on the streets by the people

Utter nonsense. A man is murdered and all you can do is demonise him.

He was a demon

sad.

[Emptyset]

There are photos of various incidents around Bkk and in the ones I've seen the police are conspicuous by their absence.

Both Chalerm and Tarit are blaming EC officials for not calling the police in but with an obvious powder keg situation are they saying the police happily sat in their stations waiting for a call ?

There should have been a big police presence in the area of every polling station but where were they ?

EC would've had to request police prescence, but they didn't bother because they'd already decided to close polling stations pretty much as soon as the protesters showed up.

Pana Thongmeearkom ‏@panarkom 19h

@willphd @Thai_Talk Election is the EC's jurisdiction, police can step in only by request of the EC. They cannot intervene.

They could have requested either police or military presence had they wished. Running the election is the EC's show. Yet I'd agree with you that police should be doing more.

There's a limit to their ability to stop these kind of clashes though, even if they had the will to do so. Two groups fighting, at least one group armed. Would police firing at one or both of the groups have improved the situation?

[Bluespunk]

You are correct. A vile and abusive post aimed at the vile and abusive thug that murdered the poor guy just for the hell of ot it. Get real my friend and don't be patronising

Sent from my iPhone using ThaiVisa app

I wasn't being patronising I was making clear the contempt I hold for your post.

Or did you miss that [that's patronising by the way, as is this].

[Emptyset]

I thought, Police was supposed to be unarmed. This cop had a pistol.

and was in plain-clothes, mingling with the protesters, not the first time that the guards have caught a policeman doing this.

This is either an innocent cop, gathering intelligence (for what purpose ? criminal or political ?), or a potential agent-provocateur, no way to tell which.

Obviously it'd be suspicious for protesters that police are gathering intelligence, but any police force in the world would have people doing the same, surely? They caught another undercover cop the other day and Michael Yon actually put on Facebook screenshots of what the police guy was sending back to HQ. He was basically reporting on how they've set up the guards, what arms they have and things like that. Nothing that you wouldn't expect police to be gathering intelligence on...

[northernjohn]

On a Sunday, perhaps both the Red-Shirt protesters, and the anti-government protesters, have normal jobs which let them take one or two days per-week off, say office or factory-jobs ?

I'd note that by-far the largest turnouts, in November & December, were at week-ends.

Even violent thugs get days-off from work !

Apparently so do the cops.

the shootings were at 2:00 and they started investigating at 4:30. Really on the ball.

[northernjohn]

I thought, Police was supposed to be unarmed. This cop had a pistol.

and was in plain-clothes, mingling with the protesters, not the first time that the guards have caught a policeman doing this.

This is either an innocent cop, gathering intelligence (for what purpose ? criminal or political ?), or a potential agent-provocateur, no way to tell which.

Obviously it'd be suspicious for protesters that police are gathering intelligence, but any police force in the world would have people doing the same, surely? They caught another undercover cop the other day and Michael Yon actually put on Facebook screenshots of what the police guy was sending back to HQ. He was basically reporting on how they've set up the guards, what arms they have and things like that. Nothing that you wouldn't expect police to be gathering intelligence on...

Same information a killer would want to know.

[northernjohn]

Makes you wonder what sort of jobs these protesters have that allows them to take so much time off work. These violent thugs with half a brain(am being generous) probably don't even know what the protest is about but just use it as an excuse to create some some street cred. with their other half brained mates who have got nothing better to do to fill their boring days because they have limited intelligence to do something worthwhile like find a job.

A man has been murdered and this is the type of vile, abusive post you make.

It makes you realize that these protestors unlike the 2010 red shirts were not getting paid.

doesn't speak much for sense of value on human life. All but comes out and openly condones the killing.

[Emptyset]

The video seems to be in accord with the report, the NSPRT were there first and the red shirts arrived after:

Regardless of the politics, it's sad to see such hatred and violence. RIP.

[BlueNoseCodger]

*Deleted quote edited out*

You removed Thaksin in 2006, you had a coup, you 'reformed' the constitution. Then you rewrote history to make your actions looks good. The technical term is cognitive dissonance. It's a mental process that creates a false picture in your head to make you believe you are the good guys so you can live with your bad choices.

So even as you're ripping down democracy, corrupting the bodies of state, the Electoral process, the Judiciary, the government, even as you're destroying the economy, closing schools, turning Thailand back into a third world country. Even then, your cognitive dissonance makes you think you are the good guys.

And to drown out opposing voices you do your chants, 'ear medicine', 'fugitive in Dubai', 'out shopping', the same droning chant used by cults like the moonies to indoctrinate their believers. Over and over and over again until you can no longer rationally reason for yourself.

.

[howzat]

Specify what part of my post you dislike which was about the violent and half brained thug that murdered for the hell of it.

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