Gen Prayuth asks CMPO to beef up security

[webfact]

Gen Prayuth asks CMPO to beef up security



BANGKOK, 27 January 2014 (NNT) – Army Chief General Prayuth Chan-ocha is asking the Center for Maintaining Peace and Order (CMPO) to draw up stricter security measures in a bid to prevent all violence from happening.

In the wake of the murder of an anti-government protest leader, Suthin Tharatin, the army chief has voiced his condolences for the death and his concern for the CMPO’s security measures, calling on the agency to tighten security both during the day and at night to prevent this kind of incident from recurring in the future.

He said that he did not want such incident to lead the already-worsened situation to a new level of conflict in Thailand and expressed his belief that the police would be able to bring the shooter(s) to justice as soon as possible.

Mr. Suthin was shot in the head and in the chest on Sunday when violence erupted as demonstrators in Bangkok tried to block early voting for the general election which will take place on Feb 2.


-- NNT 2014-01-27

[webfact]

Army chief voices regret over death of protest leader



BANGKOK: -- The army commander-in-chief has expressed regret over the death of an anti-government protest leader in yesterday’s shooting in Bang Na area and has vowed to coordinate the Center for the Maintaining of Peace and Order (CMPO) to tighten more security.

The army chief’s regret was revealed today by the deputy spokesman of the Army Colonel Winthai Suwari to the media.

He said that Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha has voiced regret over the incident in front of Wat Sri-eam temple on Bang Na-Trat road in a clash with red-shirt supporters that left the death of a leader of the People’s Army to Overthrow the Thaksin Regime Suthin Taratin, and a number of protesters injured

Col Winthai said that the army chief was concerned about the continual violence against protesters and would not want such violence to continue in the Thai society.

The army chief would like the Army to coordinate with the CMPO to tighten more security in various areas which it is responsible since the incident happened on broad daylight and committed against group of people in public place, the spokesperson said.

Gen Prayuth also believed that the police would be able to resolve the case and also would like that the case would not be exploited to widen the widen the current conflict as it could affect attempt to resolve the problem on a broader aspect, Col Winthai said.

Suthin was shot dead at a polling station in Bang Na yesterday afternoon.

He had worked for the non-government group Local Development Institute (LDI) before he joined anti-Thaksin protesters and later became a leader of the People’s Army to Overthrow the Thaksin Regime.

He was also a former deputy director of New Politics Party.

His death was described as a big lossl, said anti-government protest leader Suriyasai Katasila yesterday.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/army-chief-voices-regret-death-protest-leader/


-- Thai PBS 2014-01-27

[TVGerry]

Chalerm is there to inflame the situation, he isn't interested in preventing violence.

[petedk]

Chalerm is there to inflame the situation, he isn't interested in preventing violence.

As can be seen from this quote:

Chalerm sets 72-hour deadline for protesters to leave government offices: special force to take action promptly /MCOT

[petedk]

I think towards the end of this week ( as we near the election) we are going to see an increase in violence.

I can't see any of the involved parties backing down.

[spirit47]

Chalerm is there to inflame the situation, he isn't interested in preventing violence.

Look like that only the Navy support Protestors, blame the army...

[EricBerg]

CMPO boss is Thaksin's brother in law Chalerm. He already warned Suthep and other protest leaders to report to the police, or else be themselves responsible for violence and killings.

And that guy is asked to step up security for the protestors????? Is that a cynical form of thainess?

We are talking of murders been and being committed. A throughout dirty Chalerm will sooner pull the trigger than try to protect a protester that wants him and the shinamaffia removed.

[Scamper]

This isn't the first time Prayuth has addressed the issue of the police. The police are really no where to be found, and yesterday's shooting attack against the protesters was no exception. With such a lack of presence by the police, where is the public to turn for protection ?

[webfact]

Army chief expresses sorrow at fatal violence in Bang Na
By Digital Content



BANGKOK, Jan 27 - Thai army chief Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha today expressed sorrow over the fatal violence during Sunday's Bangkok advance voting which claimed the life of an anti-government protest leader, saying he would seek cooperation from concerned agencies to step up security measures.

Deputy army spokesman Col Winthai Suvaree said Gen Prayuth expressed his feeling after Mr Sutin Tharatin, a staunch leading protester, was shot dead and ten others injured as they blockaded the advance voting at the polling booth at Wat Sri-eam in Bangna district yesterday.

He said the army chief has been worried over the violence during political demonstrations and that he will ask the Centre for Maintaining Peace and Order (CMPO) to consider tightening measures to ensure safety for the protesters.

Col Winthai noted that the attack occurred in broad daylight in public, and said that all parties must not exploit the incident to intensify the conflict.

Meanwhile, Issara Somchai, key leader of the People’s Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) said the group will not mobilise its supporters to other locations today.

He condemned the caretaker government for allowing the red shirt supporters and gunmen believed hired from Cambodia to harm Thai people and no culprits have been arrested.

Mr Issara said the PDRC leaders are reviewing security measures and rally strategy for the sake of the crowd's safety. He added that the protest leaders themselves also have to be careful when they address the crowd on an open-top pickup truck or mobile rally stages.

Following the CMPO announcement to negotiate with the PDRC to return the rally sites, Mr Issara insisted that the anti-government movement will not leave their seized compounds provided that their rallies are peaceful.

Mr Issara also expressed hope that the court will accept the complaint filed by PDRC protest leader Thaworn Senneam which seeks the revocation of the 60-day state of emergency earlier imposed last week by the caretaker government. (MCOT online news)


-- TNA 2014-01-27

[NongKhaiKid]

Chalerm is there to inflame the situation, he isn't interested in preventing violence.

As can be seen from this quote:

Chalerm sets 72-hour deadline for protesters to leave government offices: special force to take action promptly /MCOT

I wonder if he will do a General Westmorland and hold ' Five O'Clock Follies ' to announce the body count.

FIve O'clock would be about right as he never seems to do much in the morning, probably needs his lunchtime ear medicine to kick in.

[billd766]

Has the caretaker PM and government condemned the murder yet?

It is a question as I haven't seen the government response anywhere.

[ChrisY1]

Prayuth talking of security strengthening....but we all know that the cops won't do too much......and the military continue to sit on the sidelines...

Chalerm is all for violence......he doesn't give a pigs tit for safety for the protesters (or likely anyone else)....just trying to do what his boss has tasked him......

Will be interesting to see the developements over the next couple of days......meanwhile....YL sits at home and hasn't been seen.....

[Costas2008]

"Gen Prayuth asks CMPO to beef up security"

May be it's something to do that there is shortage of beef in Thailand?

[NongKhaiKid]

Has the caretaker PM and government condemned the murder yet?

It is a question as I haven't seen the government response anywhere.

+1

[h90]

CMPO boss is Thaksin's brother in law Chalerm. He already warned Suthep and other protest leaders to report to the police, or else be themselves responsible for violence and killings.

And that guy is asked to step up security for the protestors????? Is that a cynical form of thainess?

We are talking of murders been and being committed. A throughout dirty Chalerm will sooner pull the trigger than try to protect a protester that wants him and the shinamaffia removed.

you are mixing things.

Surapong is the brother in law with Thaksin

Chalerm is the guy who son "did not" shoot the police officer.

As well Chalerm is the guy who sometimes a bit confused when he got too much of the "ear medicine"

[h90]

"Gen Prayuth asks CMPO to beef up security"

May be it's something to do that there is shortage of beef in Thailand?

yesterday I couldn't got any at the BigC. Seems CMPO bought it all to beef up the security.

[Dogmatix]

Prayuth talking of security strengthening....but we all know that the cops won't do too much......and the military continue to sit on the sidelines...

Chalerm is all for violence......he doesn't give a pigs tit for safety for the protesters (or likely anyone else)....just trying to do what his boss has tasked him......

Will be interesting to see the developements over the next couple of days......meanwhile....YL sits at home and hasn't been seen.....

Chalerm, the loving father, is only concerned about the safety of himself and his despicable family. Like Thaksin he gets a kick out of the ultra violence and being able to show off his tough guy image to other gangsters.

Prayuth's remarks need careful interpretation. Normally an Emergency Decree is one stop short of martial law and is declared in order to allow the military to restore order with special powers for themselves and impunity, while rights to assembly and freedom of speech of the public are curtailed. For the army commander to ask the civilians operating the SOE is odd and the reasons for declaring it when they already had the police and the army refuse to cooperate need to be fathomed too.

Probably a man who has been out of Thailand for nearly 6 years and is out of touch and doesn't give a monkey what happens to his former people and country, if he can't have it and all its riches for himself, are to blame.

[thesetat2013]

Has the caretaker PM and government condemned the murder yet?

It is a question as I haven't seen the government response anywhere.

Why would they condemn it when it is a victory for their party. It is pretty obvious to see that the killers are paid hitmen. A bullet to the head and chest doesnt generally happen unless you are a proffesional.

Sent from my GT-S5310 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[gemini81]

Chalerm is there to inflame the situation, he isn't interested in preventing violence.

As can be seen from this quote:

Chalerm sets 72-hour deadline for protesters to leave government offices: special force to take action promptly /MCOT

Because he KNOWS if his little party fails, his head is the first to get the guillotine for all the terrible things he has done.

All hell may begin to break loose, and if it does, hope the pro-democrats get army backing, or put up a fight in response. I know Yingluck will play victim and try to con't to ruin the economy further, then blame Suthep's group...but anymore, the PTP has absolutely no credibility.

[webfact]

DEATH OF SUTIN
Army to ask CMPO to step up security measures
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Army Commander in Chief Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha will ask the government's peacekeeping center to increase security in the aftermath of violence during yesterday's advance voting.

Deputy Army spokesman Col Winthai Suvaree quoted Prayuth as expressing sorrow over the death of Sutin Tharatin who was shot dead during an attempted blocking at a polling station in Bang Na district on Sunday.

"The army chief has been worried over the violence during political demonstrations and that he will ask the Centre for Maintaining Peace and Order (CMPO) to consider tightening measures to ensure safety for the protesters," the spokesman said.

The attack occurred in broad daylight in public, he said, adding all parties must not exploit the incident to intensify the conflict.

Meanwhile, Issara Somchai, key leader of the People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) said the group will not mobilise its supporters to other locations today.

He condemned the caretaker government for allowing the red shirt supporters and gunmen believed hired from Cambodia to harm Thai people and no culprits have been arrested.

Issara said the PDRC leaders are reviewing security measures and rally strategy for the sake of the crowd’s safety. He added that the protest leaders themselves also have to be careful when they address the crowd on an open-top pickup truck or mobile rally stages.

Following the CMPO announcement to negotiate with the PDRC to return the rally sites, Mr Issara insisted that the anti-government movement will not leave their seized compounds provided that their rallies are peaceful.

Issara also expressed hope that the court will accept the complaint filed by PDRC protest leader Thaworn Senneam which seeks the revocation of the 60-day state of emergency earlier imposed last week by the caretaker government.


-- The Nation 2014-01-27

[newcomer71]

It would be nice to step up measures to guarantee to voters that their rights to vote would be not trashed, from protesters and benevolent EC officers.

[haroldc]

According to the Nation, the anti-government protestors at Victory Monument are now reporting that "the police force, which had earlier been deployed to keep security at the protest site, were withdrawn since the police reckoned that they may face legal action for supporting illegal protests after the imposition of the state of emergency." This is CAPO's response to "tightening measures to ensure safety for the protesters" that Gen. Prayuth requested? Seems like the police are basically saying that anyone who wants to stop by and shoot a few protestors is welcome to do so.

[Robby nz]

According to the Nation, the anti-government protestors at Victory Monument are now reporting that "the police force, which had earlier been deployed to keep security at the protest site, were withdrawn since the police reckoned that they may face legal action for supporting illegal protests after the imposition of the state of emergency." This is CAPO's response to "tightening measures to ensure safety for the protesters" that Gen. Prayuth requested? Seems like the police are basically saying that anyone who wants to stop by and shoot a few protestors is welcome to do so.

Noted that.

Wonder if they consider attempting to investigate yesterdays shooting and killing to be 'helping the protesters' ?

[Valentine]

Kudos to the general for voicing regret at the death/murder of the protest leader. Not a peep from the government.

[mrmicbkktxl]

This isn't the first time Prayuth has addressed the issue of the police. The police are really no where to be found, and yesterday's shooting attack against the protesters was no exception. With such a lack of presence by the police, where is the public to turn for protection ?

Whose mistake is all that?It started in 2006.The army started all that and now they refusing to help the current government.In every normal country those army leaders would be removed but not in amazing Thailand

[rickirs]

This isn't the first time Prayuth has addressed the issue of the police. The police are really no where to be found, and yesterday's shooting attack against the protesters was no exception. With such a lack of presence by the police, where is the public to turn for protection ?

The Army sounds almost too anxious for the CMPO to step up its peacekeeping activities. It's beginning to dawn on Prayuth that the Army might actually be called in to do the job the police can't when he convinced Yingluck previously that the police have to go in first before the Army will go in. And Prayuth sees only a lose-lose result for his reputation. Public safety be hanged.

[soi41]

Kudos to the general for voicing regret at the death/murder of the protest leader. Not a peep from the government.

Just another empty gesture!!

If the army, instead of sitting on the fence for a couple of months, had actually done their job and protected the constitutional rights of the Thai voters, maybe the protest-"leader" would be alive today?

If anyone should be blamed for the death, apart from the army, it is the EC!!

[NCFC]

According to the Nation, the anti-government protestors at Victory Monument are now reporting that "the police force, which had earlier been deployed to keep security at the protest site, were withdrawn since the police reckoned that they may face legal action for supporting illegal protests after the imposition of the state of emergency." This is CAPO's response to "tightening measures to ensure safety for the protesters" that Gen. Prayuth requested? Seems like the police are basically saying that anyone who wants to stop by and shoot a few protestors is welcome to do so.

Anti-democracy protesters had better go home then. Wont get a bullet up the 'arris if they do that.