Anti-government protesters close Thalang Police Station in Phuket

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Anti-government protesters close Thalang Police Station in Phuket
Eakkapop Thongtub


Anti-government protesters close Thalang Police Station in Phuket

PHUKET: -- Members of the People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) forced the closure of Thalang Police Station last night (January 31) in order to block tomorrow's election.

Led by Surathin Lianudom and Sunya Srimuang, most of the protestors were local villagers from Baan Don Village. They arrived at 8pm last night, ordered the officers inside to leave, and then padlocked the doors so it can't be used for Sunday's poll.

They put up tents and intend to stay until tomorrow (February 2) until 3.30pm or until the election is either finished or cancelled.

Elsewhere in the country, soldiers will secure polling stations nationwide and mount patrols to boost security on election day.

Col Winthai Suwaree, deputy army spokesman, yesterday said that army commander-in-chief Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha has ordered soldiers to secure polling units in Bangkok and other provinces tomorrow.

According to Col Winthai, soldiers will man polling stations and patrol areas in their vicinity to prevent opposing groups clashing with each other. Soldiers will do that through negotiations and will not use force.

Military police and soldiers will also conduct patrols on the elevated Din Daeng-Don Muang tollway above Vibhavadi Rangsit Road in the capital to prevent attacks on the innocent.

However, soldiers cannot be permanently deployed on the tollway as requested by the People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC).

PDRC demonstrators led by many former MPs of the Democrat Party are opposing tomorrow's election and calling for political reform before the polls.

"The army chief ordered redeployment of soldiers for comprehensive coverage including areas overlooking polling stations and patrols on the tollway.

“But soldiers cannot secure the tollway all the time because they have so many missions and tasks in other areas," Col Winthai said.

Meanwhile, national police chief Pol Gen Adul Saengsingkaew said 140,000 police officers would try to maintain order nationwide tomorrow and soldiers would help by manning checkpoints and handling untoward incidents.

The chief said he expected demonstrators to try to block voting in Bangkok, Samut Songkhram, Prachuap Khiri Khan and many other provinces in the South.

Yesterday officials could not deliver ballot papers to polling stations in the southern provinces of Songkhla, Nakhon Si Thammarat and Chumphon. Authorities were trying to convince protesters to release the papers, Pol Gen Adul said.

Also yesterday, guards of the protesting PDRC arrested Sampas Kulsriroj. He was allegedly in possession of giant firecrackers, long knives, some rifle rounds, 23 .22 rounds, a rifle scope, fake vehicle registration plates and cards identifying himself as a guard of the pro-government red-shirt movement in Pathum Thani.

Additional reporting by the Bangkok Post.

Source: http://www.thephuketnews.com/anti-government-protesters-close-thalang-police-station-in-phuket-44358.php


-- Phuket News 2014-02-01

[TallPalm]

Ordering Police Officers to leave - or what I may ask?

Edited February 1, 2014 by bigbadbarnsy

[pookiki]

Is this the same police force that is going to keep the polling sites open?

[phuketrichard]

if it wasn't so serious it would be laughable

[simon43]

So the police left after this rabble told them to leave????

Truly, the behaviour of the Thai police is beyond belief.

Simon

[tx22cb]

Why so many?

I counted 30 protesters .... a waste of resource.

Surely 10 women with flags and whistles would have been enough to close a cop shop in TH?

[Somtamnication]

Funny sh1t!!!!!!

[jocko]

Just think the bars around that area can open now.

No cops

[EBlair48]

At about 12:30 it looked to be a whole lot more than 30 protestors. They'd set up a tent in the left hand lane, right in front of the police station, and the traffic back up was getting pretty long. For some reason the police not allowing traffic through the intersection from 4030 to head south on 402 but were making people make that left so they had to go up and do a right u turn which added to the volume.

There were quite a few excessively large flags flying which reminded me of Sinclair Lewis, " Scoundrels wrap them selves in the flag.." or is it " Patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel " (Or was it Twain? )

I can imagine what it will be like in another hour at 5 PM. I would lay in the stores now, if you haven't already done so and not venture out tomorrow.

My god, will Phuket secede from the nation?

BTW Ban- Don, the village these protestors reportedly cam from, is known for its teenage gang wars, always knifing kids from the village down the road. A lot of violent blood brewing there, (lots of female twins too- wonder if there is a connection. )

Edited February 1, 2014 by EBlair48

[slipperylobster]

Ordering Police Officers to leave - or what I may ask?

perhaps imprisonment...or hefty fines.

[SjaakNL2013]

It sound all laughable but most police man are living in the area they work.

I think if you where police man and 30 angry neighbors come your reaction will be different then when you sit safe type your comments in TV

[bubblegum]

Does that mean they're setting up another checkpoint for helmets and so one since they have nothing else to do

[Loles]

Bravo Police! Well done. Next time please give them also your weapons, magazines, vehicles and mia noi also. Congratulation.

Coward idiots.