On both sides, victims share the bitter pain of Bangkok street clashes

[webfact]

AFTERMATH
On both sides, victims share the bitter pain of street clashes
The Nation


National police chief Pol General Adul Saengsingkaew offers condolences and some assistance money to the family of Pol Snr Sgt-Major Phienchai Pharawat, who was killed in the clash between police and protesters at Bangkok

BANGKOK: -- A JUNIOR POLICEMAN has become a hero for kicking away a grenade in his bid to protect colleagues during a Bangkok clash - but his wife thinks his fame has come at too high a price.

"If I could choose, I just wish his legs returned to normal," the 48-year-old wife said. Her husband, Pol Senior Sgt-Maj Thiradej Lekphu, said he acted out of instinct and a belief it was better he was hurt than to see his colleagues dead.

Thiradej was gravely injured in the legs as the grenade went off while he was not fully protected behind his bullet-proof shield.

It remains unclear who hurled the grenade into the line of shield-holding policemen. But on that same day, protester Satta Sae Dan was fatally shot while trying to help other demonstrators in the face of alleged police attacks.

Satta has left behind his wife and their three children, the youngest being just a year old. "I am so sad. But I won't give up my struggle against the current government," Satta's wife Jongjit said. "I am sure my husband would have supported my decision if he was still alive today."

Satta, who is from Yala, and his wife came to Bangkok on February 15 to join anti-government rallies.

He was among four civilians killed as a result of the bloody clashes between police and demonstrators in the capital on Tuesday.

Also killed was Pol Senior Sgt Maj Phienchai Pharawat, 46. He worked at a police station in Rayong but was summoned to Bangkok to deal with the demonstration.

"I hope the situation will end soon. I don't want to see anyone else lose their beloved," Phienchai's wife Pornpimon said tearfully.

Phienchai has left behind his wife and two children, aged 15 and 12 years.

National police chief Adul Saengsingkaew said Phienchai would be posthumously promoted to the rank of major and his children would receive scholarships till they earned bachelor's degrees.

Adul and several other senior policemen attended the bathing rites for Phienchai at a temple. There, they handed over financial assistance of Bt1.9 million to Phienchai's family.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, a junior policeman said, "I really would like to ask senior policemen whether they are proud about presiding over the bathing rites for their junior…Why didn't they try to prevent the loss of lives at the very beginning?"

Provincial Police Region 2 chief Kawee Supanan yesterday dismissed widespread rumours that crowd-control police were angry at the Centre for Maintaining Peace and Order (CMPO).

Crowd-control policemen from his region were assigned to the Phan Fah Lilat Bridge area, where the violence erupted with casualties on Tuesday.

Kawee insisted the crowd-control police unit under his supervision had not issued any statement against the CMPO.

"Their morale is good and they are ready to carry out their duty," he said.

A number of policemen visited Thiradej at the Police General Hospital yesterday to express moral support. Many complained that senior policemen failed to provide safety for the crowd-control officers who were dispatched to confront the demonstrators.

Kawee condemned the grenade attack against police, saying that policemen were armed with only batons and shields.

At the same time, Kawee expressed admiration for Thiradej.

"Thanks to his courage, he has saved many of his colleagues," Kawee said.

Speaking from the hospital, Thiradej said he decided to tackle the grenade himself because he was concerned his colleagues would panick, stand up, lose full shield protection, and get hurt if he told them about the grenade.

Kawee said after he saw several policemen injured on Tuesday, he ordered police to retreat. "But one of them was still shot while we were withdrawing," he lamented.


-- The Nation 2014-02-20

[Mirkwood]

Really sad.

Hope Yingluck steps down soon and this ends.

She is finished now. What is the point trying to cling onto power?

The Thai people simply wont allow it.

Her family are crooks, have been found out and its time to go.

[Robby nz]

There must be a better way.

Back off all of you.

Is your face worth someone elses life ?

[chooka]

Suthep could end this today. If he really cares about the people as he says then he would call off the demos.

[NongKhaiKid]

There must be a better way.

Back off all of you.

Is your face worth someone elses life ?

I'm sorry to say the simple truth is that those leading both sides are not concerned with anyone except themselves in the true manner of Thailand's rich, powerful and elite.

[tullynagardy]

In the midst of this chaos, where both sides are so obviously both at fault and guilty, its amazing to see visitors to this country take sides, almost like supporting a football team, so willingly.

Not sure where this blind allegiance comes from. For some its like a pack instinct that defies evolution, for some its searching for a feeling of belonging in a land they are nor loved or wanted, and for some its an effort to ditch their sex pat stereotype and seem middle class.

Whatever the reason you all sound like pricks. Really not quite sure what you think you achieve posting your jibes on here when you cant even vote (not that voting matters to some politicians here mind) This endless merry go round never seems to tire some on here.

I miss real news on TV instead of "Suthep smade another idiotic promise" or "Chalerm said something meaningless"

[WinnieTheKhwai]

What an utterly despicable thing to say by this newspaper;

Hello: one "side" is not a side at all. An officer gave his life in the line of duty! Their family can rightly gather strength from that. May he rest in peace.

The one 'side' involved here (Nation doesn't fool everyone!) will have to live with dying a thug's death for fascism. (Personal opinion; regardless of personal opinion though, presenting this as two 'sides' is a malicious distortion.)

Edited February 20, 2014 by WinnieTheKhwai

[RJF]

I feel there is a huge difference when looking at these sad and unnecessary stories from both sides: the police men had no choice. They were simply sent in to do their job. The protesters did have a choice. They came here, often from far away, to protest in an illegal manner and violating a state of emergency, thereby accepting the risk of violence and injury. I am not saying they deserve it and every tragedy is one too many, but I do feel this difference should be pointed out.

Edited February 20, 2014 by RJF

[Suriya4]

I think the police shoot protesters 1st.

Than 3rd party came to shoot the police in revenge.

This is how I view it to be.

I don't see any protesters carrying any weapon at all.

I do see many 3rd party carry weapons.

Very similar to 2010 (just replace police with army).

[TVGerry]

Suthep could end this today. If he really cares about the people as he says then he would call off the demos.

Thaksin could end this today. If he really cares about the people as he says then he would call his cronies to resign.

[DGIE]

Suthep could end this today. If he really cares about the people as he says then he would call off the demos.

Thaksin could end this today. If he really cares about the people as he says then he would call his cronies to resign.

so both sides should end this today. If they really care about the people