PDRC seeks to have military, police man rally sites

[webfact]

PDRC seeks to have military, police man rally sites
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- People's Democratic Reform Committee core leader Thaworn Senneam said the group would ask the military and police to set up joint checkpoints to prevent allegations that PDRC guards were instigating violence.

Police have agreed to this, though the military has yet to approve the request, he said.

Early yesterday, a 34-year-old man was severely injured in an explosion in Lumpini Park, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration's Erawan Emergency Medical Service announced.

The explosion occurred at 5.20am near a tent for security guards, about 100 metres from the stage.

The man, a protest guard, was taken to Chulalongkorn Hospital.

In addition, the centre said an explosion occurred at the Lotus store on Chaeng Wattana Road at 10.30pm on Monday. No casualties were reported.

Explosive Ordnance Disposal superintendent Pol Colonel Kamthorn Uicharoen said EOD officials had cancelled their inspection at the site after they were informed by the PDRC guards that it was not convenient to let them in. The EOD would seek another inspection of the scene today.


-- The Nation 2014-03-12

[retarius]

on the surface seems sensible, but will likely make things worse, as the other side will see this as bias...better to have the army and police only checking ids and providing security. I'm getting tired of political zealots toting guns about the city. Take their guns away.

[expat888]

Big mistake if the military decides to help. It will look like the military is siding with the PDRC.

The military needs to stay out of this and let this run it's course.

[Thailand]

"Explosive Ordnance Disposal superintendent Pol Colonel Kamthorn Uicharoen said EOD officials had cancelled their inspection at the site after they were informed by the PDRC guards that it was not convenient to let them in."

And why would that be?

[Curt1591]

Judging by the masks that many guards wear, one might tend to believe that military and/or police are already manning many of the sites.

[tx22cb]

Good idea - on 2 conditions.

When Police & Army move in, ALL the PDRC guards should be disarmed and sent back home.

And Police/Army to have authority to search all tents.

[rametindallas]

Big mistake if the military decides to help. It will look like the military is siding with the PDRC.

The military needs to stay out of this and let this run it's course.

Do try to keep up with what is happening. The army has 'bunkers' all around the Lumpini Park protest site already. UDD head Thida has been complaining about them. The police have made themselves scarce for months, except when Pol. Capt. Chalerm gives orders for a crackdown and clearing of stages. Had the police been doing their job of protecting legally gathered protesters, the army's involvement would be unnecessary.

[tx22cb]

"Explosive Ordnance Disposal superintendent Pol Colonel Kamthorn Uicharoen said EOD officials had cancelled their inspection at the site after they were informed by the PDRC guards that it was not convenient to let them in."

And why would that be?

It's only a matter of courtesy to give the guards an hour to, ahem, "tidy up" first.

[northernjohn]

Big mistake if the military decides to help. It will look like the military is siding with the PDRC.

The military needs to stay out of this and let this run it's course.

Do try to keep up with what is happening. The army has 'bunkers' all around the Lumpini Park protest site already. UDD head Thida has been complaining about them. The police have made themselves scarce for months, except when Pol. Capt. Chalerm gives orders for a crackdown and clearing of stages. Had the police been doing their job of protecting legally gathered protesters, the army's involvement would be unnecessary.

Not to mention that Yingluck had already told there police that protecting every one was their job.

[HKChris]

Big mistake if the military decides to help. It will look like the military is siding with the PDRC.

The military needs to stay out of this and let this run it's course.

Do try to keep up with what is happening. The army has 'bunkers' all around the Lumpini Park protest site already. UDD head Thida has been complaining about them. The police have made themselves scarce for months, except when Pol. Capt. Chalerm gives orders for a crackdown and clearing of stages. Had the police been doing their job of protecting legally gathered protesters, the army's involvement would be unnecessary.

At the start of all this, it was the PDRC who refused to let the Police have anything to do with their security, presumably in an attempt to 'legitimize' the establishment of their own armed militia. So, what's happened to bring about this change? (rhetorical question...). The protester gathering itself was legal....it became illegal when they started occupying Government Ministries, stopping employees and normal business from working, and not allowing elections to proceed etc etc.. For that, as the PDRC surely must have known, there were going to be consequences.

Quite agree that the army should not get any further involved - they are visible enough as it is around the streets - don't need any more.

[rickirs]

"Explosive Ordnance Disposal superintendent Pol Colonel Kamthorn Uicharoen said EOD officials had cancelled their inspection at the site after they were informed by the PDRC guards that it was not convenient to let them in."

PDRC controls the crime scene but complains about incompetent public investigations. In this case it appears that the bomb may actually been accidentally triggered by the PDRC who now needs to rearrange the "evidence," maybe thrown in a PTP membership card.