One dead in shooting attack at PDRC rally site in Lumpini Park

[northernjohn]

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The gunman was immediately apprehended by other security guards for questions.

I like the way he apprehended by other security guards for "questions".

Shouldn't he be handed over to the police (I mean real police) or are these guys the "new police"?

They "don't trust" the police, which is understandable since they attacked Royal Thai Police headquarters last year. Instead, they rely on their own "guards" who are mostly out-of-uniform soldiers and sailors. The military assures protection of the PDRC from the police.

If they were Army or Navy I think we could be in for a lot of trouble. Personally I think they were individuals working for them selves not Military personnel assigned to protect Suthep.

Condolence to the family. Putting firearms to the hands of untrained personnel from different background and provinces and possibly gang affiliation is just a recipe for disaster. These guards are drawn from unsavory background and would not hesitate to draw their guns in dispute or when drunk. If Suterp can't control these guards, we can expect more internal fighting, not politics that could run out of control.

I think the 2010 red shirt fiasco showed that.

Thaty is why Suthep stayed away from the bar crowd. He saw what they were incapable of doing in 2010.

[ggt]

The question the shooter was asked...where do you want your remains to be sent...

[newcomer71]

If they hand him over to the Police, he'll be charged with possessing a gun and released on bail, and that will be that. His case will never go to court. He'll maybe also be given the T-Medal for bravery and loyalty, and invited to visit Dubai.

And who can undoubtedly say that the one apprehended is effectively the one who did shoot?

I would equally distrust police and protest guards...

Edited April 15, 2014 by newcomer71

[sweatalot]

One dead in shooting at Thai protest site

BANGKOK, April 15, 2014 (AFP) - One person was shot dead on Tuesday at the site of an anti-government rally in the Thai capital Bangkok, emergency services said, in the latest in a string of violent attacks.

The 40-year-old man was killed by an unknown attacker in the early hours of the morning near the rally stage in Lumpini Park, according to the city's Erawan emergency centre.

He was working as a security guard for the anti-government movement, according to rally spokesman Akanat Promphan.

"We don't know who was responsible," he added.

Police said they had no information about the incident and had not visited the scene of the shooting.

Access to the protest site is usually restricted by the rally guards, who have fraught relations with the police.

The area near where the attack happened has been thronged with revellers celebrating the traditional Thai New Year water festival this week.

Opposition demonstrators have staged more than five months of mass street protests seeking to force Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra from office.

Grenade attacks and shootings linked to the unrest have left 25 people dead and hundreds wounded in recent months, including many protesters.

The violence has eased somewhat since the rallies were scaled back at the start of March, when demonstrators abandoned their occupation of major intersections in Bangkok and converged on Lumpini Park.

The protesters want Yingluck to step down and make way for an unelected interim government to oversee reforms aimed at curbing the political dominance of her billionaire family.

Thailand has seen years of political conflict and rival street protests by opponents and supporters of her brother, former premier Thaksin Shinawatra. He was ousted from office by a coup in 2006 and lives overseas to avoid jail for a corruption conviction.

-- (c) Copyright AFP 2014-04-15

Grenade attacks and shootings linked to the unrest have left 25 people dead and hundreds wounded in recent months, including many protesters.

It seems to me, nearly all of them were protestors - does anyone know the numbers?

[sweatalot]

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Most likely some guards got into it with each other and one shot another guard. But again I could be wrong because the court said they are peaceful and do not carry weapons.

Most likely you are speculating based on your bias. The AFP report takes us backwards - they say it was an unknown attacker.

Unfortunately they had to arm some of the guards to protect the main body of protestors from the likes of Ko Tee and even armed police used by the lying stooges of CAPO.

Is anyone that foolish to think that a red shirt would get that close to the stage with a weapon without being caught. No it's not bias, it's common sense.

Yet again you are making things up. No report says he was shot at close range, nor did any say he was close to the stage. The AFP report said 'near' which could be anything.

It is certainly not common sense to speculate.

Also:

No report says he was wearing a red shirt

[ClutchClark]

Mango Bob seems to be using the best common sense here. The shooter was another protest guard.

Thats why there was only one guard shot and why the shooter was detained for questioning--it was one of their own and they want to know if he had a legitimate reason for his actions.

I see a bunch of new blue & white striped plastic tarps over the last few days but has anyone factored in what the rains will do to the morale of the protester camps? Maybe the rest of BKK residents will finally get the park back.

Cheers

Edited April 15, 2014 by ClutchClark

[Dr Bruce]

Early reports said that he had been detained by the PDRC guards and now reports say that nobody was detained. I wonder which bridge he will be found in the morning.

[Dr Bruce]

That is just so sick. I have been watching Bluesky.tv off and on for the past few days, enjoying the beautiful, peaceful Songkran gatherings and the good music and entertainment. This man was doing his job, protecting innocent demonstrators. I hope they question the shooter "real good".

Sad, when we live in a Country, where the actual police only cares about collecting bribes and kickbacks and handing out helmet tickets for cash, but refuse to uphold the law and to protect peaceful citizens.

Our condolences to the family and friends of the victim.

He was shot because he was trying to break up a fight between other guards. Suthep's drunken thugs fighting and killing each other. Luckily there were no innocent bystanders harmed this time.

[Boxclever]

That is just so sick. I have been watching Bluesky.tv off and on for the past few days, enjoying the beautiful, peaceful Songkran gatherings and the good music and entertainment. This man was doing his job, protecting innocent demonstrators. I hope they question the shooter "real good".

Sad, when we live in a Country, where the actual police only cares about collecting bribes and kickbacks and handing out helmet tickets for cash, but refuse to uphold the law and to protect peaceful citizens.

Our condolences to the family and friends of the victim.

Ermm...are police able to monitor proceedings at the protest sites? Are they allowed to do their job and enter the Lumpini protest area without being beaten to a pulp? Anyway, it is highly likely this was an internal squable between the trigger happy rent-a-thugs.

[Eric Loh]

This internal killing and many others in the park can spiral out of control and develop into a full scale triad gang war. Every one of the guards have their gang affiliation, family ties or friends and would take revenge. We may see the break up of the PDRC for the less unlikely circumstances. I beginning to see the green of Lumpini sooner than later.

[kkerry]

According to the other newspaper, an inspector from Lumpini police reports.

There was a brawl near the stage.

The guard tried to break it up.

One of those fighting shot him with a .38 and ran off.

[Smokemachine]

Now is Songkran time.

Edited April 15, 2014 by Smokemachine

[kurtgruen]

That is just so sick. I have been watching Bluesky.tv off and on for the past few days, enjoying the beautiful, peaceful Songkran gatherings and the good music and entertainment. This man was doing his job, protecting innocent demonstrators. I hope they question the shooter "real good".

Sad, when we live in a Country, where the actual police only cares about collecting bribes and kickbacks and handing out helmet tickets for cash, but refuse to uphold the law and to protect peaceful citizens.

Our condolences to the family and friends of the victim.

He was shot because he was trying to break up a fight between other guards. Suthep's drunken thugs fighting and killing each other. Luckily there were no innocent bystanders harmed this time.

Very unlikely, as there was no booze allowed at Lumpini Park, during the Protesters Songkran Celebrations. Everyone was checked for booze, as they came in. I think you are thinking of the drunken Red mobs, not the peaceful, sober and happy Anti-Government protesters.

[johnno2]

That is just so sick. I have been watching Bluesky.tv off and on for the past few days, enjoying the beautiful, peaceful Songkran gatherings and the good music and entertainment. This man was doing his job, protecting innocent demonstrators. I hope they question the shooter "real good".

Sad, when we live in a Country, where the actual police only cares about collecting bribes and kickbacks and handing out helmet tickets for cash, but refuse to uphold the law and to protect peaceful citizens.

Our condolences to the family and friends of the victim.

He was shot because he was trying to break up a fight between other guards. Suthep's drunken thugs fighting and killing each other. Luckily there were no innocent bystanders harmed this time.

really? such revealling information here, were you there? did you see the "drunken thugs"??? or is this speculation and showing your bias?

[Dr Bruce]

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He was shot because he was trying to break up a fight between other guards. Suthep's drunken thugs fighting and killing each other. Luckily there were no innocent bystanders harmed this time.

Very unlikely, as there was no booze allowed at Lumpini Park, during the Protesters Songkran Celebrations. Everyone was checked for booze, as they came in. I think you are thinking of the drunken Red mobs, not the peaceful, sober and happy Anti-Government protesters.

Do you really think that the guards were sober after a day of celebrating Songran?

He was shot because he was trying to break up a fight between other guards. Suthep's drunken thugs fighting and killing each other. Luckily there were no innocent bystanders harmed this time.

really? such revealling information here, were you there? did you see the "drunken thugs"??? or is this speculation and showing your bias?

My sources are a newspaper that we cannot quote and several Thai websites. I will try to find it in English for you.

[Dr Bruce]

Here it is.

http://en.khaosod.co.th/detail.php?newsid=1397561637&section=11

When you mix low rent thugs with too much booze and then give them guns.

poor bloke was only trying to earn some easy money and now he ends up dead. I hope they look after his family and don't try to brush it under the carpet.

My thoughts are with his family.

[Eric Loh]

When all is over and they vacate Lumpini Park, I hope the police will do a thorough search for bodies buried or hidden. Remember Don Meung after the PAD left, they found bodies in the warehouse.

[Dr Bruce]

When all is over and they vacate Lumpini Park, I hope the police will do a thorough search for bodies buried or hidden. Remember Don Meung after the PAD left, they found bodies in the warehouse.

The PDRC tend to dump the bodies off bridges, 1 was still alive and managed to free himself. Another was found on the banks of the Cho Prya on the day after the children were killed in Bangkok, he was thrown from a bridge and missed the water. I believe that there was another earlier body that also missed the water.

We will never know how many times they managed to throw bodies and actually hit the water.

[Morch]

Here it is.

http://en.khaosod.co.th/detail.php?newsid=1397561637&section=11

When you mix low rent thugs with too much booze and then give them guns.

poor bloke was only trying to earn some easy money and now he ends up dead. I hope they look after his family and don't try to brush it under the carpet.

My thoughts are with his family.

Might have missed it, but didn't see anything about booze in any of the reports. Being Thailand, alcohol is a traditional component of stupid fights, but not compulsory - these things happen wherever whenever and for whatever reason.

Was he a "low rent thug" or a "poor bloke only trying to earn some easy money"? Or both?

[Morch]

When all is over and they vacate Lumpini Park, I hope the police will do a thorough search for bodies buried or hidden. Remember Don Meung after the PAD left, they found bodies in the warehouse.

A single body, not a morgue, if memory serves.

Don't remember the case being solved (could be wrong), other than police saying it "might" have been a PAD guard.

[billd766]

The gunman was immediately apprehended by other security guards for questions.

I like the way he apprehended by other security guards for "questions".

Shouldn't he be handed over to the police (I mean real police) or are these guys the "new police"?

Oddly enough part of the duties of the "REAL" police are to protect the protesters from this sort of thing happening.

I wonder where they were?

AFAIK so far NO attackers of the protesters have ever been caught by the police, let alone arrested.

[Morch]

When all is over and they vacate Lumpini Park, I hope the police will do a thorough search for bodies buried or hidden. Remember Don Meung after the PAD left, they found bodies in the warehouse.

The PDRC tend to dump the bodies off bridges, 1 was still alive and managed to free himself. Another was found on the banks of the Cho Prya on the day after the children were killed in Bangkok, he was thrown from a bridge and missed the water. I believe that there was another earlier body that also missed the water.

We will never know how many times they managed to throw bodies and actually hit the water.

Oh, so you cracked these cases already?

So far no one has even been charged, surely not convicted.

If the police had any solid evidence we'd have a Chalerm sponsored press conference show by now.

[billd766]

That is just so sick. I have been watching Bluesky.tv off and on for the past few days, enjoying the beautiful, peaceful Songkran gatherings and the good music and entertainment. This man was doing his job, protecting innocent demonstrators. I hope they question the shooter "real good".

Sad, when we live in a Country, where the actual police only cares about collecting bribes and kickbacks and handing out helmet tickets for cash, but refuse to uphold the law and to protect peaceful citizens.

Our condolences to the family and friends of the victim.

He was shot because he was trying to break up a fight between other guards. Suthep's drunken thugs fighting and killing each other. Luckily there were no innocent bystanders harmed this time.

And how do you know this?

Were you at the scene at the time, perhaps a material witness, or did somebody who is a friend of a friend of a friend tell you and nobody else?

[billd766]

Double post. Sorry.

Edited April 16, 2014 by billd766

[billd766]

Triple post.

Sorry 3 times.

Edited April 16, 2014 by billd766

[billd766]

Here it is.

http://en.khaosod.co.th/detail.php?newsid=1397561637&section=11

When you mix low rent thugs with too much booze and then give them guns.

poor bloke was only trying to earn some easy money and now he ends up dead. I hope they look after his family and don't try to brush it under the carpet.

My thoughts are with his family.

So it came from that pinnacle of newspapers Khaosod known and praised worldwide for vigorously trackiu=ng down the truth and exposing it to the world.

Isn't that paper owned by Thaksin?

[fab4]

Here it is.

http://en.khaosod.co.th/detail.php?newsid=1397561637&section=11

When you mix low rent thugs with too much booze and then give them guns.

poor bloke was only trying to earn some easy money and now he ends up dead. I hope they look after his family and don't try to brush it under the carpet.

My thoughts are with his family.

So it came from that pinnacle of newspapers Khaosod known and praised worldwide for vigorously trackiu=ng down the truth and exposing it to the world.

Isn't that paper owned by Thaksin?

Try the Bangkok Post then, you'll get the same story. Guards fighting amongst themselves, one guard tries to back it up gets shot dead for his trouble. As usual the PDRC refuse to let the police to investigate finally allowing them to 12 hours after the incident.

[Dr Bruce]

Here it is.

http://en.khaosod.co.th/detail.php?newsid=1397561637&section=11

When you mix low rent thugs with too much booze and then give them guns.

poor bloke was only trying to earn some easy money and now he ends up dead. I hope they look after his family and don't try to brush it under the carpet.

My thoughts are with his family.

So it came from that pinnacle of newspapers Khaosod known and praised worldwide for vigorously trackiu=ng down the truth and exposing it to the world.

Isn't that paper owned by Thaksin?

It is also on the Television news and on many Thai news sites. I cannot understand why it has not been picked up by the English papers. maybe they are working on a skeleton staff because of the holidays.

[billd766]

Here it is.

http://en.khaosod.co.th/detail.php?newsid=1397561637&section=11

When you mix low rent thugs with too much booze and then give them guns.

poor bloke was only trying to earn some easy money and now he ends up dead. I hope they look after his family and don't try to brush it under the carpet.

My thoughts are with his family.

So it came from that pinnacle of newspapers Khaosod known and praised worldwide for vigorously trackiu=ng down the truth and exposing it to the world.

Isn't that paper owned by Thaksin?

Try the Bangkok Post then, you'll get the same story. Guards fighting amongst themselves, one guard tries to back it up gets shot dead for his trouble. As usual the PDRC refuse to let the police to investigate finally allowing them to 12 hours after the incident.

I didn't see it there around 7.30 am so if it is I apologise.

I have just found it hiding under News > Politics.

I can't quote from it as it is not allowed.

My apologies to you.

[billd766]

Here it is.

http://en.khaosod.co.th/detail.php?newsid=1397561637&section=11

When you mix low rent thugs with too much booze and then give them guns.

poor bloke was only trying to earn some easy money and now he ends up dead. I hope they look after his family and don't try to brush it under the carpet.

My thoughts are with his family.

So it came from that pinnacle of newspapers Khaosod known and praised worldwide for vigorously trackiu=ng down the truth and exposing it to the world.

Isn't that paper owned by Thaksin?

It is also on the Television news and on many Thai news sites. I cannot understand why it has not been picked up by the English papers. maybe they are working on a skeleton staff because of the holidays.

See my post #59

My apologies to you.