Supporters, Protesters Of Thaksin Clash At Central World

[Heng]

Actually PB's scenario seems the closer in accuracy, unless I'm mistaken when I presume that Siam Paragon, Rajabhat University, and Central World Plaza are not all Thaksin's personal property. The other disparity is the initial actions of the security, police, men in black, Pro-Thaksins... or whoever they are, are not being "non-violent by carrying them off."

These places aren't public property either. The reason why they have to follow Thaksin around is because no one seems to be listening to them when they stick to the streets, the Royal Plaza, etc. I'm assuming of course that Thaksin or TRT were invited to the sites of these clashes while the anti-TRT crowd was not. Not sure as I haven't been following all of the events.

Edited August 22, 2006 by Heng

[Heng]

Yeah, I thought so too, Heng... best for you to go off and antagonize with mistruths on some other thread...

Um, Heng left the office, John. Didn't notice you were in the waiting room.

[Tony Clifton]

Another surprise on ASTV tonight. A bangkok police general appeared with other guests, polite and good mannered, dressed in a suit, saying he's had enough of the whole police circus, explaining that he knows who these two individuals are plus a few more, often hired previously by policemen to do dirty jobs they can't do.

I 'd love to see the other policeman's face who charged these two thugs this evening, when he watches TV and reads the papers later on. As I mentioned earlier, another improvised cover up that blew up in their faces. They can never coordinate their bullsh*t properly. I like icing on the cake but this is getting too much

The man in black looks like he'd slap him own mother around for 100 baht.

This squealing police general tonight did mention the fact that these thugs were escorting protesters directly to police vehicles and chatting with some brown nosed brass afterwards.

*edit*

Another farce

Police charged them of assaulting others whose punishment is not more than Bt2,000 and/or a fine of not more than Bt2,000.

No charges of impersonating a police officer? They did tell protesters they were. There were even captions with the videos shown again tonight where they clearly said so. As for their "clean criminal records", it's probably a case of "cleaned criminal records" after a few dirty jobs done for the same people protecting them now.

Don't we all feel so much safer now

Edited August 22, 2006 by Tony Clifton

[Heng]

To date virtually all assaults that we have chosen to post and discuss on TV have been by pro on anti protestors. I dont think that is romanticisizing.

Myself I call that biased and romanticizing.

I'll pass on joining the photobucket party, and again, it's just my opinion.

For the record, IMO it's all the same no matter who's in power, so I don't know what all the hoop-la is about.

edit: the underlined portion is by me

Please enlighten me of the assaults by the anti on the pro people. I am amazed that you seem to know of some but the government controled state TV and radio media has not manged to air them or even mention them.

snip

The woman who stepped on Mr. Thaksins toe we now find out is one of his supporters, so to date your only example is gone.

snip

I didn't say I had access to any such information... although at the same time I doubt you'll find any such reports on ASTV or the Nation either. I was giving my interpretation of the same events everyone else gets to see. That both sides are looking for and finding fights for whatever reason. The democrat rep that they sent to debate the TRT rep came across as rather hostile as well.... as if he didn't come to talk about anything, but rather just to try to antagonize the TRT guy (which didn't work by the way).

As for the woman, I wasn't aware that that's the excuse she gave, but from the footage I saw, she certainly didn't act like a Thaksin supporter.

Edited August 22, 2006 by Heng

[Tony Clifton]

Therefore, it was a setup.

[sriracha john]

Yeah, I thought so too, Heng... best for you to go off and antagonize with mistruths on some other thread...

Um, Heng left the office

probably best if he stays gone...

[Heng]

Therefore, it was a setup.

By whom?

[Heng]

Yeah, I thought so too, Heng... best for you to go off and antagonize with mistruths on some other thread...

Um, Heng left the office

probably best if he stays gone...

Will be here for another 20 or so, John. Feel free to speak into the jasmine plant on the coffee table.

[sriracha john]

Yeah, I thought so too, Heng... best for you to go off and antagonize with mistruths on some other thread...

Um, Heng left the office

probably best if he stays gone...

Will be here for another 20 or so, John.

any more mistruths or half-baked irrational statements before you leave for good?

Edited August 22, 2006 by sriracha john

[Heng]

Yeah, I thought so too, Heng... best for you to go off and antagonize with mistruths on some other thread...

Um, Heng left the office

probably best if he stays gone...

Will be here for another 20 or so, John.

any more mistruths or half-baked irrational statements before you leave for good?

Yes, there's no need to sneak those mints, John. They're free. My secretary will bring you a small bag.

[bulmercke]

Thaksin conducts the orchestra.

Those two thugs certainly didn't surrender themselves to the police without the implicit DIRECTIVE of Thaksin.

The sorry events at Central World Plaza yesterday were instigated by Thaskin. Nothing of this nature happens without Thaksin's approval.

This surrender to the "authorities" of these two scummy individuals is a tactic by Thaksin to diffuse the unfavourable publicity this disgusting attack on innocent individuals has received from the media.

Thaksin's Thailand is, indeed, a sorry mess right now!

THAKSIN AWK BEI......

GET OUT THAKSIN............

............BEFORE THAI PEOPLE START PERISHING IN THE COURSE OF TRUE DEMOCRACY....

[sriracha john]

Yeah, I thought so too, Heng... best for you to go off and antagonize with mistruths on some other thread...

Um, Heng left the office

probably best if he stays gone...

Will be here for another 20 or so, John.

any more mistruths or half-baked irrational statements before you leave for good?

They're free

The same as you are free with the truth ...

Anyway, after Heng's diversion through his fantasy world is finished...

we're back to the realities of Thailand:

Thaksin cancels lecture at Krirk University

Caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has decided to cancel his lecture at Krirk University on Wednesday to prevent reoccurrence of clashes between pro and anti-Thaksin groups.

Thai Rak Thai's deputy spokesman Jatuporn Prompan said that the university team made the decision after seeing the clashes between supporters and opponents of Thaksin at Central World Shopping Complex on Monday.

Thaksin was scheduled to give a lecture to postgraduate students with majors in communication and political science at Krirk University on Ramindra Road on Wednesday.

Four people were injured on Monday during pro-Thaksin supporters' attacks on anti-Thaksin group. Thaksin was there to open an exhibition, he had to take a back elevator of the shopping complex to avoid his opponents who gathered in front of the venue.

- The Nation

Edited August 22, 2006 by sriracha john

[sriracha john]

CONFRONTATIONS

Thaksin to stay out of limelight

Non-essential appointments cancelled to reduce risk of more violence, but PM vows he won't give in to the protesters

An angry Thaksin Shinawatra said yesterday he will not yield to the "unjustified pressure" against him, and has cancelled appearances at all functions unrelated to his responsibilities at the office and the Thai Rak Thai Party following violent clashes between his supporters and detractors.

Thaksin told a party meeting he would remain as the Thai Rak Thai leader and would contest the general election as the top candidate on the party list, Thai Rak Thai deputy spokesman Pimuk Simaroj said.

Why can't Thaksin make such a crucial announcement himself??? Particularly when the words he DID say yesterday conflict with the words Khun Pimuk says he says.

"I still don't know whether I should retire from politics by the end of this year, or continue my political work in coming years," Thaksin stated.

"Whatever a final decision I'll make, I'll, however, never retire from being a police officer," said

the PM.

- TNA

"I have decided to stay on after the unjustified pressure for me to go," the embattled caretaker prime minister was quoted as saying. "I will have to maintain the system and the rules."

Thaksin told the party meeting he would support a qualified younger person to take over his job and, according to a party source, this indicated that the Thai Rak Thai leader will "certainly take a break from politics" after the election.

However, the source said former Yasothon MP Ronritthichai Kankhet, who represented northeastern ex-MPs, told the meeting that the best option for the party was that Thaksin should accept the premiership if Thai Rak Thai won the next election.

Ronritthichai said northeastern voters would be disappointed if Thaksin refused to accept the post.

"We [northeastern MPs] won't allow you [Thaksin] to take a break from politics. We should not allow mob rule (or others might more actually describe it as exercising free speech) to stay above the law," he was quoted as saying.

Thai Rak Thai secretary-general Suriya Jungrungreangkit said all party executives and former MPs wanted Thaksin to serve as prime minister again, "not for the benefit of the party, but for the country".

However, we admit we do want him mostly for the amount of corruption money that we've been able to skim off during the past 5 years....

At Thai Rak Thai Party headquarters, about 50 supporters gathered to greet Thaksin and gave him flowers. Some shouted, "Fight on, PM", to which Thaksin responded: "Surely. I won't give up." He also complained about "a lack of neutrality" among the local media.

He bitterly complained that a few news sources outside the realm of governmental control actually had the audacity to say the truth.

According to party spokesman Pimuk, Thaksin told yesterday's meeting that he expected defections from the party, but he wanted the key figures who co-founded the party to remain.

There has been speculation that certain key figures in Thai Rak Thai will leave the party ahead of the next election, which has been scheduled for October 15.

The meeting was attended by senior Thai Rak Thai figures and former party MPs. Thaksin's wife, Khunying Pojaman, was also present.

As she is at at all significant TRT Party meetings.

A Government House source said yesterday that Thaksin's schedules had been cancelled, particularly those for functions unrelated to his responsibilities at the office and the Thai Rak Thai Party.

Only those appointments at Government House, Thai Rak Thai Party headquarters and Baan Phitsanulok, the prime minister's official residence, will be retained while Thaksin's attendance at other places will be cancelled even though they may have been confirmed, the source said.

Thaksin's delivery of a keynote speech at Krirk University this afternoon during a panel discussion featuring politicians from the Thai Rak Thai, Democrat and Chat Thai parties, has also been cancelled, Thai Rak Thai deputy spokesman Jatuporn Promphan said.

However, Nanthana Nanthavaropas, the department head who organised the event, said she was unaware of the cancellation. As of yesterday evening, she had not been informed of any change in the prime minister's schedule.

Earlier yesterday, at a weekly Cabinet meeting, Thaksin instructed relevant authorities to take legal action against all perpetrators in the fistfights at the Central World Plaza shopping complex on Monday, regardless of whether they were his supporters or detractors, government spokesman Surapong Suebwonglee said.

The caretaker prime minister instructed his deputy and caretaker Justice Minister Chidchai Vanasatidya to work with the relevant agencies to "ensure that the law is respected", the spokesman said. Thaksin also threatened to have relevant officials transferred as punishment if they failed to follow the instruction.

Surapong said Thaksin told yesterday's Cabinet meeting that he did not want to see such violent confrontations between compatriots.

The government spokesman also said Thaksin would not cancel all his scheduled functions outside of Government House, but the prime minister would try to avoid confrontations with protesters.

In a related development, the National Human Rights Commission will convene later this week to determine whether there were any human right violations during the skirmishes on Monday, the agency's chairman, Saneh Chamarik, said yesterday.

Television footage showed many anti-Thaksin protesters being attacked during the melee at the Central World Plaza.

The Nation

[John K]

Now for the condensed version of the last few news clippings.

Thaksin reelection strategy

Item 1: Assault people who oppose me verbally in public and make it look like it was not me.

Status: Backfired

Recovery plan: Cancel all unnecessary public appearances.

Apply scapegoat.

Make it look like I am concerned about them #@!+@$!!!&%\=%$@@!!! .

[Ricardo]

Actually PB's scenario seems the closer in accuracy, unless I'm mistaken when I presume that Siam Paragon, Rajabhat University, and Central World Plaza are not all Thaksin's personal property. The other disparity is the initial actions of the security, police, men in black, Pro-Thaksins... or whoever they are, are not being "non-violent by carrying them off."

These places aren't public property either.

Many 'public places' are privately-owned, bars & restaurants for example, or shopping-malls.

The reason why they have to follow Thaksin around is because no one seems to be listening to them when they stick to the streets, the Royal Plaza, etc. I'm assuming of course that Thaksin or TRT were invited to the sites of these clashes while the anti-TRT crowd was not. Not sure as I haven't been following all of the events.

And the invitation to Thaksin or TRT includes his rent-a-thug goons ? Either these people are connected with him, or they are not, in which case they have only the same right to be there, as the anti-protesters.

The police arrest the 'Thaksin ow bais' , for making a public disturbance, but fail to arrest a single 'Thaksin soo soo' , for making even more of a noise and a nuisance ? Double standards are being applied here by the 'boys in brown.

[Ricardo]

Yeah, I thought so too, Heng... best for you to go off and antagonize with mistruths on some other thread...

Um, Heng left the office

probably best if he stays gone...

Disagree with this SJ, freedom-of-speach and all that, even if we don't agree with what Heng's saying, in this particular instance. And I don't think he has any evidence for his point-of-view, but would be interested, if he could produce some.

[Plus]

Thaksin told a party meeting he would remain as the Thai Rak Thai leader and would contest the general election as the top candidate on the party list, Thai Rak Thai deputy spokesman Pimuk Simaroj said.

....

Thaksin told the party meeting he would support a qualified younger person to take over his job and, according to a party source, this indicated that the Thai Rak Thai leader will "certainly take a break from politics" after the election.

As I understand he will campaign to put hopes in hears of his supporters but will step down once they have voted for him.

[Heng]

And the invitation to Thaksin or TRT includes his rent-a-thug goons ? Either these people are connected with him, or they are not, in which case they have only the same right to be there, as the anti-protesters.

The police arrest the 'Thaksin ow bais' , for making a public disturbance, but fail to arrest a single 'Thaksin soo soo' , for making even more of a noise and a nuisance ? Double standards are being applied here by the 'boys in brown.

I'd assume that Thaksin or TRT has a right to bring their security along. Sure, they don't have a right to pick fights with the anti crowd IF all they were doing was being loud... neither side has that right. But I think all adults (whether they'd like to admit it or not is another question) know that there are more ways of starting a fight than actually whipping out the batons or throwing punches.

[Heng]

Yeah, I thought so too, Heng... best for you to go off and antagonize with mistruths on some other thread...

Um, Heng left the office

probably best if he stays gone...

Disagree with this SJ, freedom-of-speach and all that, even if we don't agree with what Heng's saying, in this particular instance. And I don't think he has any evidence for his point-of-view, but would be interested, if he could produce some.

Just take it as my opinion and an example of one Thai person's opinion, nothing more, Ricardo. Like it or not, a lot of people don't take the elementary school justice version of "do you have video/audio/news link to the evidence that the bad guys started the fight?" I know it might be difficult for some here to accept, but the anti-Thaksin crowd do often 'come across' as the bad guys, and it's my opinion that there are many in local society that feel the same. And I'll say it again, so it's clear that I'm not biased... I'm also of the opinion that Thaksin and TRT certainly have the resources/ability/and perhaps motive to be bullies as well.

typical cheesehead response : do you have links to evidence that this is the opinion of many in local society?

[Plus]

I personally think that a large part of Thai society thinks much like Heng, sadly.

[Ricardo]

And the invitation to Thaksin or TRT includes his rent-a-thug goons ? Either these people are connected with him, or they are not, in which case they have only the same right to be there, as the anti-protesters.

The police arrest the 'Thaksin ow bais' , for making a public disturbance, but fail to arrest a single 'Thaksin soo soo' , for making even more of a noise and a nuisance ? Double standards are being applied here by the 'boys in brown.

I'd assume that Thaksin or TRT has a right to bring their security along. Sure, they don't have a right to pick fights with the anti crowd IF all they were doing was being loud... neither side has that right. But I think all adults (whether they'd like to admit it or not is another question) know that there are more ways of starting a fight than actually whipping out the batons or throwing punches.

Agreed, even an acting caretaker PM has the right to security, but that in turn means that these plain-clothed thugs, beating-up on ordinary citizens like children, women & old men, were official thugs, not just the normal volunteer Forestry-Department sort.

And that the state therefore feels it has the right to beat up its citizens, not for posing a physical threat to Thaksin, but for merely expressing verbally their democratic disagreement.

Which is where they crossed the constitutional line, IMHO.

Edited August 23, 2006 by Ricardo

[John K]

Thaksin told a party meeting he would remain as the Thai Rak Thai leader and would contest the general election as the top candidate on the party list, Thai Rak Thai deputy spokesman Pimuk Simaroj said.

....

Thaksin told the party meeting he would support a qualified younger person to take over his job and, according to a party source, this indicated that the Thai Rak Thai leader will "certainly take a break from politics" after the election.

As I understand he will campaign to put hopes in hears of his supporters but will step down once they have voted for him.

I see says the bind man. There will be no one qualified to replace Thaksin you know. Thaksin has already said that in many ways. Most recently “everyone is my helper.”

[Jai Dee]

Attackers surrender as footage reveals police complicity

Two mystery men who quelled Monday's anti-Thaksin protest by attacking opponents of the PM - in spite of the large police presence - turned themselves in yesterday.

Their surrender came after the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) threatened to organise more anti-government rallies if police did not handle the matter properly.

The two men were identified as Charan Chong-on, 43, a rubber farmer and Surat Thani native (who wore a black T-shirt during Monday's melee), and Chaiyasit Lamoh, 42, a motorcycle taxi rider from Bangkok's Lat Krabang district.

Their surrender came as the police tried hard to distance themselves from the two men, who were highly sought after by the media and general public for their heavy-handed tactics.

The two men, one dressed in black and another one in peach coloured shirt, were caught on camera by photographers punching and kicking the handful of anti-Thaksin protesters - as uniformed police officers looked on.

The attacks came as the protesters hollered "Thaksin get out" at the entrance of the Central World shopping complex. Thak-sin went there for a social function.

Pol Colonel Manit Wongsom-boon, deputy commander of the Metropolitan Police Division 6, maintained that the two men were not police officers. "They are definitely not policemen because we would recognise them if they were," Manit said.

Chaiyasit said he and Charan, who he has known for more than 10 years, went to Central World Plaza after learning that opponents of the PM would attend. They went because they liked the prime minister's achievements.

When he heard a man shouting for Thaksin to get out and saw police doing nothing, Chaiyasit said he put the man in a headlock in an attempt to stop him shouting. He admitted he told the man he was a police officer, because he feared the man would not follow him, so he lied that he was a policeman.

Despite Manit's insisting that the two men were not police officers, Pol Colonel Rithirong Thepchandra, investigation superintendent of Metropolitan Police Division 6, was caught on camera talking to Chaiyasit and Charan at least twice during the half-hour melee.

"I was merely curious as to what agency the two men were from," Rithirong said, when confronted by reporters yesterday.

"They told me that they were here to keep order but did not say who they were working for. So I told them to help us maintain order and not go beyond the law," Rithirong said.

Rithirong did not ask to see the two men's credentials. He dismissed suggestions that he turned a blind eye to the beatings by Chaiyasit and Charan "because it was too chaotic".

"When the situation calmed down the two men were gone. My unit is looking for them so we can bring them to justice," he said.

Questions about the identity of the two men grew rapidly yesterday after it became obvious that the large number of uniformed police at the scene did virtually nothing to stop the pair punching and slapping demonstrators.

Television footage showed police clearing the way for the two to drag the demonstrators to waiting police cars.

The drama on Monday took place shortly after Thaksin presided over the opening of the Digital Thai Knowledge Park then left the shopping complex.

The bashings prompted about 30 anti-Thaksin supporters to file a complaint with Dej-Udom Krairit, president of the Law Society, claiming police failed to intervene in clashes at Central World Plaza.

They said that by standing back and watching the violence, the police indirectly backed Thaksin supporters to attack the PM's opponents, Dej-Udom said.

The Law Society would file a lawsuit against police at the scene, he said.

The People's Alliance for Democracy has given the police seven days to arrest the attackers - or it will stage a new round of demonstrations in protest.

Source: The Nation - 23 August 2006

[Jai Dee]

Attacks appear to have been planned

People’s Alliance for Democracy leaders Somsak Kosaisuk, left, and Sondhi Limthongkul yesterday condemn attacks at Central World Plaza on ‘innocent’ anti-Thaksin demonstrators as ‘brutal’.

Allegations that the attacks on anti-Thaksin demonstrators at Bangkok's Central World shopping complex were an organised effort gained some currency yesterday after it was discovered by The Nation that a number of the attackers wore brand new white sports shoes and white wristbands in an apparent effort to distinguish themselves from others.

The photos on the far left show a group of young men stomping on Itthiphon Sorawitsakul, 70, until he fell unconscious. He received two stitches and a broken nose. Itthiphon remains in hospital awaiting a brain scan.

Near left, Kwanchai Juimanee, 30, a Thaksin supporter, is being assisted by friends after he fell on his face amid the chaos. He suffered a wound to his left eye and bruising to the head.

Two men, initially thought to be plainclothes police officers, were the subject of intense speculation yesterday for their attacks on the anti-Thaksin demonstrators. They also assisted police to pin down the demonstrators. Television footage showed a man in a black jacket putting Ritthirong Likhitprasertkul, 68, an anti-Thaksin demonstrator, in a headlock and punching him repeatedly as he dragged him to a police car with the help of police officers.

The same man, left, was also seen on television putting a headlock on anti-Thaksin demonstrator Vichai Uasilaphan, 53, and slapping him as he was forcibly dragged to a police car.

The second mystery man, with short hair and peach shirt, left, was thought to be a plainclothes police officer because of the way he behaved. He was captured on camera stomping Itthiphon. He was seen assisting the police and the man in the black jacket in detaining anti-Thaksin demonstrators and dragging them to police cars.

Source: The Nation - 23 August 2006

[Heng]

Agreed, even an acting caretaker PM has the right to security, but that in turn means that these plain-clothed thugs, beating-up on ordinary citizens like children, women & old men, were official thugs, not just the normal volunteer Forestry-Department sort.

And that the state therefore feels it has the right to beat up its citizens, not for posing a physical threat to Thaksin, but for merely expressing verbally their democratic disagreement.

Which is where they crossed the constitutional line, IMHO.

If they were indeed hired security or thugs that children/women/old men were not picking a fight with then YES, they crossed the line.

At the same time, IMO it's borderline/questionable non-violent protest to block someone's path, gently push, spit, etc. Just a supposition. Also, it's entirely possible that grown men fighting grown men is less newsworthy than grown men "attacking" women/children/old men so I wouldn't put it beyond the Democrats (who, don't forget are just politicians, not angels themselves) to employ them as fight instigators. Not that I have anything against the Democrats. They just want their turn back at the trough, like anyone else.

back later, got a tennis match at 11.

[hammered]

Agreed, even an acting caretaker PM has the right to security, but that in turn means that these plain-clothed thugs, beating-up on ordinary citizens like children, women & old men, were official thugs, not just the normal volunteer Forestry-Department sort.

And that the state therefore feels it has the right to beat up its citizens, not for posing a physical threat to Thaksin, but for merely expressing verbally their democratic disagreement.

Which is where they crossed the constitutional line, IMHO.

If they were indeed hired security or thugs that children/women/old men were not picking a fight with then YES, they crossed the line.

At the same time, IMO it's borderline/questionable non-violent protest to block someone's path, gently push, spit, etc. Just a supposition. Also, it's entirely possible that grown men fighting grown men is less newsworthy than grown men "attacking" women/children/old men so I wouldn't put it beyond the Democrats (who, don't forget are just politicians, not angels themselves) to employ them as fight instigators. Not that I have anything against the Democrats. They just want their turn back at the trough, like anyone else.

back later, got a tennis match at 11.

I am saddened by your comment implying that a five year old child could "pick a fight".

Why dont you join me in condemning the vicious assaults by fit young and middle aged men on a child, an old man and a woman. I wont even waste my time on ridiculous suppositions formed with absolutley no eveidence.

Anyway will you condemn the vicious assaults on a child, woman and old man?

[cclub75]

"They are definitely not policemen because we would recognise them if they were," Manit said.

I just can't get enough of those amazing statements ! I love them.

It's a perfect tautology.

I really believe that thai logic (result of education, and social environnement) has a natural inclination toward tautology and syllogism.

I remember one really tasty of one (ex) EC commissioners : he said "I did nothing wrong, i'm a good man, I would'nt be able to kill an ant".

-I did nothing wrong with elections

-because I'm a good man

-I'm a good man because i can not kill an ant

etc. etc. etc.

But of course, there is one problem : this kind of logic has a real effect on people without education.

[Losangels]

[but of course, there is one problem : this kind of logic has a real effect on people without education.

Absolutely true and frightening as well Many of the statements from officials that sounds illogical will make sense to a majority of Thais with limited education. and even some with PhDs.

This also reflects on the poor education system here

[Plus]

In the papers there's a picture and the name of a 17 year old who participated in kicking 70 year old man unconscious, in full public view, including police and journalists. That says a lot about respect for elders in the society. It also says a lot about people who try to justify this barbarity and who occasionally preach that Thai respect for elders is far superior to that of westerners.

Edited August 23, 2006 by Plus

[boppia]

The Thai people I hear from are upset by the fact that the guys who did a lot of the rough stuff against the protesters don't regret it. One of them said he will do it again. Thaksin doesn't seem upset that people are willing to use violence for him. Don't forget that the Thai police and others killed thousands of civilians during the past few years. 2,000 plus were killed during Thaksin's war on drugs and many were killed in the south. The killers are in the police force. Punching and beatings are nothing to killers.