Police to probe whether Yingluck really needs an official bodyguard

[Songlaw]

She is no longer the PM so she shouldn't need a bodyguard . Besides , she is still very popular and would win an election tomorrow if they had one.

No, it's Prayuth who needs the bodyguard. He's the one most people loath so it's understandable that he needs all the protection he can get.

On the other hand , Yingluk is in real danger of getting mobbed by her admirers whereas apart from the press most Thais wouldn't cross the road to extinguish Prayuth if he were on fire.

Though due to points of Constitutional law the original supposition is weak, your following points are dead-on and quite funny. From the position of this half-baked excuse for a current government, they ought to invest even more in assuring that their nemesis does not attain the status of martyr, either through assassination, or internment. When you have a tiger by the tail, letting go with even one hand to adjust your tie would be ill advised. Besides, how much more ridiculous could the grand inquisitor possibly appear at this point?

[PETERTHEEATER]

When I played football (soccer) I had two, one down the front of each sock - Shinguards:)

[Guest]

It is both reasonable and pragmatic to guard the former PM and certainly works to the advantage of the "guards" in this case.

Should something happen to her "unguarded' ... things could get nasty ... quickly.

Of course, that presumes she is even available to harm if she were not "guarded."

In short , a win win win and not really much else of a choice.

It is fascinating to watch this drama unfold, and I have not clue one how it will all turn out. I do know that the democracy / coup merry-go-round has operated in the Kingdom for a long time, and frankly, as unorthodox as it may be ... in the long run ... it is working.

Edited February 19, 2015 by Guest

[peecee]

Reading some of the comments posted by lunatics on this forum I am inclined to think she does need a bodyguard.

I bet Tony Blair has one; me thinks most countries supply their ex-PM's with protection.

[Baerboxer]

I stand to be put right, but i was under the opinion that all ex PM's of pretty much every country in the world had to maintain at least some element of security personnel?

I am ambivalent to her having police guards, but if they are looking at this i think there are far more questionable cases of this.

Many a time have i seen 'VIP's using police escort, and I am talking private company VIP's with no relation to Government work, and i think this without a doubt needs to be stopped.

On New Years day in Hua Hin the traffic was a nightmare, and right through the middle came a flying black tinted Maserati with two police motorbike escorts. I would of loved to of known who that was and what, why and how they needed, deserved a police escort presumably in their private holiday time, in unofficial car. I expect it was probably the child of some wealthy military, police, political or Hi-So family. That kind of thing i agree is absurd and should be cut out completely.

The ex PM? i thought it was fairly standard practice, i am sure since leaving power Abhisit is often seen with security as well, although i am not sure whether these are police. On the grand scale of issues in the country, this seems relatively minor when to me it seems to be a fairly widespread occurrence with people using it for far more stupid reasons, like beating traffic jams.

I'm not sure whether you're right or wrong - it would be interesting to research which countries do and how that has changed with the increase in terrorism. Certainly Olof Palme would have benefited from one.

Whatever the view in any country it should be applied consistently - and Thailand is usually the epitome of inconsistency. I think I read somewhere that when PTP were in power Chalerm had an assigned police bodyguard of around 100 officers protecting him, his family and mansions. That would seem somewhat paranoid and a burden on the tax payer.

Politics here is dominated by members of powerful families, whether the Shins, Bangkokians or those based in the provinces. I'm sure they all have their "teams" of protectors. whose skills are no doubt very variable, as the rich world wide do.

In Yingluck's case, not sure having one police colonel is likely to enhance the capabilities of the private team employed by her family. Is he with her 24/7? Or do they only anticipate problems might occur Monday to Friday 9 to 5?

[Baerboxer]

She is no longer the PM so she shouldn't need a bodyguard . Besides , she is still very popular and would win an election tomorrow if they had one.

No, it's Prayuth who needs the bodyguard. He's the one most people loath so it's understandable that he needs all the protection he can get.

On the other hand , Yingluk is in real danger of getting mobbed by her admirers whereas apart from the press most Thais wouldn't cross the road to extinguish Prayuth if he were on fire.

Though due to points of Constitutional law the original supposition is weak, your following points are dead-on and quite funny. From the position of this half-baked excuse for a current government, they ought to invest even more in assuring that their nemesis does not attain the status of martyr, either through assassination, or internment. When you have a tiger by the tail, letting go with even one hand to adjust your tie would be ill advised. Besides, how much more ridiculous could the grand inquisitor possibly appear at this point?

I don't think anyone with half a brain would ever construe Yingluck to be a martyr - whatever happens to her.

What would she seen to represent and fighting for - the Shin clan fortune and expansion of power? Her criminal brother's whitewashes?

If Thailand provides security for ex PMs then she should have one. If it doesn't then she doesn't. If it's inconsistent then they should decide one way or the other.

[smotherb]

She is not in office anymore, so why should the taxpayer pay for het, and especially because she is going to be a convicted criminal

Ex-political officials are commonly taken care-of at taxpayer expense in many countries; and how do you know " . . . she is going to be a convicted criminal"?

Ex (sorry, haha) 'political officials' usually have not taken care of themselves so brazenly and in such a manner as this greedy thieving beeatch. H3ll with her, she's a nothing, a nobody, she is only making news now because the press and sites like this are elevating her to some kind of importance, same as her parasitic brother. Stop reporting about them, no one will notice.

My my, judgemental are we? Yingluck and Thaksin are not the same person. She has not been convicted.