Thai police defend arrest of Hong Kong photojournalist over body armour

[webfact]

CRIME
Police defend arrest over body armour
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Pol Lt Gen Prawut Thavornsiri, an assistant National Police chief, yesterday insisted that police were justified in arresting a Hong Kong photojournalist for possessing body armour.

Thai bulletproof vests are not classified as military items. The bulletproof vest of the Hong Kong photographer was made of a controlled material, which is illegal," he said.

The photographer who came to Thailand to cover the Erawan Shrine bombing was stopped from boarding his plane home at Suvarnabhumi Airport and charged with possessing military materiel without a permit.

Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai confirmed that the photographer had been released.

He said he was told that the lensman might not have been aware that such military gear could not be used without a proper licence.

This case should be a lesson for everyone to be more careful and learn about other countries' rules, rather than doing things based on one's assumption of what is right or wrong, he said.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Police-defend-arrest-over-body-armour-30267433.html


-- The Nation 2015-08-26

[Spleen]

"This case should be a lesson for everyone to be more careful and learn about other countries' rules, rather than doing things based on one's assumption of what is right or wrong, he said."

Well said Lt General , why on earth would someone think Thai laws were based on Right and Wrong

[Thai at Heart]

Controlled material? What the hell is that? Kryptonite?

[speedtripler]

Probably kevlar or something along those lines... What a crock of shit!

[Spleen]

They have also forgotten to announce how much the Journalist from Hong Kong spent while he was in Thailand. No wonder revenue from Tourism is 20-30%.......................sorry 2-3% slightly down , just a little bit

[Reigntax]

" learn about other countries' rules". Does he mean like carrying a loaded gun through customs should be ok if youre an ex poice officer.

Maybe he needed the vest as he thought ex police officers may be on the same flight.

[bangkokfrog]

Thai bulletproof vests are not classified as military items.

Probably because they are made on the cheap of second class materials.

[Jessi]

They don't want foreign journalist in Thailand, they might print the truth and The General can not control them.........Next step off to the re-education camp.

[gk10002000]

And just how and where and with who would someone check on something such as this?

[smedly]

Probably kevlar or something along those lines... What a crock of shit!

have to agree, if someone wants to wear body armor going about their legal business then it should be up to them, it is not offensive and is not going to harm anyone else

[Zonka]

"This case should be a lesson for everyone to be more careful and learn about other countries' rules, rather than doing things based on one's assumption of what is right or wrong, he said."

Well said Lt General , why on earth would someone think Thai laws were based on Right and Wrong

Like taking a loaded gun in hand luggage to Japan maybe?

[GerdT]

This case should be a lesson for everyone to be more careful and learn about other countries' rules, rather than doing things based on one's assumption of what is right or wrong, he said.

It is difficult to know what is right or wrong with article 44 in use which can change these rules very quickly. Maybe a better idea would be for everyone to assume that the rules in Thailand cannot be taken for granted as in other countries.

[loong]

This case should be a lesson for everyone to be more careful and learn about other countries' rules, rather than doing things based on one's assumption of what is right or wrong, he said.

Does he really expect every visitor to learn all the laws before visiting Thailand?

One would expect that most laws are based on some form of common sense.

I wear brown shoes, better check that is not against the law in Thailand

[Skyboogie]

Do any of you folks have a link to the rules they are referring to?

[rak sa_ngop]

"Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai confirmed that the photographer had been released."

I thought I read that the photographer had been released on bail having to report every 12 days until his trial date in Sept, and unable to leave the country as his passport had been retained.

Sounds like he will have lots of opportunity to sniff out more interesting stories, maybe make a trip to Koh Tao or Koh Samui?

[casualbiker]

Probably kevlar or something along those lines... What a crock of shit!

It would certainly be of use to know what this banned material is. Most all decent motorcycle jeans and jackets include kevlar or similar in their construction!

[nursebob]

could be one of those, Thai saving face, things

[AG1]

" Police were justified in arresting photojournalist "

Arresting one of the Jet Ski Scamers is no Option in the Land of Smile?, instead the Law must be enforced with full Power on a Journalist who only protect his Life on Duty for plausible Reasons? It seams 20 Years in Thailand is not enough to understand Thai Logic?

[Partenavia]

Script writers for commedy shows should pay attention to what happens to law enforcement in Thailand. It seems to demonstrate just how far out of step with the rest of the world they are, and rapidly going backwards.

[amerasianex]

Ow well then every on must be a Thai lawyer before filming to Thailand. When Thailand doesn't even have a Thai lawyer. Incredibly stupid statement by a thai policeman who probably doesn't even and still dos not know what that illegal materials name is.......☹

[klauskunkel]

This case should be a lesson for everyone to be more careful and learn about other countries' rules, rather than doing things based on one's assumption of what is right or wrong, he said.

Let this be a lesson for all you people in the world who come to Thailand without brown envelopes.

[spidermike007]

"This case should be a lesson for everyone to be more careful and learn about other countries' rules, rather than doing things based on one's assumption of what is right or wrong, he said."

Is this cop essentially saying Thai law has little to do with right and wrong? Many would agree with him.

The reality is that Thai law has little to do with this discussion. We all know how selectively it is applied. What percent of "Thai law" is actually used and applied? 3%? 9%? Probably not much higher than that. And when it is applied, when the police surprise us all, and actually do real police work, and real law enforcement, the courts throw that effort away with their weakness and ineptitude. So, what is this cop really talking about?

[FredNL]

Thai bulletproof vests are not classified as military items.

The military won't wear them because they aren't bulletproof.

Replace the word "bulletproof" in the first sentence by: fake / copy / ......

Edited August 26, 2015 by FredNL

[EddieBaBaBoBo]

No need for bulletproof vests in Thailand, just "sak yant" tattoos (although this did not protect "magic artist" Khachon Cherdchoo, who was gunned down 2 weeks ago).

The HK journalist was LEAVING Thailand, taking the illegal material OUT, not bringing it IN.

[Benmart]

An new addition to the chaos, disorganization and buffoonery of those entrusted with the public's safety.

[slapout]

Maybe The arresting offricers should be arrested for detaing a individual under false charges. If this press report is accurate It was a illegtal arrest for the charge it was based on and bail was demandede and received for his release from police custody. And the RTP wonder why they are the butt of jokes, mistrusted by the public as wello as the potential tourists who read the medeia coverage of them.

[laocowboy2]

Got to admire the RTP - in a hole and still digging hard.

[Tywais]

Do any of you folks have a link to the rules they are referring to?

Arms Control Act 1987 (pdf)

[Kannikapor88]

Meanwhile half the male population in Thailand run around with illegal guns ...

[Tywais]

Interesting article from 2014.

As items such as “bullet-proof” vests, gas masks and kevlar helmets of varying quality are readily available at stores specialising in military and police clothing and equipment behind the Thailand Ministry of Defence, as well as at Bangkok’s internationally renowned Chatuchak weekend market, the expectation was that licensing would be a mere formality – fill out some forms, produce our media accreditation from the Thailand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and pay the necessary fee. How wrong we were.

Journalists Wanting Body Armour licences a conundrum for Thai Army

When The Establishment Post and another photographer went to the DED to apply for licences we were told by Colonel Benjaporn, the officer in charge of the MCD, there was “no system in place for journalists to possess such items” and “no journalists have ever applied for a license before”.

Two foreign journalists wanting to import protective ballistic clothing was clearly a conundrum and venturing into uncharted waters and we were politely told to go away. We could not even submit an application. Two PDRC guards wearing what appears to be body armour However, when told that there “are another 100 journalists going to be coming here wanting the same thing”, the Colonel and his team of his subordinates took the matter more seriously.

Read more: Thailand's Arms Control Act Lost in Translation http://www.establishmentpost.com/thailands-arms-control-act-lost-in-translation/#ixzz3jtXBBgtD
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