Phuket riot reflects much that's gone wrong

[webfact]

EDITORIAL
Phuket riot reflects much that's gone wrong
The Nation

Government, police and even the grieving families have much to answer for after drug suspects killed and mayhem ensues

BANGKOK: -- Violence of any kind, regardless of who is involved, should be condemned in the strongest terms, but, in the case of the 12-hour riot on Phuket over the weekend, it's hard not to have at least some sympathy for those who instigated it.

The mayhem was the direct result of the killing of two alleged drug dealers who were fleeing the police. We can only ask, again, why petty involvement in illegal drugs must automatically lead to death.

State authorities and members of the public must now, yet again, look into the facts behind this case and meditate on its consequences. The government must now examine, yet again, the lengths to which citizens are prepared to go in search of justice. There are valuable lessons to be learned here, and they are lessons we have been loath to absorb in the past.

Police officers in Phuket's Thalang district chased two males, ages 22 and 17, who were riding a motorcycle. Both suspects ended up dead. Nearly two hours later the police declared that 50 amphetamine pills and a kilogram of kratom leaves, a banned intoxicant likened in effect to opium, were found in their possession.

By that time grieving relatives and friends of the youths had gathered in front of the Thalang police station demanding an explanation for the killings and a chance to see the four officers involved in the chase. A mix of outrage and curiosity soon swelled the crowd's numbers to 100, shutting down the road out front, and still no answers were forthcoming to calm their mounting anger.

A gunshot - or something sounding like one - was heard, and the citizens presumed the police had fired at them, so what had been a protest became a full-scale siege. Sticks, stones and eggs were hurled at the station and police vehicles and other cars parked nearby were set on fire.

With the situation out of control, the police still managed to escort the four officers involved in the chase away from the station, and reinforcements were summoned to help the rest trapped inside.

The appalling situation finally came to an end when a military officer intervened, but clearly this case is not going to be so easily resolved. As yet, justice appears to be far from done.

To begin with, suspicion of involvement in the illicit drug trade is no excuse for extrajudicial killing, should that prove to be what happened on Phuket.

Secondly, the police are not allowed to fire their guns at suspects except in self-defence, and, even then, there are firm guidelines for any given situation. For self-defence to be claimed, the suspects would also have to be carrying weapons and showing intent to harm.

Quite apart from then-prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra's "war on drugs", when suspects were routinely gunned down, we have seen too many other fatal police shootings in this country. The police have duly reviewed their operating procedures and announced their adherence to "Rule No 1": those who enforce the law must abide by the law. However, some in uniform are not getting the message.

Thirdly, in spite of their anguish, the protesters in Phuket should have remained calm. Justice is to be sought out by peaceful means, as afforded by the law and the courts, not by violence. The ill-considered rashness of mob rule allows for no legitimacy. In taking justice into their own hands, they achieved nothing except to damage private property as well as police property that's paid for with tax money.

Finally, let this be a lesson to the stern rule of the National Council for Peace and Order and the military-led government: social justice is important to ordinary citizens, and in these empowered times they are less likely to tolerate injustice. The resentment mounting within can easily boil over into violence.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/opinion/Phuket-riot-reflects-much-thats-gone-wrong-30270713.html

-- The Nation 2015-10-13

[Time Traveller]

Cops killing people, bar security staff beating up patrons, robberies, riots....just a relection upon a violent society.

But it's the society that the people have chosen.

[jgriff]

Not much Thainess on both sides

[Gringogazzer]

"Phuket Riots Reflect Much That's Gone Wrong"

If you took the word "Riots" out of that headline it would of hit the nail on the head & be a glimmer of hope of some understanding, maybe change.

[Gringogazzer]

"Became a full scale siege. Sticks, stones & EGGS were thrown."

Well sticks & stones will break my bones & eggs will forever nourish me.

Luckily someone remembered the matches to light the cars or it could of ended up a picnic.

[lovelomsak]

Secondly, the police are not allowed to fire their guns at suspects except in self-defence, and, even then, there are firm guidelines for any given situation.

The writer assumes the gun shot was police. Could easily have been a rioter. Rioters are rioters and some make carry guns and wish to provoke more violence and shot their guns.

Rioters in support of criminals show the level of the community. Phuket is a cesspool of crime a ghetto of drug dealers gangs and mafia.

[BuckBee]

best get use to it as very likely going see much more of this over next year for one reason or another.

[bangkokfrog]

"Justice is to be sought out by peaceful means, as afforded by the law and the courts, not by violence."

A very naive statement. I don't condone violent protests, but one of the REAL problems in Thailand is that for the poor, it is almost impossible to get justice through the courts - especially against police and the military. This leaves people with few options other than some kind of protest to get their point across.

[BSJ]

Secondly, the police are not allowed to fire their guns at suspects except in self-defence, and, even then, there are firm guidelines for any given situation.

The writer assumes the gun shot was police. Could easily have been a rioter. Rioters are rioters and some make carry guns and wish to provoke more violence and shot their guns.

Rioters in support of criminals show the level of the community. Phuket is a cesspool of crime a ghetto of drug dealers gangs and mafia.

"Rioters in support of criminals show the level of the community. " Yes, I find that strange too! The police would have been quite justified in firing live rounds to control the rabble.

[CiaranO]

The very sad part about this case was that as these hooligans block the road rioted on the street burned cars a man having a heart stack traveling in an ambulance was not allowed to pass and died in transit on the way to the hospital.

[benalibina]

Not much Thainess on both sides

Ohhh...well .....in my opinion this is Thainess in its purest form......you aint seen nothing yet...

[Deli]

It's time to use death penalty on drug dealers. Quantity obviously was not for personal consumption of an addict.

And why should't police shoot if someone is fleeing the scene ? Rioters belong behind bars. Case closed.

[halloween]

"We can only ask, again, why petty involvement in illegal drugs must automatically lead to death."

Stupid question. Death was caused by trying to escape from police on a motorcycle, an inherently dangerous action.

[Maggusoil]

Secondly, the police are not allowed to fire their guns at suspects except in self-defence, and, even then, there are firm guidelines for any given situation.

The writer assumes the gun shot was police. Could easily have been a rioter. Rioters are rioters and some make carry guns and wish to provoke more violence and shot their guns.

Rioters in support of criminals show the level of the community. Phuket is a cesspool of crime a ghetto of drug dealers gangs and mafia.

Doesn't it read that the riot was caused by the shooting? So the rioters were not present when the boys were shot. They came after the shooting.

[Gringogazzer]

Secondly, the police are not allowed to fire their guns at suspects except in self-defence, and, even then, there are firm guidelines for any given situation.

The writer assumes the gun shot was police. Could easily have been a rioter. Rioters are rioters and some make carry guns and wish to provoke more violence and shot their guns.

Rioters in support of criminals show the level of the community. Phuket is a cesspool of crime a ghetto of drug dealers gangs and mafia.

Doesn't it read that the riot was caused by the shooting? So the rioters were not present when the boys were shot. They came after the shooting.

I don't believe the boys were shot unless something has changed from what I read yesterday.

They collided they're motorbike with a police car (or vice versa) & died from head injuries.

[cockatoowho]

It's time to use death penalty on drug dealers. Quantity obviously was not for personal consumption of an addict.

And why should't police shoot if someone is fleeing the scene ? Rioters belong behind bars. Case closed.

It is yours and likewise persons mindset that allows this Mafia called Police to operate with impunity.

Quantity of Drugs reported by who? - Police

Who claimed they were Drug dealers? - Police

Executioners? - Police

So with your rationale, the police are all ways correct and can do what they want, when they want, to whom they want. Just a closing thought for you, one day it could be you, your wife or your kids that get fitted up by this grime.

[kennw]

The two on the motorbike fled thru a police checkpoint, the police were correct to chase them, should happen more often. The question that is not yet resolved are the circumstances of the accident. No reason to instigate a riot.

[lovelomsak]

Secondly, the police are not allowed to fire their guns at suspects except in self-defence, and, even then, there are firm guidelines for any given situation.

The writer assumes the gun shot was police. Could easily have been a rioter. Rioters are rioters and some make carry guns and wish to provoke more violence and shot their guns.

Rioters in support of criminals show the level of the community. Phuket is a cesspool of crime a ghetto of drug dealers gangs and mafia.

Doesn't it read that the riot was caused by the shooting? So the rioters were not present when the boys were shot. They came after the shooting.

You are pretty confused here sir. The drug dealers werenot shot. Learn to read please. a shot was fired well people were rioting.and the writer of the article assumed it was the police.

[ZABA]

Secondly, the police are not allowed to fire their guns at suspects except in self-defence, and, even then, there are firm guidelines for any given situation.

The writer assumes the gun shot was police. Could easily have been a rioter. Rioters are rioters and some make carry guns and wish to provoke more violence and shot their guns.

Rioters in support of criminals show the level of the community. Phuket is a cesspool of crime a ghetto of drug dealers gangs and mafia.

Doesn't it read that the riot was caused by the shooting? So the rioters were not present when the boys were shot. They came after the shooting.

You are pretty confused here sir. The drug dealers werenot shot. Learn to read please. a shot was fired well people were rioting.and the writer of the article assumed it was the police.

"A gunshot - or something sounding like one - was heard..."

[Maggusoil]

Secondly, the police are not allowed to fire their guns at suspects except in self-defence, and, even then, there are firm guidelines for any given situation.

The writer assumes the gun shot was police. Could easily have been a rioter. Rioters are rioters and some make carry guns and wish to provoke more violence and shot their guns.

Rioters in support of criminals show the level of the community. Phuket is a cesspool of crime a ghetto of drug dealers gangs and mafia.

Doesn't it read that the riot was caused by the shooting? So the rioters were not present when the boys were shot. They came after the shooting.

You are pretty confused here sir. The drug dealers werenot shot. Learn to read please. a shot was fired well people were rioting.and the writer of the article assumed it was the police.

thank you for the lenience, it was too earl to be doing this

[lovelomsak]

Secondly, the police are not allowed to fire their guns at suspects except in self-defence, and, even then, there are firm guidelines for any given situation.

The writer assumes the gun shot was police. Could easily have been a rioter. Rioters are rioters and some make carry guns and wish to provoke more violence and shot their guns.

Rioters in support of criminals show the level of the community. Phuket is a cesspool of crime a ghetto of drug dealers gangs and mafia.

Doesn't it read that the riot was caused by the shooting? So the rioters were not present when the boys were shot. They came after the shooting.

You are pretty confused here sir. The drug dealers werenot shot. Learn to read please. a shot was fired well people were rioting.and the writer of the article assumed it was the police.

"A gunshot - or something sounding like one - was heard..."

I stand corrected sorry didnot bother to go back and read again was to busy clarifying his mistake

[phantomfiddler]

These 2 drug dealers must have been a very well known and loved pair to have elicited such a reaction ! No, I doubt if most of the rioters even knew them. They were rioting against the Phuket police force, and I would be surprised if they did not have reason to attack a small outpost of the largest and untouchable criminal organisation in Thailand

[Bernard Flint]

Secondly, the police are not allowed to fire their guns at suspects except in self-defence, and, even then, there are firm guidelines for any given situation.

The writer assumes the gun shot was police. Could easily have been a rioter. Rioters are rioters and some make carry guns and wish to provoke more violence and shot their guns.

Rioters in support of criminals show the level of the community. Phuket is a cesspool of crime a ghetto of drug dealers gangs and mafia.

WHAT????????????????????????????

[Bernard Flint]

tHAILAND IS A VERY SAFE PLACE, INCLUDING MOST OF THE RESORTS.hOWEVER PHUKET SEEMS LAWLESS

[Seastallion]

"... let this be a lesson to the stern rule of the National Council for Peace and Order and the military-led government: social justice is important to ordinary citizens, and in these empowered times they are less likely to tolerate injustice. .."

Meant to indicate that the government needs to address justice fairly and consistently.

Taken by the government as a good reason to stop empowering the citizens with knowledge and freedoms.

[Ulic]

It's time to use death penalty on drug dealers. Quantity obviously was not for personal consumption of an addict.

And why should't police shoot if someone is fleeing the scene ? Rioters belong behind bars. Case closed.

One has to remember the police did not know about the drugs when they gave chase. For

that matter we are not 100% sure the drugs were not planted to justify the chase.

But on another level, why stop at death penalty for dealers, may as well add users to the list.

And alcohol is a mood altering drug as well so we may as well and it to the list and gun down

bar owners, servers and patrons.

[dageurreotype]

Oh drugs drugs drugs blah blah blah , go do yourselves a favour and do some DMT. Might raise your consciousness a tad. The only 'rabble' I consistently see is on this forum.

[Farang99]

"Justice is to be sought out by peaceful means, as afforded by the law and the courts, not by violence."

A very naive statement. I don't condone violent protests, but one of the REAL problems in Thailand is that for the poor, it is almost impossible to get justice through the courts - especially against police and the military. This leaves people with few options other than some kind of protest to get their point across.

Remember that Thaksin instigated the policy of death for drug traffickers - the police were just following his guidelines

[RoboGeisha]

"We can only ask, again, why petty involvement in illegal drugs must automatically lead to death."
The author may be baffled but speeding may lead to death. You can hit a (police) car, a dog or a pothole. With or without drugs.

Edited October 13, 2015 by RoboGeisha

[chilli42]

So thoughtful, so wise.