Police ‘fully prepared’ to handle crowds as new threats issued

[webfact]

Police ‘fully prepared’ to handle crowds as new threats issued

By THE NATION

 

Metropolitan Police deputy commander Pol Maj-General Panurat Lakboon makes a point while inspecting security preparations at the Supreme Court yesterday ahead of the verdict reading tomorrow.

 

POLICE ARE “100-per-cent prepared” to provide security tomorrow when thousands of people are expected to gather for the Supreme Court verdict in the case against former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra, according to a top police officer.

 

Meanwhile, in a thinly veiled threat to Yingluck supporters, the junta reminded people that the Public Assembly Act had been in effect since August 13 and that violators would be prosecuted.

 

In a Facebook post yesterday, the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) suggested ways in which people could offer support to the ex-prime minister without violating the law, and also outlined offences under the law.

 

 

Royal Thai Police deputy chief Pol General Srivara Rangsibrahmanakul yesterday said he had assured Supreme Court judges that police were fully prepared for the event. He added that the court was particularly concerned about security and the image of the court. “I told the court that police are 100-per-cent ready,” he said, adding that between 80 and 90 more security cameras would be installed inside the court’s compound, in addition to more than 100 “mobile cameras”. 

 

Earlier yesterday, Srivara had a 90-minute meeting with Supreme Court representatives and commanders of crowd-control units to discuss preparations for the verdict day.

 

Srivara said he did not have any information pointing to a possible untoward incident, adding that authorities had closely monitored people with a history of political extremism.

 

“I believe there will be no problems. But there could be some traffic congestion in the area,” he said.

 

He also urged Yingluck supporters gathering at the court to remain in the area designated for them and to follow instructions from on-duty officials. He warned that those who ignored instructions to disperse would be arrested for violating the public-demonstration law.

 

 

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha yesterday said his government did not want to use force, enforce the law or even get involved in the case. When he was asked if he had any concerns over the matter, Prayut said people should take care of each other and should think for themselves to decide if they could influence or change a court verdict.

 

 

The high court’s Criminal Division for Political Office Holders is scheduled to deliver its verdict tomorrow in the case in which Yingluck is accused of negligence – a charge stemming from her government’s corruption-plagued rice-pledging scheme. On the same day, the court is also scheduled to issue a ruling in a related case against Yingluck’s former commerce minister Boonsong Teriyapirom, his ex-deputy Poom Sarapol and 26 others accused of involvement in allegedly fraudulent deals to sell rice from state stockpiles to the Chinese government.

 

Authorities and politicians from Yingluck’s Pheu Thai Party have said they expected thousands of her supporters to gather at the court, although the estimates differ widely from a little over 1,000 to a few thousand by government officials to at least 10,000 by Pheu Thai politicians and red-shirt leaders.

 

An area of about 1,600 square metres outside the court has been reserved for Yingluck supporters, and the area is expected to accommodate some 4,800 people. 

Hundreds of crowd-control police have been dispatched to the court, many of them reinforcements from the provinces. A number of plainclothes police detectives will also mingle with the crowd to monitor the situation, according to a source familiar with the matter.

 

 

Some police officers stationed inside the court’s compound will carry communications radios that can be used to take photos.

 

Meanwhile, politicians from Yingluck’s Pheu Thai Party yesterday criticised what they described as government overreaction in attempting to block her supporters from coming to Bangkok. Former MP Amnuay Klangpha said he did not expect Yingluck supporters to cause any trouble or unrest.

 

Yingluck yesterday offered alms to monks at her house in the morning and also hosted a meal for monks from a nearby temple. She later went to Wat Rakhang Kositaram, where she offered daily necessities to monks and released fish as to make merit.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/politics/30324721

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2017-08-24

[JAS21]

I don't think they will make the same mistake as Abhist and invite them .......

[wakeupplease]

So day off from second job then I wonder what the overtime rate will be?

[rkidlad]

Well, if the police are as good at pointing under pressure as they are at pointing in pictures, I have complete faith in their crowd control skills. 

[Thechook]

Love the staged pointing photo's 

[Somtamnication]

What threats? The threats of democracy? 

[PatOngo]

Look!  Wat Dhammakaya just took off!

 

 

[Cadbury]

33 minutes ago, Thechook said:

Love the staged pointing photo's 

That point by the police officer would have to be one of the best points I have seen in years. Long stiff finger pointing to the skies.

A bunch of big kids in grown-up's uniforms.

 

[wgdanson]

Communication radios which can take photos?     Are they not called phones?

[YetAnother]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

said he had assured Supreme Court judges that police were fully prepared for the event.

maybe they think there are prepared, maybe it is just more garbage talk; based on how the police handled the 2010 Ratchaprasong situation, i would bet against them handling this one well

[Thailand]

I sincerely hope that Yinglucks supporters gather elswhere or support in another way then the authorities are going to look pretty silly.

No troops,only police, so guess where the blame will fall if anything goes wrong.

Yingluck has made this bunch look like the vindictive old men that they are and convicted (guilty is probably the wrong word) or not will be the only one coming out of this farce with any credibility.

[PatOngo]

We know where Boss Redbull is! There goes his private jet!

 

[Cadbury]

1 hour ago, Thailand said:

I sincerely hope that Yinglucks supporters gather elswhere or support in another way then the authorities are going to look pretty silly.

No troops,only police, so guess where the blame will fall if anything goes wrong.

Yingluck has made this bunch look like the vindictive old men that they are and convicted (guilty is probably the wrong word) or not will be the only one coming out of this farce with any credibility.

Having no troops there for Yingluck comes as a surprise. Even oldies playing bridge in Pattaya some time back deserved only the best with troops in full combat gear and automatic weapons. Also surprised they haven't brushed the cobwebs off the "civil defence" water cannons they had out in 2010.

But tomorrow is another day and still time for the PM to put his brave and highly decorated soldiers on display.

[Misterwhisper]

3 hours ago, rkidlad said:

Well, if the police are as good at pointing under pressure as they are at pointing in pictures, I have complete faith in their crowd control skills. 

Yes, always "100-per-cent prepared" for delivering a dramatically theatrical pointing finger at any suitable and unsuitable moment.

 

Yet I am already eager to find out what excuses they'll come up with if chaos should break out tomorrow. Because they're good at that too. Almost as good as at finger pointing.

[Get Real]

3 hours ago, Cadbury said:

That point by the police officer would have to be one of the best points I have seen in years. Long stiff finger pointing to the skies.

A bunch of big kids in grown-up's uniforms.

 

This image have a great resemblance of something that has been photoshopped. Never seen a finger that long!

[Cadbury]

2 minutes ago, Get Real said:

This image have a great resemblance of something that has been photoshopped. Never seen a finger that long!

You might be right. There is almost something phallic about his finger. Or it might just appear illusionary because the finger is close in the foreground and the rest of his body is in the background.

Or he could just be a diminutive man born with a malformed very long finger.

[Juan B Tong]

The long finger of the law

[Srikcir]

6 hours ago, webfact said:

Srivara had a 90-minute meeting with Supreme Court representatives and commanders of crowd-control units to discuss preparations for the verdict day.

Why would the court care about crowd control and why would Srivara think they do?

The court should simply tell Srivara "Do your job." Takes all of one minute.

Furthermore, the 90-minute meeting gives the impression that a guilty verdict will be read. Obviously there would be no dangerous disruption with a not guilty verdict.

[Baerboxer]

5 hours ago, rkidlad said:

Well, if the police are as good at pointing under pressure as they are at pointing in pictures, I have complete faith in their crowd control skills. 

 

They have the same levels of competency in all their duties.

 

Reassuring 

[Baerboxer]

27 minutes ago, Srikcir said:

Why would the court care about crowd control and why would Srivara think they do?

The court should simply tell Srivara "Do your job." Takes all of one minute.

Furthermore, the 90-minute meeting gives the impression that a guilty verdict will be read. Obviously there would be no dangerous disruption with a not guilty verdict.

 

Maybe perhaps because in the past courts and judges have been targeted by intimidation, threats, bombs by those seeking favorable verdicts for Shiniwattra and their crony defendants?

 

A not guilty verdict could still provoke disruption. Nothing to do with verdict, all to do with Shin rent-a-mob previous behavior.

[chrisinth]

5 hours ago, wgdanson said:

Communication radios which can take photos?     Are they not called phones?

Hope they've taken the mobiles off the snipers, don't need selfies coming out afterwards again.............

[lvr181]

6 hours ago, Cadbury said:

That point by the police officer would have to be one of the best points I have seen in years. Long stiff finger pointing to the skies.

A bunch of big kids in grown-up's uniforms.

 

He has been pointing a long time! The arm and finger have grown like Pinnocchio's nose (for the same reason?). 

 

 

Edited August 24, 2017 by lvr181
Grammar correction

[bendejo]

You know they mean business when they do so much pointing like that.

Those photos strike fear to the heart!

 

 

[Get Real]

3 hours ago, Cadbury said:

You might be right. There is almost something phallic about his finger. Or it might just appear illusionary because the finger is close in the foreground and the rest of his body is in the background.

Or he could just be a diminutive man born with a malformed very long finger.

Yep, I know! It´s probably the camera lens that is playing with the eye. Can almost see that it´s something wrong with the arm too. Very slim and long as well.

Edited August 24, 2017 by Get Real

[maxcorrigan]

4 hours ago, Father Fintan Stack said:

Love the Kraut-Rommel hats too. Bet it makes them feel important. 

And Taller!

[chama]

On 8/23/2017 at 7:35 PM, Thechook said:

Love the staged pointing photo's 

Note that he is gripping his wallet....must feel this will be an opportunity to fatten it up quite a bit!