Yingluck verdict: Police prepared for 'all dimensions'

[webfact]

Police prepared for ‘all dimensions'

By SURIYA PATATAYO 
JITTRAPORN SENWONG 
THE NATION

 

An Explosive Ordnance Disposal team inspects the area around the Supreme Court on Chaengwattana Road.

 

BANGKOK: -- SECURITY OFFICIALS have assessed “all dimensions” that could unfold today when the court rules on the case of former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra, including the possibility that she might attempt to flee the country after the verdict, said National Police Chief Pol General Chakthip Chaijinda yesterday.

 

The police team involved in preparing for the verdict and public reaction have plans to deal with a “worst-case” scenario, said Army Chief Chalermchai Sitthisart, who is also secretary to the National Council for Peace and Order.

 

Chakthip said security officials will be closely monitoring “all dimensions” of the verdict and its aftermath, including those involving key figures such as Yingluck and even her brother, former PM Thaksin Shinawatra.

 

 

Leaving little to chance, police are prepared for the possibility of Yingluck attempting to flee Thailand after the verdict, while keeping close watch on moves by her brother, Thaksin, who fled overseas in 2008 to escape charges of abuse of power.

 

Chakthip has placed his deputy, Pol General Srivara Rangsibhramanakul, in charge of the situation. The large and very visible police presence consists of at least 24 units, of 150 officers each, to take care of security around the court compound. There will be three checkpoints set up, and one central security unit in front of the compound to monitor the situation.

 

Chaktrip said he trusted the force could handle whatever arose, but wanted to ensure there would no trouble caused by a third party.

 

Social media would also be under surveillance, he said.

 

 

Chalermchai, the Army chief, said the situation was still “normal” and no signs of problems had emerged as of yesterday. 

 

He added that security officials had prepared detailed measures to deal with multiple issues, including a worst-case scenario, in the event that the verdict-reading runs on into the evening. 

 

However, he said that serious trouble is unlikely, adding that the military had no plans to set up checkpoints at the court site, but would rather leave security duties to the police. 

 

Assessments suggest 3,000 to 3,500 Yingluck supporters will show up outside the court, said the general. Their legal right to travel to the court to support Yingluck would not be infringed upon, he said, before warning that anyone violating the law would face legal action.

 

Authorities have reportedly set up checkpoints on roads leading to Bangkok, while red-shirt leaders are being interviewed by police. Prime Yingluck has added her voice to a request from Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha that Yingluck supporters stay away from the court today. Yingluck suggested that people stay home and watch events unfold on TV rather than risk a confrontation triggered by “third parties”.

 

Police measures to secure the court compound yesterday included a sweep by bomb disposal officers from the Royal Thai Police’s Explosive Ordinance Disposal unit. They will also be deployed today along with sniffer-dogs to check the compound for suspicious objects, according to Patrol and Special Operation division commander Pol Maj-General Surachet Hakpan.

 

Meanwhile police have installed barricades to prevent the crowd from entering the prohibited area. Satellite vans are now parked court-side to receive signals from CCTV cameras installed in the area. Plainclothes officers will also be deployed to mingle with the crowd today, said Metropolitan Police deputy commander Pol Maj-General Panurat Lakboon.

 

 

“We believe that supporters have no ill-intention, but we want to ensure there will be no trouble caused by a third party,” said Panurat.

 

The Supreme Court is today set to hand down a final verdict in the rice-pledging cases against Yingluck and her former commerce minister, Boonsong Teriyapirom.

 

If convicted of malfeasance and dereliction of duty, Yingluck could face up to 10 years in jail. She could also be required to pay more than Bt35 billion lost through alleged failures in the implementation of the rice-subsidy policy. 

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/politics/30324798

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2017-08-25

 

[Samui Bodoh]

55 minutes ago, webfact said:

Their legal right to travel to the court to support Yingluck would not be infringed upon, he said, before warning that anyone violating the law would face legal action.

 

You have legal rights, but if you exercise them, you are going to jail.

 

What a unique interpretation of rights...

 

[Somtamnication]

Either way they rule, it is a shameful day for Thailand. These people have a lot to learn about freedom of assembly.

[ChrisY1]

The RTP would not have any idea how to prepare for "all dimensions".

The junta have now stopped people' rights of travel....

Thailand is evolving, quite quickly,  into an oppressively ruled military country......and sanctions are needed to stop this.

[coulson]

They're prepared today but are they prepared for her increased martyrdom as a result of the way it's been handled?

[Dave67]

Headlining on Beeb News

[Chang_paarp]

Are they the dodgy "bomb detectors" being used to check the shrubbery? 

I suppose they bought them so they may as well use them.

[webfact]

Thailand deploys 4,000 police as Yingluck supporters gather ahead of court ruling

By Aukkarapon Niyomyat and Panu Wongcha-um

 

FILE PHOTO: Ousted former Thai prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra greets supporters as she arrives at the Supreme Court in Bangkok, Thailand, August 1, 2017. REUTERS/Athit Perawongmetha/File Photo

 

BANGKOK/KHON KAEN (Reuters) - Hundreds of supporters of ousted former Thai prime minister Yingluck began to gather outside Bangkok's Supreme Court early on Friday hours before the court was due to rule on a negligence case against her in which she faces up to 10 years in prison.

 

The long-awaited verdict could inflame tension in the Southeast Asian country and have far-reaching implications in the politically divided kingdom.

 

Bangkok's metropolitan police said around 4,000 police were deployed at the court and checkpoints had been set up.

 

A rice subsidy programme - a flagship policy of Yingluck's administration - saw her government buy farmers' crops at prices up to 50 percent higher than market prices. The policy was popular with farmers but left Thailand with huge rice stockpiles and caused $8 billion in losses.

 

Yingluck, who has pleaded not guilty to the negligence charges against her, has said she was only in charge of coming up with the policy but not the day-to-day management of the scheme. Her administration was removed in a 2014 military coup.

 

In the northeastern province Khon Kaen, a Shinawatra stronghold, a leader of the red shirt political movement that supports Yingluck said her supporters felt frustrated.

 

"Some people may want to demonstrate publicly to show their unhappiness about how Yingluck is being treated," he said.

 

Shinawatra's Puea Thai Party has said it does not support acts of violence and urged supporters to gather peacefully.

 

Some supporters outside the court in Bangkok held roses while others wore white gloves with the word "love" on them.

 

Bangon Saeliang, 56, a market vendor from Bangkok, said she turned up to support Yingluck because she felt the former prime minister had done nothing wrong.

 

"Farmers benefited from the scheme," she said.

 

Before giving a verdict in Yingluck's case, the court will rule in the case of Yingluck's former commerce minister Boonsong Teriyapirom who is accused of falsifying government-to-government rice deals between Thailand and China in 2013.

 

The Shinawatra family has dominated Thai politics for more than 15 years and their parties have won every general election since 2001, but it is at the heart of a bitter and bloody power struggle in Thailand.

Yingluck's brother, former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, was ousted in a 2006 coup. Supporters of the Shinawatras accuse the ruling generals of political persecution.

 

The military government has acknowledged it wants to maintain permanent influence over future elected governments, partly through a new constitution that took effect earlier this year.

 

Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, who led the 2014 coup against Yingluck's government, has said the coup was to end political turmoil in the country. He has promised that an election will be held next year.

 

Regardless of whether she is found guilty or innocent, Yingluck will not be able to run in that election because she was banned from politics for five years in 2015 by the junta's legislature for alleged graft in the rice-purchasing programme.

 

If Yingluck is found guilty she has 30 days to appeal and is expected to post bail, avoiding any immediate prison time.

 

(Additional reporting by Amy Sawitta Lefevre, Donna Airoldi, Jorge Silva Panarat Thepgumpant, Panu Wongcha-um, Pracha Hariraksapitak and Suphanida Thakral; Writing by Amy Sawitta Lefevre; Editing by Michael Perry)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2017-08-25

[cornishcarlos]

Would be great if only a few hundred turned up and behaved themselves...

Then the "third party" would be called upon by the junta, because they need some trouble in order to postpone those pesky elections again !!

[worgeordie]

"police are prepared for the possibility of Yingluck attempting to flee Thailand "  the powers that be, will be very disappointed if she does not, as that would solve a lot of problems for them.

 

regards worgeordie

[Dave67]

1 minute ago, worgeordie said:

"police are prepared for the possibility of Yingluck attempting to flee Thailand "

the powers that be,will be very disappointed if she does not,as that would solve 

a lot of problems for them.

 

regards worgeordie

Hence the new 30 day appeal law

[klauskunkel]

The RTP, your modern dimensional police force

 

 

 

Be prepared, a dimension could just pop up anywhere:

 

 

Turn it off, there is an inter-dimensional plaque in the area!

Edited August 25, 2017 by klauskunkel

[NCC1701A]

are the police prepared for The Fifth Dimension?

 

 

Edited August 25, 2017 by NCC1701A

[gummy]

4 minutes ago, NCC1701A said:

are the police prepared for The Fifth Dimension?

 

 

Well if they turned up perhaps they would get the 3 Degree

[alfalfa19]

wow!  even the fifth dimension?   

 

[Mister Fixit]

'The large and very visible police presence consists of at least 24 units, of 150 officers each, '

 

So, there's 3,600 reasons for it all to go wrong.  

[steven100]

3 hours ago, Somtamnication said:

Either way they rule, it is a shameful day for Thailand. These people have a lot to learn about freedom of assembly.

Yes,  it's shameful that she can allegedly amass billions of baht, property and assets that were meant for the thai economy and it's people. Your correct in that the Shins have a lot to learn about truthful governance.

Edited August 25, 2017 by steven100

[DavisH]

So the 3000-3500 Yingluck supported doesn't constitute a "political gathering". I thought they were limited to 5 people. Why would ANYONE be allowed to gather there?

Edited August 25, 2017 by DavisH

[NCC1701A]

8:23am: Even Yingluck’s team of staff and former Pheu Thai MPs may have no idea whereabouts of Yingluck. Reporters at the court talk to them and they say they are just waiting at the court.

8:15am: Yingluck is still not seen as leaving home, leading to speculation that she may stay overnight somewhere lese, not at home.

[LannaGuy]

5 minutes ago, steven100 said:

Yes,  it's shameful that she can amass billions of baht, property and assets that were meant for the thai economy and it's people. Your correct in that the Shins have a lot to learn about truthful governance.

You  have proof?  or just more defamatory accusations from behind the safety of a keyboard?   disgraceful  

[Nickymaster]

PT party obviously thought they would stay in power for a long time and therefor were not prepared to be caught stealing billions.

 

Let's hope the courts do the right thing and put her in jail. And let's hope it will be a lesson for future corrupt politicians.

[LannaGuy]

5 minutes ago, Nickymaster said:

PT party obviously thought they would stay in power for a long time and therefor were not prepared to be caught stealing billions.

 

Let's hope the courts do the right thing and put her in jail. And let's hope it will be a lesson for future corrupt politicians.

Oh she is in Court for corruption?  that's a new one on me but you know best right?

[soalbundy]

1 hour ago, worgeordie said:

"police are prepared for the possibility of Yingluck attempting to flee Thailand "  the powers that be, will be very disappointed if she does not, as that would solve a lot of problems for them.

 

regards worgeordie

It seems that they already know the verdict, nothing about policing a celebration venue if she is found not guilty

[NCC1701A]

she has not arrived at court.

Edited August 25, 2017 by NCC1701A

[mike324]

A poorly worded article and people are up in arms about the writer using the word "dimension" and slamming the police? I'm sure the word "dimension" in Thai made more sense than the writers translate choice of word. Take it easy folks, its only 9am.

[robblok]

4 hours ago, Somtamnication said:

Either way they rule, it is a shameful day for Thailand. These people have a lot to learn about freedom of assembly.

Where I come from (the Netherlands) you have to ask if you can assemble and protests and mayors can deny this if they feel the risk of violence is high. Given the red shirts their past I would say there is a high risk. 

 

Lets see what the ruling brings. I think guilty a fine but no jailtime.

[LannaGuy]

Just now, robblok said:

Where I come from (the Netherlands) you have to ask if you can assemble and protests and mayors can deny this if they feel the risk of violence is high. Given the red shirts their past I would say there is a high risk. 

 

Lets see what the ruling brings. I think guilty a fine but no jailtime.

I agree that's a high possibility but she will appeal and come out the heroine. They may not have wanted a martyr but they sure have one now!  History will shower her with praise and not the hyenas.     

[soalbundy]

Just now, robblok said:

Where I come from (the Netherlands) you have to ask if you can assemble and protests and mayors can deny this if they feel the risk of violence is high. Given the red shirts their past I would say there is a high risk. 

 

Lets see what the ruling brings. I think guilty a fine but no jailtime.

I agree, they will try the middle way, no sense in having a martyr doing time with weekly interviews from the press about how she is suffering for the poor of the country

[robblok]

13 minutes ago, soalbundy said:

I agree, they will try the middle way, no sense in having a martyr doing time with weekly interviews from the press about how she is suffering for the poor of the country

Not only that but I have yet to see  a real HISO go to jail in this country. 

[LannaGuy]

38 minutes ago, soalbundy said:

I agree, they will try the middle way, no sense in having a martyr doing time with weekly interviews from the press about how she is suffering for the poor of the country

Too late she's a martyr already to most Thais I know.