Policeman 'Mistaken' As Gunman, Brutally Beaten By Protesters

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28 January 2014, 18:09

(28 January) A policeman was brutally beaten by anti-government protesters after they mistook him as a hostile gunman, a governmental body has claimed.

The chaos broke out today when the protesters were besieging Army Club on Vibhavadi-Rangsit Road, where Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and her Cabinet members were appointed to meet with Election Commission (EC) officials for discussion.

The protesters, who were led by the People′s Committee for Absolute Democracy With the King As Head of State (PCAD), have threatened to storm into the venue and apprehended Ms. Yingluck along with her entire Cabinet.

Police officers and soldiers, backed by concrete barricades and other reinforcements, guarded the entrance to the Army Club. The situation became markedly tense when protesters broke through the front gate, and slowly approached the police line.

Just then, a gunshot was heard from other side of the multiple-lane Vibhavadi Road. A large group of protesters immediately ran to investigate the source, while others ran for cover in panic.

What happened next is extremely hazy, our correspondent said. A shout went up among the protesters that the gunman had been apprehended at a soi opposite the Army Club, a number of individuals injured by the gunshots has been reported.

PCAD guards also claimed to have found some evidences in the area, such as a motorcycle allegedly driven by the gunman, a motorcycle taxi jacket, a pair of handcuffs, and a magazine of 11 mm. handgun.

It later emerged that the assailant has been mobbed by the protesters and transported to hospital. The injured protesters were likewise sent to hospital, but it is not immediately clear how many have been wounded by the gunfire.

Police officers, distrusted by the protesters, were not allowed to inspect the crime scene, and the evidences reportedly found at the scene were handed to military personnel who were assisting the protesters instead.

The Center for Maintaining Peace and Order (CMPO) later released a statement claiming that the alleged gunman apprehended and assaulted by PCAD protesters was in fact a police detective officer who had been placed among the protesters for intelligence gathering.

According to the statement released by CMPO, the policeman was falsely accused of shooting at the protesters and assaulted by the nearby protesters, who also allegedly attempted to seize his sidearm. The officer reportedly tried to flee the scene, only to be mobbed by more anti-government protesters.

CMPO described the officer′s injuries as "severe".

The claim cannot be independently verified at the moment; both governmental officials and anti-government leaders have accused each other of deploying provocateurs to stage numerous violent incidents in the past weeks.

Meanwhile, PCAD spokesman, Mr. Ekkanat Prompan, accused the police force of conspiring with individuals who attacked one of the protesters′ convoy at Wat Sri Eiam Temple on 26 January. A PCAD prominent leader was also shot to death during the clashes.

Mr. Ekkanat also demanded that the police step up their investigation on other cases of violence against the protesters, such as the grenade attack on PCAD rally at Victory Monument on 19 January, and alleged that the police are deliberately slow in their effort to locate the suspects.

"If the police still do nothing, it would demonstrate that the RTP is related to these incidents," Mr. Ekkanat said, referring to the Royal Thai Police.

Furthermore, Mr. Ekkanat criticised the police force for planting undercover police officers who "behaved suspiciously" in their protest sites.

"In many incidents, the police infiltrated into the protests and behaved suspiciously," Mr. Ekkanat said, "But when an incident occurred, they would always blame a third hand party".

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Bomb Attacks On Anti-Govt Rally & Leader's House

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28 January 2014, 16:54

Anti-government protesters blocking a road in Tax province, 27 January 2014

(28 January) Daily violence against anti-government protesters continues, after an explosive was thrown at one of the protesters' rally sites last night.

The target was the camp site maintained by the Student and People Network for the Reform of Thailand (SRT) protesters near the Government House and he Office of the Public Sector Development Commission (OPDC).

One man reportedly suffered a minor injury from the incident.

Mr. Nasser Yimah, leader of the protesters′ guard unit, stated that the "giant firecrackers" were thrown from the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) building at approximately 22.00 last night.

He added that his security team had strengthened the security measures around the protesting grounds. They have also closed all the entrance and exit routes to search for the culprit, but the suspect was not found.

Military Police who stationed nearby also reportedly assisted the protesters in managing the situation.

All evidence from the scene was initially seized by the security team, and Mr. Nasser said they would be handed to the police soon afterwards. The leaders later tried to cheer up the crowd, and the situation returned to normalcy.

On the same night, another incident was also reported from a residence of Mr. Samran Rodpetch, a core leader of People′s Committee for Absolute Democracy With the King As Head of State (PCAD).

Reportedly, unknown assailants threw a grenade into the residence, which is located in Bangkok′s Ram Intra area, causing damages to the living room and one car.

Mr. Samran was not at home during the incident. His wife who was present at the scene was unharmed. The police later arrived at the scene to investigate the evidences.

Anti-government protesters and the residence of their leaders have come under frequent attacks from shadowy assailants in recent weeks.

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Chalerm Flees Meeting After Taunting Protesters

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28 January 2014, 15:24

Mr. Chalerm Yoobamrung talking to reporters at the Army Club

(28 January) Commander of the Center for Maintaining Peace and Order (CMPO) has fled a meeting shortly after he challenged the besieging anti-government protesters.

Supporters of the People′s Committee for Absolute Democracy With the King As Head of State (PCAD) have marched to lay siege at the Army Club on Vibhavadi Road this afternoon, where Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and her Cabinet appointed to hold a meeting.

PCAD threatened to break into the venue and "capture" Ms. Yingluck and her Cabinet members. The protest leaders also demanded the government dissolve CMPO within 24 hours.

But CMPO chairman, Mr. Chalerm Yoobamrung, derided PCAD′s demands. "Are the protesters confused?" Mr. Chalerm asked. He also criticised the PCAD′s threat to surround CMPO headquarters at the Police Club tomorrow.

Nevertheless, he said, the CMPO has already arranged an emergency headquarters venue in Nakhon Pathom province lest "problems" occurred. Mr. Chalerm insisted the plan should not be seen as a retreat, as he is confident he can defend the headquarters from the protesters.

"The protesters have acted too much like gangsters," Mr. Chalerm said, "If they are still acting like gangster by storming Army Club and Police Club, I would like them to storm their own properties".

He added, "We have already warned them, but if they still don′t listen to us, they are welcomed to try".

However, as the protests in front of the Army Club grew more tense, especially after an unknown assailant reportedly fired shots at the protesters, Mr. Chalerm changed his mind and quickly fled the meeting venue through the back exit.

Mr. Chalerm′s current whereabouts is unknown.

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Mall Employee Allegedly Beaten, Robbed By Protesters

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28 January 2014, 14:33

Mr. Siam Thanachattranond filing complaint with the police at Pathumwan Police Station

(28 January) An employee of Siam Center shopping mall has filed a complaint to police after was reportedly beaten and robbed by anti-government protesters.

Mr. Siam Thanachattranond, 30, told officers at Pathumwan Police Station that he was traveling to work at around 09.30 yesterday when he was stopped by volunteer guards of the People′s Committee for Absolute Democracy With the King As Head of State (PCAD) at Chalermla Bridge, metres away from the shopping mall.

PCAD protesters have been occupying Pathumwan Intersection, the famous shopping district of Bangkok, for three weeks, and PCAD guards have set up security checkpoints around the area.

According to Mr. Siam, the guards asked him for his ID card, which he complied, but one of the guards aggressively asked him "Why the fuck are you looking at my face?", before the entire group mobbed and beat him.

In a statement to the police, Mr. Siam said the PCAD guards took his iPhone 5, eyeglasses, cap, and 15,000 baht – a total loss of approximately 50,000 baht. One of the assailants also hit his head, Mr. Siam said, adding that he kept screaming for help but no one in the vicinity dared to help him.

A Bangkok authority official later reportedly came to help Mr. Siam wipe the blood from his head injury, and told him not to argue with the PCAD guards as they are known to be very aggressive. The official also escorted him to a first aid station nearby, Mr. Siam said. His wound reportedly required 5 stitches.

Pol.Maj.Gen. Wallop Prathummueang said he has instructed the officers to coordinate the investigation with PCAD leaders in order to locate the suspects.

He added that a 53 year old police officer was also beaten by PCAD guards in the same area yesterday morning as he traveled through the intersection for work at the Royal Thai Police Headquarters. The protesters reportedly took away the officer′s 3,000 baht cash, a .357 pistol, and 5 bullets, Pol.Maj.Gen. Wallop said.

Mr. Siam later posted on his Facebook profile that he has previously joined anti-government rallies with his friends, but he has now "lost faith" in the movements after the incident at Pathumwan Intersection.

"It hurts," Mr. Siam wrote, "Not the wound. It hurts in my heart".

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Fire At Suvarnabhumi Airport Not Terrorism: Chatchart

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28 January 2014, 14:08

(28 January) Transport Minister Chatchart Sitthipan has insisted that terrorism was not behind the case of a burning luggage at Suvarnabhumi Airport earlier this morning.

Reports say the luggage, which belongs to a Thai passenger on a Bangkok Airway′s flight, suddenly caught fire on a conveyor belt at Suvarnabhumi, which is one of Bangkok′s two international airports.

Airport staff extinguished the fire, and the airport is now reportedly resuming normal operations.

According to Pol.Col. Phumin Singhasut, Chief of Suvarnabhumi Police Station, the luggage belongs to an agricultural instructor who is carrying Urea fertilizer to a seminar in Cambodia.

Transport Minister Chatchart also indicated that the passenger has packed phosphorous substances into the luggage to demonstrate them later to his Cambodian customers.

It is believed that the heat and the friction on the conveyor belt had caused the small blaze, he added.

“It is still fortunate that the luggage was burning before it is loaded into the plane”, said Mr. Chatchart, “this could be really dangerous if it is on fire after the plane takes off”.

Mr. Chatchart also said he firmly believes that the incident does not involve terrorism, but had instructed the police officers to carefully investigate the case.

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Khaosarn Staff Might Be Axed Due To Protests

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28 January 2014, 13:20

Anti-government protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban greeting his supporters, 27 January 2014

(28 January) Restaurants and other venues would have to inevitably cut jobs due to the ongoing political crisis , experts have warned.

Ms. Taniwan Kulamongol, President of Thai Restaurant Association (TRA), stated that since the government announced the State of Emergency on 22 January in response to the spree of political violence, restaurants nationwide have suffered an initial loss of nearly 300 million baht.

10,000 out of 30,000 TRA members are located in Bangkok and its perimeters, and have been affected by the political situation, Ms. Taniwan said.

She warned that if the conflict prolongs with no peaceful resolution in sight, many restaurants will need to cut jobs, particularly the waiting staff, as cash flows have been drained within the period of three months.

Mr.Sa-nga Rueangwattanaul, President of Khaosarn Road Business Association (KRBA), added that since the anti-government protests broke out in November 2013, the revenue of several businesses have decreased approximately 40-50%, and the booking rate for hotel and guesthouses in the famed backpacker street has dropped by 50%.

The enforcement of the Emergency Decree also worsened the declining income for these businesses, Mr. Sa-nga said.

The loss in revenue may eventually prompt businesses to dismiss their part time workers, as well as forcing full time workers to be put on holiday leave with less than normal wage, according to Mr. Sa-nga.

The President of KRBA also warned that if the situation does not end by February, even more employees in many establishments would be "indefinitely" suspended altogether, which may affect no less than 10,000 workers in the area.

Meanwhile, Central Plaza Hotel Public Company Limited (CENTEL) Senior Manager, Mr. Ronnachit Mahatthanaprit, also commented that CENTEL had eliminated all part time positions, and had transferred some of full time staffs to other tourist attractions such as Hua Hin, Pattaya, Phuket.

The situation is a grave contrast to the tourist ′peak time′ period of previous years, in which CENTEL would usually hire 30% extra staff for part time positions, Mr. Ronnachit said.

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'Anti-Govt Protester' Found Dead In Prachachuen

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28 January 2014, 12:39

(28 January) The body of a man with anti-government protest outfit has been found next to a railroad in northern Bangkok.

The body was found 500 metres away from Wat Samien Nari Temple in Prachachuen district on Kampaengpetch Road, and close to Bang Khen train station.

Police estimated the deceased to be approximately 30 years old. He was wearing a black T shirt with anti-government protest logo, a wristband with the pattern of Thai national flag, and a military style black pants.

The man′s chest was punctured by 4 gunshot wounds, inflicted by unidentified type of firearms, while his face also bore some wounds and his left feet was tied by a rope. Police believe the man had been dead for 3 hours before the police reached the crime scene.

Although the man wore clothes similar to anti-government protesters, police officers cautioned that the investigation is ongoing, and his identity is not yet confirmed.

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Govt To Ask 33 Banks For Rice Money Loans

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27 January 2014, 20:15

Farmers protesting in Buriram province, 26 January 2014

(27 January) The government will seek loans from 33 commercial banks in Thailand to pay debt incurred by the rice-pledging scheme, Finance Minister said.

Mr. Kittirat Na Ranong hopes the government will be able to raise 130 billion baht to pay rice farmers who participated in the controversial programme.

The money is expected to be given to the Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Co-Operatives (BAAC), the sole representative responsible for the payment, within this week to clear off debts the government owed to the farmers, Mr. Kittirat said.

According to Mr. Kittirat, the loan from commercial banks should allow the government to process the payment as soon as possible, which is a better option than releasing government bonds.

The Ministry will choose to borrow from the banks who offers the lowest interest rates, he said.

However, he admitted that there are some difficulties for the plan, as anti-government protesters have previously marched to Krung Thai Bank and the Government Savings Bank and demanded that the two banks refuse to lend money to the government, citing possible corruption.

Other banks are also skeptical whether the loan will be ruled illegal by the Constitutional Court later on, Mr. Kittirat noted, since the eligibility of the scheme has been extensively questioned by anti-government critics.

“We must admit that many commercial banks are worried about their image if they decided to lend the government some money for the scheme”, the Finance Minister complained.

However, Public Debt Management Office (PDMO) Advisor, Mr. Suwit Rojanavanich, remains positive about the plan, stating that many banks would be happy to lend the government the funds, and that they are only concerned by the security and interests from the loan.

According to Mr. Suwit, lending the budget to BAAC, which is guaranteed by the Ministry of Finance, is "100% safe" and will allow the banks to secure their large sum of returns rather than looking for small borrowers.

Meanwhile, protests by farmers who demand rice money they had been promised under the programme continued in various rice-growing provinces, such as Kampangpetch, Buriram and Ang thong.

In Kampangpetch, farmers from 11 districts submitted their documents to Mr. Adul Jankamjadphai, president of the provincial lawyer council, expressing their wish to sue the government, BAAC and other related authorities for failing to make the payment as promised.

In Buriram province, farmers in Lamplaimas district gathered yesterday in front of a polling station for advance voting and demanded that the voting be canceled.

The demonstrators also demanded the government to use the election budget to pay the farmers who mortgaged their rice under the scheme. Reportedly, over 50,000 farmers in the province are waiting for the money – a total of more than 4 billion baht.

In Ang Thong province, many farmers joined People′s Committee for Absolute Democracy With the King as Head of State (PCAD) protesters in the occupation of in-bound Asian Highway in Mueang district to demand the payment from the government.

Ang Thong governor, Mr. Pawin Chamniprasat, negotiated with the demonstrators and promised to urge the government to pay the farmers by 31 January. Satisfied by the promise, demonstrators then agreed to disband but threatened that if the government fails to keep their promise, they will protest again on 1 February.

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Ratchaburi PCAD Leader's Residence Attacked

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27 January 2014, 19:20

(27 January) An anti-government protest leader in Ratchaburi province claimed that his political view has led to a shooting on his house earlier today.

Mr. Yutthaphon Pathomsatit, 50, a local core leader of the People′s Committee for Absolute Democracy With the King as Head of State (PCAD), reported to the police that his house came under gunfire attack at approximately 02.45 am on Monday.

He told the police that he heard a sound similar to giant firecrackers in the middle of the night, before he noticed that his metal fence and mirror glazed window had been damaged by gunshots.

Police officers led by Pol.Lt. Sukri Praduka, from Mueang Ratchaburi Police, later investigated the residence, which is also operated as a hardware store, and found two cartridges of 9mm handgun.

Witnesses said they had seen a car parked in front of the residence before a number of of gunshots were fired. The car then sped away from the scene.

Mr. Yutthapon said he believes that he was targeted because of his political activities. He has previously led anti-government protesters to close down several government institutions, and actively protested against the government’s plan to use Mae Klong River as a floodway.

The PCAD activist insisted that he had never engaged in any dispute with anyone, as he believes it could damage his business. However, he believes that some local residents might disagree with his political perspectives.

“As we are all Thai people. We should debate about the views," Mr. Yutthapon said, "If we disagree, we should both carry on living our lives separately and should not turn violent against each other”.

He added, “The incident did not scare me or my family, as we have come beyond that fear. I am determined to move on as a leader and call for a reform before the election takes place".

The incident is the latest act of violence committed by unidentified assailants on anti-government figures. In recent weeks, PCAD supporters and leaders have been targeted by grenade attacks, shootings, and other forms of intimidation.

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New Case Of Pattaya Jet Ski Scam Reported

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27 January 2014, 18:05

(27 January) Five Russian tourists have filed a complaint to Pattaya police that they had been fleeced by the notorious jet ski scam.

One of the Russians told the police they rented 5 jet skis on the beach on Saturday, but when they returned the vehicles, the jet ski operators forced the tourists to pay a large sum of money for "maintenance" fee, claiming that the vehicles had been damaged.

The tourists tried to negotiate for a lower fee, but the jet ski owners later summoned two "uniformed officials" to pressure the the tourists to pay the money, threatening them jail sentence if they refused to make the payment, according to the victims.

The tourists reportedly paid a total cash of 113,000 baht as they feared they would be prosecuted. They also claimed that after the payment was made, the jet ski owner tore apart the photo of the damaged jet ski which was taken before the vehicle was returned.

However, a Thai woman, who is described as a friend of the tourists, later learned of the incident and took them to see the police in Pattaya.

Pol.Lt. Phitak Noensaeng told our correspondent that the police have investigated and identified the uniformed officials who threatened the tourists as two officials who worked for Pattaya Municipality Office.

Police said they will summon the jet ski owners and the officials for further interrogation.

If they are proven to have scammed the tourists, the suspects will be prosecuted by the laws in order to protect Pattaya′s reputation as a tourist destination for foreigners, said Pol.Lt. Phitak.

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