Comments on: The Morning After

By: BangkokDan

BangkokDan — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 14:59:00 +0000

Here a New Mandala-comment by German photographer Nick Nostitz who was at the Black Tuesday: I have been very busy the last days, but i hope i can find some time to make a more extensive post with pictures on what i have seen at the 7th of October. I have seen Police only using teargas grenades, no “dirty bombs." They had rubber bullet guns, but I have not seen them using them. I do believe the reason that limbs have been torn off is that those grenades were from older Russian manufacture, and not more modern and less lethal ones. Also, when people are tightly packed, the explosive power is naturally higher. The problem is with police being badly under budgeted. They did not use so called “excessive” force. I do absolutely believe that it was the right decision to use gas grenades, as it avoided more direct hand to hand confrontation, which would have most definitely cost far more lives. From what i have seen, police has used appropriate force, and would have been justified to use much harsher methods. It is horrible that people lost their limbs, I have seen several of those injuries. Police did not go out intending to hurt people that way, but they had to use what equipment they have had. PAD, as portrayed by their supporters and members, was not peacefully protesting. PAD has used handguns (at one moment bullets shot by PAD were flying around me), they have used iron balls and screws in slingshots (I have a large bruise from one of them on the stomach, resulting from a PAD attempt to attack metropolitan police headquarters at midday). They have also flung their own teargas grenades, and other explosive devices, which I have seen on numerous occasions during that day and night. PAD has used cars and lorries trying to overrun police, I have seen several such attempts, which were only stopped by police firing teargas grenades directly at those vehicles. I have photographed one police officer who was over run by such a car, and injured. Please do not forget - the law was on that day on the side of police, and not PAD. PAD was, and still is, an armed group whose purpose is escalation, including the use of extreme violence against its opponents. Regardless the picture they and their supporters try to paint. BangkokDan

By: JJ

JJ — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 09:17:18 +0000

Found this comment on the pro-PAD website of http://www.thailandoutlook.tv:

Shame on those accept PAD conquering the Parliment and bringing down the majority. Shme on the Police and Army taking too late action to stop the seize of Parliament and the countries majority rights. PAD alway claims votes buying? How sure are they ( including Democrats)too? Just set up a body with power to curb vote buying. Polish up this area. How can an elected govt to be taken by the neck of these bunch of law breaker. Corruption is a catch word use by the PAD after observing them. Where is peace and prosperity after Thaksin. A little evil is better than bigger evil now. You have destroyed all those who have make the country rich and strong in the past. Even the communist countries overtakes us, Thailand now. Shame on us from the Highest to the Rock bottom Thais. I should change theme “corruption” to theme “greed”. History of mankind repeat itself. It is the majority than support the system and not the minority. Same goes to all govt and dynasty. Sonthi Pati
Sonthi , BKK

By: BangkokDan

BangkokDan — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 00:53:08 +0000

I wish I could follow your logic Pattama.

A provokes B.

A instigates turmoil, threatens major further chaos and does again and again break the law – while B …

The whole country laughingly knows why Chamlong got himself arrested on Sunday. Even Pallop told us so.

Your fight may be honorable Pattama, but the means you choose to fight you’re fight denude your allegedly better world.

You’re dangerous, that’s it.

For one time the PAD got outmaneuvered. The latest chaos action with the occupation of parliament was intended to revive the movement and deliberately provoke the authorities.

Everybody in this country knows this. Why not you?

People carrying home-made bombs – what’s next?

Nobody feels safe anymore, thanks to your honorable quest.

BangkokDan

By: bosunj

bosunj — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 12:55:52 +0000

The ship is going down, yet here you are – merely arguing about where to put the deck chairs.

By: SBThailand

SBThailand — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 10:39:00 +0000

Pattama, they are a paid mob and frankly they meet the definition of terrorist as well. The police have been totally justified in their actions and have shown incredible restraint in dealing with people SHOOTING at them. Do you deny the fact that at least 3 police officers were shot yesterday? One police officer was skewered? Peaceful protesters, my butt!

By: Pattama

Pattama — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 10:18:23 +0000

Two people killed, over 400 injured and government still have nothing wrong with this? And you think this is “Promoting Violence” by a paid mob?

Oh, “a paid yellow mob.” Do you know the father who lost his daughter will give all the money he received as a donation to PAD? And you still call them a paid mob?

I’m sure my English is bad but i know i’ve got more lines of truth than yours.