Protester delighted with NCCC
Ritthirong Likhitprasertkul, an anti-Thaksin protester, who was assaulted at Central World shopping complex last year, said he was pleased to hear the decision by the National Counter Corruption Commission (NCCC) that a senior police officer was guilty.
The police should also be able to arrest Charan Chong-on, another suspect who assaulted him, if they try seriously, he said. "I now live with my children upcountry. They said I should stay away from politics as I'm old, but I think the country belongs to everyone. We have to do something if the government does something wrong. I don't get involved now, but I always follow what's going on," Ritthirong, now 69, said. The NCCC agreed on Thursday that Pol Colonel Ritthirong Thepchanda, a former Metropolitan Police superintendent, had abused his power by ordering his men to assault protesters who shouted at Thaksin on August 21 last year. NCCC chairman Panthep Klanarongran said Ritthirong had told his officers to arrest Vichai Ua-piyaphan and Ritthirong Likhitprasertkul, who were among the anti-Thaksin protesters, which had led to an assault on both protesters by the officers and some of Thaksin's supporters, including Charan, who were believed to be plain clothes policemen.
Sumalee Harnpanyapichit
The Nation
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