Police nab red shirt protester for violence at Parliament

Admitting that he was the culprit captured in a photo, Nakhon Panom native Chokchai Khamleu said he did that out of impulsive anger because he wanted to take a revenge for the bullies done to "his beloved (previous) government" and he could not accept the Democrat-led government.

He said he was not hired by anyone to join the Monday rally and he had joined most red-shirted demonstrations.

This Samut Prakan factory worker was among the six people for whom the Bangkok court issued arrest warrants after they were identified as the wrongdoers by photo and video footage evidences. The six would face the charge of gathering in a group of more than 10 persons to assault or create chaos; the charge of assault that was punishable for up to two years in jail and/or Bt4,000 in fine; the charge of property damage that was punishable for up to three years in prison and/or Bt6,000 in fine; and the charge of illegal detention that was punishable for up to five years in jail and/or Bt10,000 in fine.

Assistant to national police chief Pol Lt Gen Panupong Singhara Na Ayutthaya presided over a meeting yesterday for preparation of crowd-controlling tactics.  Some 30,000 red-shirted protesters were expected to rally at Parliament on Tuesday (Dec 23) to pressure Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva not to announce policies as scheduled on Friday (Dec 26).

Acting metropolitan police chief Pol Maj Gen Ekkarat Meepreecha said before the meeting that the police's crowd controlling rehearsal on Wednesday was not satisfactory thus more practices were needed and each police unit function would be detailed. As for the MPs' security guarding plan on the policy-announcing day, Ekkarat said he would propose to the metropolitan police chief the employment of police officers guarding each MP.