Police probe in wake of Klong Toei violence

Klong Toey vendors rallied in front of the Parliament, asking the government to end the violence.

Pol Colonel Somchai Phatchara-into, deputy chief of the Metropolitan Police Division 5, is accused of having failed to report the attacks by employees of Legal Professional on the vendors on Monday to his superior. He also lied that nothing had happened when contacted directly by his superior, said Bangkok police chief Pol Lt General Worraphong Chiwapreecha.

Somchai will serve in an inactive post for 15 days and has been replaced by Pol Colonel Songphol Watthanachai. The transfer has reportedly been ordered directly by Interior Minister Suthep Thaugsuban. The chief of Port Police, Pol Colonel Watcharaphong Damrongsri, remains in his position despite vendors' demands for his transfer.

Phanida na Nakhon, an advocate for the vendors, said so-called "real vendors" had been affected by the protesting vendors, who blocked major roads in nearby areas and set up funerals for two men killed allegedly by company employees at Klong Toei intersection.

She said the real vendors had paid daily fees to the previous concessionaire, many times each day and without receipts. Under the new concession granted by the Ports Authority of Thailand to Legal Professional, the fees were lower and conditions had improved.

Phanida and around 50 real vendors had earlier submitted their petition to the Bangkok police chief and later to Suthep at Government House. She accused certain media members of fabricating their news reports in favour of the protesting vendors while vilifying the real vendors.