Police nab 2 Thais, 15 Cambodians after riot

[Flashermac]

 

 

CHON BURI : Fifteen Cambodian workers and two Thais allegedly involved in a weekend riot at a processed chicken factory have been arrested.

 

The riot took place at GFPT Nichirei (Thailand) Co in Chon Buri's Nong Yai district on Sunday night.

 

Four police vehicles were damaged by Cambodian workers after officers took away two Thai workers said to be involved in the brawl.

 

Pol Col Yongyuth Khondok, deputy chief of Chon Buri police, yesterday said police investigators would speed up an investigation into the riot.

 

The two Thai workers - Chiew Cha-oumprakhon and Chuwit Mongsungnoen - had allegedly physically assaulted Cambodian workers.

 

A source said police charged the two Thai workers with assault and charged the 15 Cambodians with obstructing police and destroying state property.

 

Pol Col Yongyuth said police would handle the case carefully for fear that the incident might affect relations between the two countries. He promised justice to both sides.

 

GFPT Nichirei's human resources manager Rattika Jintanapol said the factory would let police handle the case but would take responsibility for all damage caused by the riot.

 

If the probe found the Thais guilty, they would be sacked. The Cambodians, if found guilty, would be deported, she said.

 

The factory employs about 2,500 workers - 1,500 Thais and 1,000 Cambodians, she said.

 

Pa Yu, head of the Cambodian workers, said the incident was caused by a misunderstanding, as the Cambodian workers only wanted the two Thais to apologise for an earlier incident.

 

Before the riot, some Thai and Cambodian workers had drunk alcohol together after work. They quarrelled and two of the Thais allegedly assaulted their Cambodian colleagues. The Cambodians demanded an apology but violence erupted.

 

Police rushed to the area and took the two Thais to a police station for questioning, but the Cambodians did not want police intervention.

 

The disgruntled Cambodians then moved to police vehicles to prevent them from taking the Thais, forcing the officers to abandon their vehicles.

 

The Cambodians damaged four police vehicles in a fit of frustration. Tensions grew as the workers threatened to set the factory and workers' living quarters ablaze. More than 300 more police, fire trucks and firemen were called to the area.

 

Chon Buri police chief Thanet Pinmuangngarm and senior police officers rushed to the factory to talk with representatives of the Cambodian workers and factory management on Sunday night. The situation returned to normal after four hours of negotiations.

 

 

 

Bangkok Post