'don't Remove The Cone': Latest Advice On The Net

[Flashermac]

The message "Don't remove the cone" has been spread both seriously and in jest in social media after another case of a person being assaulted for doing so on a road blocked by anti-government protesters.

 

The mother of student pilot Surasuk Sowattanang-koon filed a complaint with police after her son was attacked on Friday by a group of people believed to be guards for the People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) after he removed cones used to block the tollway outside ThaiPBS.

 

The men used gun handles to break the windows of his car and hit him until he lost consciousness, he told police investigators while being treated at hospital. A video of the incident has been shared on the Internet.

 

Phra Buddha Issara, who is in charge of the PDRC rally site, said he would hand the guards over to police.

 

Last month, Colonel Wittawat Wattanakul of the Directorate of Joint Intelligence was sent to hospital after being shot at near the anti-government group's Chaeng Wattana rally site when he got out of his car to remove a barrier blocking his way.

 

Phra Buddha Issara handed the PDRC guards responsible for the assault over to police and gave Bt50,000 to Wittawat's family.

 

Sumeth Somkanae, a safety trainer of the Thai Journalists' Association, has joined other social-media users in posting advice about safety precautions at rally sites. It includes:

 

- Study the routes and plan travel in advance.

 

- Drive slowly when passing a protest site. Do not take a turn or U-turn too quickly as there might be a misunderstanding.

 

- If the road is blocked, do not remove the barriers without permission as it might cause a misunderstanding.

 

- Be patient, keep calm and talk in a friendly manner.

 

Countering the argument on why people should yield their rights to protest guards who blocked roads without authority, Sumeth said the guards had no right to do so but following his advice was still important.

 

 

http://www.nationmul...t-30233370.html

[Flashermac]

I can't recall anyone ever even apologising for aggressive red shirt guards, let alone paying compensation. Obviously, it is better to be beaten by a monk's thugs than a politician's.

 

During the protests several years ago, a taxi driver told me he had to wear a white shirt. If he wore a red shirt, the yellow shirt guards would beat him up. If he wore a yellow one, the red shirt guards would beat him up. He said he wasn't on anybody's side, just trying to make a living.

[huumlaar]

Obviously typical Thai reporting, I am sure he broke the windows himself then fainted, we all know these people are not violent, and wouldn't hurt an innocent bystander.

[Flashermac]

Yeah, it's not like these guards were sniped at and had grenades fired at them regularly. What makes them so uptight? They need to meditate more often.

 

p.s. The Dharma Army is tied to the Santi Asoke sect, Chamlong Srimuang's group. And guess who finally showed up to march with them the other day.

[waerth]

Richard Barrow â€@RichardBarrow 3h

In #Thailand, things like Buddha images are sacred. Also Traffic Cones. You shouldn’t touch them (Pic @atommy9999) pic.twitter.com/O5JrJw2fkG

[Flashermac]

Well, it does look orange.