BANGKOK, 5 June 2012 – The Royal Thai police are prepared for further clashes between different political groups, staging a riot control drill at the Central Police Training Center in Salaya, Nakhon Prathom province.
Newly appointed Metropolitan Police Chief, Pol Maj Gen Khamronwit Thoopkrachang, will this afternoon travel to the police training center to supervise the drills as well as to hold talks with relevant provincial officers this afternoon. The meeting is aimed at expanding the police’s crowd control capabilities as more protests against the National Reconciliation Bill are expected.
Pol Maj Gen Khamronwit has conceded that the security forces are currently not fully prepared for a massive outpouring of demonstrators due to the reduced frequency of protests and the internal shuffles that have occurred in the past two years.
He elaborated that the police are set to re-strategize its crowd-control policies, which may include the use of tear gas.
According to Metropolitan Police spokesman Preeda Sathaworn, police officers will be dispatched to protest sites to maintain peace and public order. Crowd-controlling methods will be implemented strictly in accordance with the law and the Royal Thai Police’s regulations.
