Gambling cops to be fired: police chief
Metropolitan Police commissioner Lt Gen Camronwit Toopgrajank is planning to fire 11 policemen found playing the dice game "hi-low" during a break from their crowd-control mission.
The illegal activity was exposed via pictures that have been widely circulated on the Internet.
"The Metropolitan Police Bureau will ask the National Police chief to order their dismissal," Camronwit said.
The 11 policemen come from various police stations in Bangkok. They were deployed during a recent crowd-control mission as the government was preparing to deal with demonstrations against the amnesty bill.
Most of the policemen are at the junior level. The highest-ranking member of the group is a second lieutenant.
People’s Army said to be gathering weapons
The Metropolitan Police Bureau has received reports that the group known as the People’s Army against the Thaksin Regime has begun stockpiling nails, slingshots, knots and large fans.
"According to intelligence reports, these items have been handed out to some 50 to 100 motorcyclists at the rally site," the bureau’s spokesman Pol Maj-General Adul Narongsak said yesterday.
The People’s Army has organised a rally at Lumpini Park, which is not under the Internal Security Act, Adul said.
The government has invoked the act in three of Bangkok’s districts to deal with demonstrators who disagree with the amnesty bill being deliberated by the Parliament. The three districts are Dusit, Phra Nakhon and Pom Prab (Sattru Phai).
Adul warned members of the People’s Army not to bring any weapons or similar items to the areas under the ISA.
"That will constitute a legal offence," he said.
Group insists it has peaceful intentions
The People’s Army against the Thaksin Regime yesterday dismissed a report that it was hoarding weapons such as slingshots.
"I can assure you that no demonstrators will harm police," People’s Army core member Thaikorn Polsuwan said.
"Our demonstrators have never hurt the police."
