Rioters to face legal action

NATIONAL POLICE chief General Chakthip Chaijinda yesterday vowed to take legal action against the rioters who went on a rampage at the Thalang Police Station in Phuket late on Saturday.
“We have both still and moving pictures as evidence,” the police general said.
The stoning and arson attacks went on until the wee hours of Sunday after two young drug suspects died in a crash during a police chase.
The protesters took out their anger at the deaths by setting many vehicles ablaze and vandalising the station’s building. Some attacked policemen on duty.
“Throughout the riot, police were armed with just shields,” Chakthip said.
It seemed some demonstrators were drunk and some were high on drugs, he said.
The relatives of the victims and local people might have been fed the wrong information and decided to join the rally, he said.
“There are two cases involving this incident. The first surrounds the two deaths, and the other is related to the riot,” he said.
A panel has been established to investigate the four police officers who pursued the young men escaping on a motorcycle.
It includes representatives from the police, military and administrative officials. It will conclude its investigation within 30 days, he said.
Video evidence suggests that the four officers followed standard procedures when faced with someone speeding away from a police checkpoint.
“I’ve watched the clips,” he said.
Usually people who did nothing wrong would not try to run away at the sight of police, he said.
“Anyway, I will ensure justice for both sides.”
According to police, the deceased had 50 methamphetamine tablets and kratom leaves in their bags. The leaves of the Mitragyna speciose speciosa shrub are sometimes used in a stimulant cocktail in the South.
Kannikar Saengthong, director-general of the Rights and Liberties Protection Department, said her department was following the case closely.
The victims would be entitled to Bt100,000 each if investigations showed they did not violate laws.
“But if they were involved in drugs, they will not get the compensation,” she said.
Somnuk Siangkong, spokesman for the office of the Attorney-General, said it remained unclear at this stage what exactly happened prior to the riot.
At the Thalang Police Station, more than 30 police were yesterday busy clearing debris from their workplace, which had been closed since the attack.
“We will try to resume normal services as soon as possible,” said Pol Colonel Chanucharn Chonsuwat, superintendent of the station.
Weerawat Teng-amnuay, director of Narcotics Control Office Region 8, said kratom and yaba had been spreading in Phuket’s Thalang district, particularly among teenagers and workers.
“Drugs are delivered to people via mail and by hand in the area,” he said.
The office has been trying to solve the problem by launching surprise searches in drug-affected villages and communities.
“There are many new face drug peddlers too,” he said.