Different strokes for different folks

It is interesting to reflect upon the energy expended by the police in restoring order. During the red-shirt uprising of 2010, confronted by thousands armed with sharpened bamboo sticks, the police stood well away from the crowd and eventually abandoned the task so that the Army could take responsibility for the inevitable grief that would follow. It had not been so for the previous PAD demonstrations, but there were no repercussions for that.

Yesterday, for a minor disturbance in Parliament, MPs stood in outrage against current legislation and the speaker called in the parliamentary police and the MPs were assaulted. No doubt the speaker and the police will receive amnesty.

Richard Bowler

Bangkok