Din Daeng residents slam use of tear gas
Residents including children who live near the site where police fired teargas at the anti-government demonstrators trying to interrupt candidacy registration this morning have been seriously affected by the gas.
Police started firing tear gas canisters at protesters at about 7.20am after the Students and People Network for Thailand's Reform led them in cutting the padlock of Gate 2 and attempted to storm the Thai-Japanese stadium’s compound on Vibhavadi Rangsit road.
After the gate was opened, the protesters can face-to-face with a police truck that blocked the gate. Police fired several canisters of teargas at the protesters who in turn grabbed some of the canisters and hurled them back into the compound. Some protesters were also hit by rubber bullets.
Residents of the Din Daeng flats nearby were forced to close doors and windows and use fans blow the tear gas dust from their rooms.
Arisa Makkui said her six-month-old daughter was affected by from tear gas, waking up in fright and crying as the first canisters were fired at the protesters.
“Police should stop firing teargas because this is a community where there are many small children and old people,” she said.
Meanwhile Somsri Temtung said her three-month-old baby and four-year-old daughter were also affected by the chemicals. She used a fan to blow the dust out of the room.
She said she wanted to see all sides stop fighting as it causes problems for the flat residents. She added if the protesters had not incited police, there would not have been any need for tear gas.
Neung Romrat takes care of her paralysed aunt and said she is unable to move away from her flat.
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