NOT QUITE THE NEWS
Written by Writer on Sunday, October 12th, 2008
NOT QUITE THE NEWS
With Tuesday’s violent clashes between anti-government protesters and riot police leaving two dead and scores injured, it has been revealed why officers did not use water-cannon instead of tear-gas - because of health concerns.
City clerk Pongsak Semsan said City Hall refused the Metropolitan Police’s request to borrow fire trucks to use in riot control operations, because they feared the water inside them was dirty and would therefore pose a health risk if sprayed on demonstrators.
“The police asked if they could borrow some of our fire trucks, but we did not allow it since water contained in the trucks is not clean,” said Mr Pongsak.
The water is suitable only for dousing fires, watering plants and cleaning, and should not be sprayed on people, he said.
Police said that since they did not have the use of a fire truck, they had to use tear-gas instead - with far more dangerous results than what City Hall had feared might arise from the use of their water.
Helicopter escape
Transport Minister Santi Promphat pulled on a yellow shirt to blend with anti-government protesters as he climbed out of the besieged parliament premises on Tuesday.
He caught many off guard with his flexible wardrobe.
Hundreds of MPs and senators were left stranded after parliament was surrounded by angry protesters who tried to interrupt the government’s policy announcement.
Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat and his daughter Chinnacha, who is an MP for Chiang Mai, left before the session ended.
The pair climbed over a back wall into neighbouring Vimanmek Mansion and hopped on board a police helicopter to the armed forces headquarters.
Senate Speaker Prasobsuk Boondej later led the rest of the politicians to escape over the mansion’s wall.
House Speaker Chai Chidchob required many helping hands to scale the wall, while Natural Resources and Environment Minister Anongwan Thepsutin changed out of her skirt and into shorts before struggling her way to freedom.
Tourism and Sports Minister Weerasak Kohsurat was applauded for assisting MPs and senators regardless of their party allegiance. Deputy Prime Minister Sanan Kachornprasart was praised for keeping calm in the face of such chaos, probably due to his extensive experience confronting mobs.
All the politicians then packed into two vans, courtesy of the palace, which dropped them off at Krung Thon Bridge.
Anteater holiday
A pair of anteaters from Dusit Zoo took a short break in Chon Buri to give them some respite from the noise and tear-gas from the nearby demonstrations.
The animals were taken to Khao Kheow Open Zoo after staff feared the sensitive creatures might fall sick or even die from stress.
Tear-gas rounds landed in the zoo’s office building and parking area during Tuesday’s confrontation, said Zoological Park Organisation deputy director Prayuth Nawacharoen.
To prevent the terrified animals from hurting themselves by trying to jump out of their cages on hearing the loud noises, some other animals, including kangaroos and wallabies living near Uthong Nai Road, were relocated to safe areas.
Village revelry
The arrest of PAD leader Chamlong Srimuang last Sunday sent villagers in Phayao’s Chun district out dancing and banging drums at temples with joy.
The celebrations erupted minutes after Maj Gen Chamlong was arrested when he went to a polling station at the Setsathien school in Dusit district to cast his vote in the election for the Bangkok governor.
Tong Chaisan,73, said he hadn’t been this happy for a long while.
The news came as a relief and he said he was now looking forward to seeing the government do its work without obstacles.
People Power party MP for the province Wisut Chainaroon said that worship drums at temples are typically banged only during religious ceremonies or Buddhist holy days.
Bangkok Post
