Royal Thai Police
Spokesperson Police Major General Piya Uthayo.
Thanachot Anuwan
The Royal Thai Police Office announced that four
clashes resulted in one fatality in Bangkok on Jan. 26, the advanced
voting day.
According to Royal Thai Police Spokesperson Police Major General Piya
Uthayo, reports from each election district indicated that the early
voting proceeded smoothly in most upcountry provinces. No clashes were
reported despite obstruction at some polling stations.
However, in Bangkok, four incidents were reported. A clash between
voters and the People’s Democratic Reform Committee protesters at Lat
Krabang district resulted in minor injuries; two women assaulted an
election district deputy director in Don Muang District; 22 white-shirt
activists forced their way into a polling station at Bueng Khum, cutting
chains used by the PDRC to close the station gate. The last incident
involved a clash between the PDRC protesters and the UDD members in
Samut Prakan province, resulting in a shooting that caused the death of
Suthin Tharathin, age 52, and injuries to six others.
The spokesperson affirmed that about 90 police officers were present
during the fourth incident. He revealed that the chief of police had
assigned Police General Ek Angsananon to launch an investigation into
the killing.
He added that people who were unable to vote due to obstruction by
political protesters should file complaints at any police station. The
police would record all complaints and use them to devise a plan to
handle the upcoming February 2 elections. (NNT)