BANGKOK, 31 October 2011 – Klong Sam Wa residents, who had blocked both sides of Nimit Mai Road and inssited on opening up the sluice gate for another 1 metre wide, finally destroyed the embankment after the negotiation proved unsuccessful. Min Buri district has seen much overflows, as a result.
Yesterday, at 10 pm a group of about 300 protesters who are local residents in Khlong Sam Wa district eventually broke through the guarding line of police officers after they had blocked both inbound and outbound Nimit Mai roads since around noon, forcing the responsible officials to open the sluice gate at Klong Sam Wa more wider, from 75 cm to 1 metre wide. Having successfully intruding inside, the protesters used hoes, spades and axes to smash the Khlong Sam Wa sluice gate, cracking the cement walkway as well. Moreover, they pulled down the sandbag floodwall, letting more overflows into Min Buri district.
However, Pol. Maj. Gen. Winai Tongsong, Acting Commissionser of the Metropolitan Police Bureau, went to negotiate with the protesters himself while Metropolitan Police Commander 3 called the Director of Department of Drainage and Sewerage to be informed that if the sluice gate is opened wider than this, the lower area which is the business and densely populated district will be affected.
