3 demonstrators, 2 policemen injured during yesterday’s protest

METROPOLITAN Police said three demonstrators and two policemen were injured during yesterday’s march from Pathumwan intersection to the German Embassy to submit their petition and that all charges will be filed against those who broke the law, Amarin TV said today (Nov. 15).

Their petition to Germany where His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn is currently residing via the German Embassy was in protest of what they called “absolute monarchy” being allegedly reintroduced in Thailand.

Pol. Maj. Gen. Jirasan Kaewsaengek, deputy chief of Metropolitan Police and spokesman, said two policemen were injured when protesters tried to break through the barricade at Chalerm Phao intersection and threw objects at them.

The protesters then moved to the front of the Police Hospital’s Forensic Institute and threw a Molotov cocktail at the police team at close range which led to police having to fire rubber bullets resulting in two demonstrators getting injured.

Later after the protesters had submitted their petition to the German Embassy another petrol bomb was lobbed at Wireless road intersection leading to a third protester getting injured.

Pol. Maj. Gen. Jirasan confirmed that live rounds were not fired in front of the Forensic Institute, only rubber bullets.

However whether the distance was too close depends on the type of rubber bullets used and police have to first coordinate with Chulalongkorn Hospital’s doctors about the injuries before reaching a conclusion.

Police are also collecting evidence on the torching of effigies of the Constitutional Court judges and if this is considered contempt of court the judges will prosecute accordingly.

Evidence is also being collected for other possible charges including violating the Emergency Decree, throwing petrol bombs, injuring police officers and destroying property such as traffic lights.

Move Forward MP Rangsiman Rome posted a message on his Facebook page at 9.38 p.m. last night that he was at Chulalongkorn Hospital and two of three protesters were still in the emergency room including a 23-year-old man who was shot in the chest with the third one not seriously injured.

In a later message he said the man shot in the chest was undergoing surgery and the hospital did not allow photographs to be taken.

Later Dr. Tosaporn Sererak tweeted that the injured protester had been moved out of the operation room and was now in safe condition while thanking all doctors and nurses at Chulalongkorn Hospital for saving his life

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Scenes from yesterday’s protest and the demonstrators handing over their petition to the German Embassy. Photos: Matichon