Thai Policeman Dies in Clashes With Pro-Democracy Protesters

Wilawan Watcharasakwet and Nontarat Phaicharoen
2021.03.01
Bangkok
Thai Policeman Dies in Clashes With Pro-Democracy Protesters A Thai officer fires his weapon as police face off with pro-democracy protesters marching toward the residence of Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-O-Cha in Bangkok, Feb. 28, 2021.
AFP

Updated at 7:45 p.m. ET on 03-01-2021

A riot policeman died of heart failure after collapsing during clashes with protesters near the prime minister’s residence late Sunday, becoming the first fatality linked to pro-democracy demonstrations since July, police and medical sources said on Monday.

Police Capt. Wiwat Sertsanit, 47, collapsed and was taken to Rajavithi Hospital but he died from heart failure, the national police bureau confirmed Monday.

“The prime minister is so sorry to hear about the incident. He urged the Royal Thai Police and commanders at all levels to take care of government officers’ welfare in accordance with official regulations, and sends his condolences to the family of the deceased,” Anucha Burapachaisri, a spokesman for Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-o-cha, said in a statement.

On Sunday, the protesters found their path to Prayuth’s home obstructed by a wall of containers, razor wire and other barriers. A scuffle broke out, leading officers to use water cannons, fire rubber bullets and use batons against protesters who were seen throwing rocks, bottles and metal rods against the police.

The police captain's death was the first since the protests began, according to the records of the police and the Erawan Emergency Medical Center, which coordinates medevac services during crises.

In addition, 27 police were hospitalized, at least 10 protesters were injured and 22 people were arrested, police and medical sources said.

National Police Chief Suwat Changyodsuk also confirmed the death and announced he visited the officers hospitalized during Sunday evening’s violence. The Erawan center on Monday added that at least 10 protesters were hospitalized but did not give details.

Prayuth and police blamed the protesters for the violence, but some protesters said officers tried to disperse their peaceful rally, which is what led to the bloody clashes. 

“At first the protesters seemed to be peaceful, but they later used violence. They kept creeping into the police’s controlled areas, prohibited areas, and did harm to the police so the officers responded according to international standard operating procedures,” Prayuth told reporters at the Government House on Monday.

Lt. Gen. Pakpong Pongpetra, chief of the Metropolitan Police Bureau, said at a news conference that 22 people were arrested and preliminarily charged with violating the emergency decree which bans gatherings, insurrection, physical assault of officers and other lesser offenses.

Of the 22, four juveniles were released on bail, according to a press statement from juvenile court.

Thousands protest

About 2,000 pro-democracy demonstrators, mainly from the group “Restart Democracy,” or REDEM, began to march Sunday morning from the Victory Monument toward Prayuth’s residence.

REDEM was formed out of earlier groups such as the People’s Movement, which grew out of a series of protests against Prayuth’s administration that began in July 2020. Among REDEM’s objectives are curbing the power of the monarchy and keeping the military out of politics.

On the way to the PM’s residence, protesters found their path obstructed by a wall of containers, razor wire and other barriers.

A scuffle broke out, leading officers to use water cannons, fire rubber bullets and use batons against protesters who were seen throwing rocks, bottle and metal rods against the police, the authorities said.

Lt. Gen. Pakpong Pongpetra, chief of the Metropolitan Police Bureau, said the police had no choice but to respond with non-lethal weapons.

“Some of them [the protestors] were peaceful, the media was cooperative with the police, but some protesters provoked and incited violence,” Pakpong told a news conference on Monday.

“We used equipment that are non-lethal and we were allowed to use them proportionally, according to the situation. …We singled out troublemakers from the protesters.”

Piyarat Chongthep, a leader of the People’s Movement faction of the protesters, said the rally was peaceful.

“It was clear that if the police had not attempted to disperse the rally, violence wouldn’t have erupted,” Piyarat told BenarNews over the phone on Monday.

“Yesterday, I was at the Army Club and the protesters were peaceful, but the police moved toward them to hurt them. Then they were the antagonists to the protesters.”

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