Chadchart regrets Apec protesters got injured, trying to help detainees

BANGKOK Governor Chadchart Sittipunt said during a live broadcast on Facebook while jogging this morning (Nov. 19) that he regrets protesters got injured in a clash with police while marching from the City Hall square (Larn Khon Mueang) to Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre(QSNCC) yesterday and that he is coordinating to help those detained, Matichon newspaper said.

“I didn’t want this sort of an incident to occur at all, we have to review it, actually expressing (one’s opinion) is a fundamental right, we have to check in detail to see if anyone overstepped the boundaries or not,” he said of the clash that took place as protesters marched to go meet foreign leaders attending the 29th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) summit.

He touched on social media users questioning whether Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) cleaners quickly going in to clean the road had led to evidence being destroyed by pointing out that this is their normal duty and dozens of media cameras had recorded all that took place.

He added that he is also getting details about two persons bleeding in the eye after getting injured in the scuffle,with one of them being Reuters photographer and the other person Phayu Daodin, and is coordinating to help the detainees.

“Where BMA hospitals are concerned, no additional admissions were made. As for those who are being prosecuted, I have told Pol. Gen. Adis (Ngamchitsuksri his adviser) to look into how we could help them but we have to let the police proceed, we are trying to take care of those involved,” he said.

Chadchart added that in future BMA will have to arrange for a representative of protesters gathering at the City Hall square to meet a representative of those attending a conference like Apec. Demonstrators would then not have to march to go see them at the conference venue.

“BMA is in the middle, could we arrange a meeting? This might reduce the necessity of having to move out,” he said.

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Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt speaking while livestreaming on Facebook this morning. Photos: Matichon

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