Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt has expressed concern over the resurgence of protests, by anti-government elements, at Din Daeng intersection since last Saturday and has assigned a deputy governor to work out how the city’s administration can help in case people are injured during the occasionally violent protests.
The protests at Din Daeng intersection, which have normally been regarded as a matter for the police, were raised at a meeting of city administrators by Governor Chadchart this morning (Tuesday).
While reiterating his opposition to all forms of violence, either by protesters or police, the governor said that his administration will try to find a venue where the protesters could demonstrate peacefully.
He maintained that the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) carries the responsibility for taking care of people living close to Din Daeng intersection and pedestrians who have to walk through the area.
The meeting agreed to assign a deputy governor, Thavida Kamolvech, to develop plans to provide first aid services to people who sustain injuries during the protests.
Small groups of hard core protesters, mostly riding motorcycles, have been gathering, usually during the evening and into the night, at Din Daeng intersection, and clashing with police deployed to the area to prevent them from getting to an army barracks on the Vibhavadi Rangsit highway, which houses the residence of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha.
Last Saturday, one protester was arrested by the police and a police patrol car was set ablaze. Several cherry bombs and glass pellets were seized from an area under the Din Daeng flyover in the following days. A few police officers were also injured.
