WASSAYOS NGAMKHAM and THAI NEWS AGENCY
Tests have confirmed that tear gas guns and tear gas grenades, used during the police crackdown on demonstrators on Oct 7, are powerful enough to cause severe injuries, according to a sub-committee on human rights protection under the National Human Rights Commission.
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| Asoldier firesaround of tear gas, which the National Police Office says the riot police uses, at the 11th Military Circle in Dusit district as part of a probe by the Central Institute of Forensic Science. Thecanister left a hole in a metal pipe |
Commissioner and sub-committee chairman Surasi Kosolnawin revealed the test results yesterday after observing six types of tear gas being test-fired.
The tear gas was made in China, the United States and Spain.
The tests were carried out at a football field at the 11th Military Circle grounds.
A Chinese-made tear gas canister fired from a shotgun left a crater eight centimetres wide and 3cm deep.
A Chinese tear gas grenade was more powerful. One grenade explosion created a crater 16cm wide and 5-8cm deep.
Both types of tear gas were used during the clash between police and supporters of the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) on Oct 7. Traces were found at the scene of the clash, Mr Surasi said.
The Chinese tear gas grenades made a very loud noise. Its body was white in colour and it looked similar to one featured in media pictures being held by a policeman during the crackdown.
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a crater
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as it landed. Observing the teargastest yesterday was institute director Khunying Porntip Rojanasunanwho wasasked by police and the National HumanRights Commission to carry out the investigation. Photos by PATTANAPONG HIRUNARD
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Former police forensic science chief Pol Lt-Gen Amporn Jarujinda said the Chinese tear gas grenades were powerful when they exploded. The impact could cause severe wounds and tear limbs off people.
Scholars in Chiang Mai are preparing to ask the House committee on police affairs to investigate how police acquired the cheap, low-quality tear gas from China.
They suspect irregularities behind the purchase and want to find out whether the weapons, which are dangerous, were tested before use, and why officials shot them directly at demonstrators.
The violence on Oct 7 left two people dead and more than 400, including police officers, injured. The violent crackdown to disperse PAD supporters in front of parliament has created public distrust against the Somchai Wongsawat government and the police.
Because of the lack of progress in the government's plan to appoint two independent panels to look into the clash, some agencies have begun setting up their own investigation teams.
Apart from Mr Surasi's sub-committee, the National Police Office has also set up a panel.
The police panel is made up of 14 members led by Chulalongkorn University rector Jesada Saengsupan. It has seven days to complete its investigation, said Immigration Police Bureau chief Pol Lt-Gen Chatchawan Suksomjit.
Other members include Pol-Gen Amnuay Petsiri, who is a senator, Ruangchai Sapniran, the deputy managing director of Matichon Co, and Khunying Porntip Rojanasunan, the director of the Central Institute of Forensic Science.
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