KLONG TOEY
Senior police officer replaced after attack
- Published: 25/03/2009 at 12:00 AM
- Newspaper section: News
A senior police officer responsible for supervising security at Klong Toey fresh market has been suspended from duty following the latest attack on vendors on Monday.
Worapong: Suthep unhappy with police
Bangkok police chief Worapong Chewpreecha said he had ordered Pol Col Somchai Patchara-intoh, deputy police chief of the Metropolitan Police Division 5, suspended for 15 days. Pol Col Songpol Watthanachai, deputy chief of the Metropolitan Police Bureau's administration division, will replace him.
Pol Lt-Gen Worapong said Pol Col Somchai had failed to report the incident at the market on Monday to him.
The city police chief said even after he called Pol Col Somchai for an explanation, the officer insisted there was no violence at the market.
Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban is unhappy with the police, Pol Lt-Gen Worapong said.
Mr Suthep has rejected suggestions that police may benefit from the conflict but said the vendors and the company with the new contract to run the market had quarrelled.
The deputy prime minister said the government was trying to solve the problem and senior police had been sent to mediate an end to the conflict.
A woman vendor and a security guard were attacked by about 30 thugs on Monday in the latest violence at Klong Toey market.
The attacks occurred as Thammanat Prompao, chairman of Legal Professional Co, the new contractor for the Klong Toey market, which is owned by the Port Authority of Thailand, was visiting, reportedly to shop and carry out an inspection.
The violence took place just five days after two security guards for vendors, who are protesting Mr Thammanat's plans for the area, were shot dead.
