Anti-government protest guards will join police and soldiers at checkpoints around their rally site in Lumpini Park following several attacks over the past week, according to Thaworn Senneam, a core leader of the People’s Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC).
Anti-government protesters spread out a net in Lumpini Park yesterday after a grenade was fired into the rally site in the early hours, injuring three guards, one of them seriously. SOMCHAI POOMLARD
The latest attack happened early yesterday morning when a grenade landed at Lumpini Park's Gate 4, seriously injuring a PDRC guard identified as Adul Maneesawek, 35, of Nakhon Si Thammarat, and slightly wounding two others.
Mr Adul was taken to the adjacent Chulalongkorn Hospital for treatment of shrapnel wounds.
Chaowalit Thongboonyang, 30, a fellow guard who was slightly injured, said the grenade exploded near a tent in which Mr Adul was resting after patrol duty. The tent was next to his, Mr Chaowalit said.
He said his ears felt numb from the explosion, and flying shrapnel cut his cheek. Another guard also sustained a minor injury.
Mr Thaworn said the joint security system would help stop accusations that attacks were perpetrated by PDRC guards. The checkpoints around the park are currently jointly manned by the police and army.
Mr Thaworn questioned the actions of Lumpini police prior to an attack on Thursday night. He said police had asked prostitutes working around the park to leave the area 15 minutes before shots were fired at a taxi. The driver claimed protest guards opened fire on his car while his customer was looking for a prostitute.
Mr Thaworn said the protesters discovered the taxi belonged to a police officer at Nang Lerng police station and it was driven by a policeman from there to Rama 4 Road.
He said when the taxi came under fire the Lumpini police station switched off the lights.
Mr Thaworn was later told the lights went out so police would not be targeted. However, the PDRC suspects Lumpini police knew in advance about the shooting.
It has been suggested the "passenger" in the taxi opened fire first.
Meanwhile, PDRC guards have been instructed to tighten security and nets have been strung up at the back of the main stage, to stop any grenades.