Sickening, disgusting celebration of violence

Sickening, disgusting celebration of violence

Red-shirt celebration of fatal attack on protesters in Trat repugnant

It is sickening beyond wildest imagination. Yes, I am talking about the conduct of a red-shirt leader from Chon Buri, identified as Dab Daeng and believed to be a policeman, or former policeman, and his cheer leaders during the meeting of red-shirt core members in Nakhon Ratchasima on Sunday.

Dab Daeng took to the stage with a microphone in hand to announce what he said was "good news".

"I have good news to tell my red-shirt brothers and sisters from all provinces. The People’s Democratic Reform Committee members of Suthep (Thaugsuban) at the protest stage in Khao Saming (Trat province) were deservedly given a reception by the locals. Five PDRC people were killed and over 30 injured. The locals welcomed them because they love Suthep a lot...," Dab Daeng told the crowd (see video below).

Many people in the crowd cheered, raising their fists in the air and applauding in jubilation over the death and injuries of these innocent and peaceful protesters.

Before Dab Daeng had the opportunity to expose more of his pervasive mindset, he was interrupted by the chairwoman of United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship Tida Thavornseth, who quickly said the red-shirt movement did not cherish violence.

Her interruption upset Dab Daeng, who was eventually collared and taken off the the stage by former Pheu Thai MP Worachai Hema of Samut Prakan.

Dab Daeng’s disgusting statement and the cheers of so many red-shirts for the tragedy in Trat, in which a young child, Leelawan Promchai, was killed and many other people badly wounded, just reflects their mentality and the true nature of these people who claim they love and are determined to protect democracy.

But at the same time they can laugh and cheer when some innocent child eating at a noodle stall is killed and other people harmed simply because they are, presumably, on the opposite side of the great political divide?

About 40 people were also injured in the attack at a roadside market in Khao Saming district when gunmen riding on two pickup trucks, arrived at the protest rally site on Saturday night, lobbed two hand grenades and opened fire indiscriminately on the peaceful crowd.

On Sunday at the Ratchaprasong protest site in Bangkok, about 5pm, an M79 grenade exploded in front of Big C super store, fired from one of the high-rise buildings in the vicinity.

There were not many protesters there at the time because it was still early in the evening but there were many innocent shoppers, and tragedy for the Yosubon family.

The children's aunty had taken young Patcharakorn, aged 6, and her 4-year-old brother Kornwich to Big C to do some shopping, not to join in the protest, their grieving father, Sua, said later.

Suddenly, an M79 grenade landed on the ground in front of Big C store and exploded, injuring both his young children. They were rushed to Ramathibodi hospital. Kornwich died shortly afterward, and his elder sister was pronounced dead shortly after 6am today. Another woman, 59-year old Mrs Chiapapan Suwanmanee, was also killed and a boy remains unconscious in an intensive care unit - all innocent shoppers.

Two innocent children were killed in Bangkok, and an adult, and another child in Trat, and dozens of people injured. The attacks are being blamed on elements loyal to or supportive of the Thaksin regime, people who appear willing to go to the extreme, even killing, to protect the Pheu Thai mandate.

Caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra condemned the violence and urged the police to investigate the incidents. Her reaction is however is too little. She should have reprimanded the police or fired the police chief, Genl Adul Saengsingkaew, for his complete failure to solve any of the violent crimes perpetrated mostly against the protesters.

Altogether 19 people have been killed and 717 been injured, according to latest reports, with 32 of them still in hospital, since November. And yet police have been unable to arrest a single suspect. Strangely enough, at the same time, they managed to quickly arrest suspects in the shooting of Kwanchai Praipana, a very vocal red-shirt leader in Udon Thani.

The question is how many more children and other innocent people will be killed, injured and possibly maimed for life by these murderers before the police start to do something about it? When will the caretaker government start to take it seriously, if ever?

The video clip uploaded by YouTube user poy oa shows Dab Daeng on stage.

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