The Center for the Administration of Peace and Order (CAPO) today threatened to use combined forces to deal with protesters taking part in the shutdown of Bangkok on January 13.
Announcing the warning live on TV Pool before noon today, CAPO head Surapong Tovichakchaikul said that the threat to shut down Bangkok on January 13 could pose a serious threat to the country’s security and economy and would have widespread impact on the people as a whole.
He described the shutdown as serious violation of human rights with no regard to the rule of law.
He said the people must think carefully before joining the shutdown of the capital with the People’s Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) leader Suthep Thaugsuban.
He said Suthep’s announcement to seize the capital and to revolt against the government was a serious crime and violation of the Criminal Act in which violator is subject to death penalty.
Tony Cartalucci
Surapong Tovichakchaikul would also go on to claim that any measures the regime took “would comply with international standards.” Of course, Surapong had made similar assurances during clashes on December 26, 2013, where regime gunmen were seen atop government buildings, leaving both a policeman and a protester dead from shots fired from above. Police would also be seen restraining protesters as other officers beat them with batons as well as destroying parked cars including a truck belonging to medical volunteers with the volunteers trapped inside.
After initial denials, including going as far as accusing protesters of dressing up as an entire battalion of police and carrying out the crimes themselves, the regime has piecemeal backpedaled and admitted it was guilty of placing gunmen on rooftops and destroying scores of vehicles including the truck belonging to medical volunteers.
Of course, attacking medical volunteers and placing gunmen in unidentifiable black uniforms on rooftops is more the work of a terrorist organization, not a legitimate government. Surapong’s threats of using the “death penalty” against protest leaders is yet more poorly disguised intimidation — not the impartial application of the law of which Surapong is charged to carry out as a “government administrator.”
While Surapong might believe his threats may deter protesters from coming out on Monday, January 13, 2014 – all it does is send another reminder to millions of Thais of what a menace and continuing threat the regime is to the future of Thailand and the absolute necessity of removing that threat as quickly as possible.