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Friday, March 29, 2024

Chemical agents used on Thai protesters because palace was nearby

Water fired at protesters last month was laced with chemical irritants as widely reported yet denied by police at the time, the authorities admitted today.

A deputy police commander contradicted earlier denials in testimony to a senate committee in which he said a blue dye and tearing agent were used at an Oct. 16 rally at Pathumwan Intersection because it was within 150 meters of “an important venue,” likely referring to a nearby palace.

“When the protesters didn’t disperse and started to inflict violence, police decided to use the blue water in the second blast to identify those who violated the emergency decree,” Chawalit Ruensiri of the police crowd control unit said at a senate hearing on human rights.

There were no signs of violence from the crowd when hundreds of cops in riot gear marched on the group protesting peacefully at the intersection, where…

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