(16 Dec 13), At 11.45 am, Bangkok City Hall, Mr. Wasan Meewong, Advisor and Spokesperson to the Bangkok Governor, made an announcement after the meeting regarding CCTV cameras damaged in Dusit district.
Mr. Wasan said that fiber optic cables for CCTV cameras in Dusit district were damaged on November 30, resulting in 121 cameras not being able to function. However, the cameras had all been restored to working order since December 8, 2013.
At the meeting, presided over by Bangkok Governor M.R. Sukhumband Paribatra, observations were made about the usefulness of the CCTV cameras in facilitating numerous incidents of law enforcement work. Most recently, the culprit in the murder of a 6-year-old was arrested after investigators were able to identify him using images from City Hall’s cameras at the BTS skytrain station where the girl went missing. Those at the meeting pointed out, however, that schools under the jurisdiction of the BMA must ensure all CCTV cameras in their premises were fully operational, and city hall’s law enforcement officials should also be provided at the schools to help with safety issues. Owners of unused land will also be encouraged to fence their properties to deter attempts by wrongdoers to commit crime on such properties.
Regarding photographs that allegedly depict BMA law enforcement officers escorting a sniper out of Ramkhamhaeng University, Mr. Wasan explained that the United Front of Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) was holding an assembly at Ramkhamhaeng on November 30 and unrest occurred on the evening of that day. On December 1, a number of students were unable to leave the university premise. The BMA sent in officials to escort the students out, but photographs were taken during the time and were spread online along with distorted information. Mr. Phairot Chanthararod , Head of the City Law Enforcement Department at Phra Khanong District office, was depicted as having escorted men with sniper equipment out of the campus. In fact, the equipment on the photographs was radio equipment for communication, not sniper rifles.
Mr. Wasan added that the Center for Administration of Peace and Order (CAPO) was supposed to have been the unit that provided the escort for the students. However, the CAPO did not send in officials. The CAPO should have also regulated online media such as Facebook to prevent false allegations against personnel conducting duty. In addition to BMA staff having been flamed, military troops were also flamed. The BMA was gathering information to pursue legal action.
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