BANGKOK, Aug 17 — A Thai protester is in a coma after sustaining a gunshot wound to his head during an anti-government protest in Bangkok on Monday.
However, the police denied using live ammunition to disperse the anti-government rally crowd at Din Daeng Intersection in Bangkok on the day.
In a statement, Bangkok’s Rajavithi Hospital announced that it found a bullet lodged in the neck of the young man who was rushed to the hospital on Monday night with a gunshot wound, with an x-ray showing the bullet lodged close to his brain.
The identity of the victim believed to be in his 20s is not known as he did not carry any identification document. Bangkok Post reported the man is in a coma and on the ventilator.
Local media reported that at least six protesters were injured during the clashes between the protesters and police with three suffering bullet wounds – including the unidentified man. Of the other two, one is a 14-year-old teenager who suffered a gunshot wound on the shoulder.
On Monday, anti-government protesters clashed with police at Din Daeng Intersection near the residence of Prime Minister Prayuth Chan o-cha. It was the sixth time that clashes broke out at the same venue since August 7.
In a statement, Metropolitan Police Bureau said the victim was shot at Din Daeng Intersection but who shot him remains a mystery.
Police had arrested 13 protesters including five minors during the anti-government protests at about 9.30 night (local time) on Monday.
Besides that, two policemen were reported injured while four police booths were damaged.
Meanwhile, Thailand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Tanee Sangrat reiterated that no live rounds were used during crowd control measures on Monday.
He said the police also followed procedures in accordance with domestic law and international practice, announcing forewarnings before taking any actions and doing so only in necessary circumstances.
“Only rubber bullets and barriers were used as part of crowd control measures.
“However, the police also confirmed that live ammunition from an unknown origin were found at the scene. In this regard, further investigation is underway…,” he said in a statement.
The anti-government protestors have been returning to the streets in recent weeks demanding Prayuth to step down for the government’s poor handling of the Covid-19 situation and slow vaccine roll-out.
To date, Thailand has recorded 948,442 Covid-19 cases and 7,973 fatalities since the outbreak in January last year.
— Bernama
