Angry chicken fanciers besiege Governor

PHUKET OWN: An angry crowd of more than 100 people protested in front of the Phuket Town Police Station yesterday, alleging the police had used unnecessary force on Sunday evening when arresting Rassada villagers for betting on cock-fighting. Among those arrested were three members of the Tambon Rassada Administration Organization. They were released on bail Monday morning, but returned to the police station hours later with their angry sympathizers, claiming that the police assaulted them during the arrests. Police ignored the crowd, which then moved to Provincial Hall with the aim of protesting to the Governor. Governor Charnchai Soontharamut was in a meeting at the time and declined to meet the protesters. Vice Governor Weeradej Surasit therefore invited the leader of the mob into his office and then called Pol Lt Col Chalit Thinthanee, Superintendent of Phuket Town’s Police Department, to join the meeting. K Weeradej advised all concerned to settle any grievances in court. Governor Charnchai later told the Gazette that he believed the police were doing their job, noting that no one, regardless of their official status, is above the law.