Throughout the past few months, more than 20,000 police officers have left the comfort of their homes to ensure security as thousands rallied across Bangkok.

"My wife had an operation for breast cancer at Chulalongkorn Hospital and I was unable to

visit her. The best I could do

was ask my neighbours to help take care of her," Senior Sgt-Major Sakon Rengrabai said.

The patrolman, who works for the Metropolitan Police Division Five, said he had spent much less time with his three children because they were usually in bed by the time he arrived home.

"Fortunately my wife and children understand me and my job," Sakon said, who keeps his mobile phone on at all times to respond to any emergency.

He said he had made no social commitments over recent months because his free time was so unreliable.

Asked about his job on the barricades, Sakon said he often had to form a human wall.

"I had to be very patient and tolerant of the abuse hurled at me. Protesters would usually accuse police officers of siding with their opponents," he said, insisting that the police were neutral.

Another senior sergeant major, who requested anonymity, said the rallies had stopped him from picking his children up from school.

"My daily life has changed," the 47-year-old said.

He said he had had no holiday during the months of rallies and had had to see a doctor three times with knee pains, which arose after standing for three-hour shifts in human walls.

"When I was in severe pain I had to produce a doctor's certificate explaining why I didn't report to work," he said, adding that officers did not receive any extra overtime payment.

Metropolitan Police Division Five commander Maj-General Kosin Hinthao said police officers' working hours had risen dramatically from eight to 16 hours a day.

"They are also subject to stress. There are various factors from the protesters' remarks, the conditions at the rally sites and the lack of toilets and rest time," he said.

Kosin expressed hope the rallies would now become less frequent after Thaksin Shinawatra's declaration that he would not seek another term.

Special-Operation Police Division commander Maj-General Sumeth Ruangsawas said the police were proud no violence had erupted during the rallies.

"The work may be physically exhausting but we feel good," he said.

Anan Paengnoy

The Nation