They were probably bodyguard unit, who are an elite army unit with about 3000 or so members. They have tanks, mobile rocket launchers etc and played a big role in the border dispute with Thailand a few years back.

The covers are a relatively new thing, they only started using them quite a bit after the disturbances that followed the 2013 election. I'm not sure why they brought these cases into use, I believe it was a PR move as they don't look much different than tennis-racket covers in photos, also they prevent dust jamming up some sketchy Norinco gear.
All the security forces got bumped up around then, new tactical gear, knee & elbow pads, etc since then. I feel sorry for the footsoldiers who have to hang around in full body armor in the sweltering sun, apparently they get paid quite a bit more than any other army unit though. The security forces are much better equipped than they were 5 years ago. Even the traffic police have their body armor, they might not have the plates in all the time but they are ready. The old park-keepers who mutated into an intervention force now have tons of equipment too - trucks, armor and back-up. I thought the Water Festival was great this year for the amount of security deployed, the guns were out of the cases for that.

pczz wrote: ↑Fri Jan 19, 2018 11:17 pm yes but thankfully the traffic police usually have empty holsters...
Not too sure you could fire those assault rifles in the case. probably jam if you can get your finger on the trigger, nowhere for spent cases to go and of course safety will be on

They work pretty well as bludgeons too, or so I've heard.