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Pro-democratic doctor Tossaporn granted temporary release

PoliticsOct 19. 2020

By THE NATION

Dr Tossaporn Serirak, a former Pheu Thai MP who became famous after being arrested while helping injured protesters on Friday, was granted bail by Pathumwan Municipal Court on Monday.

The doctor, who was charged for violating the “severe” state of emergency, has been released on condition that he not face similar charges again and that he report every time he is summoned.

The medical doctor, however, insists he will continue with his battle for democracy.

Tossaporn has reportedly been visiting protest sites to provide medical advice or offer first aid. A recording on Friday showed him attacking the authorities for cracking down on unarmed protesters, and offering to treat those affected by the chemical-laced water at the Police General Hospital.

Dr Tossaporn’s actions and political views have made him a celebrity, especially among the pro-democracy groups.

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Social media users violating emergency orders will be reported to police: ministry

PoliticsOct 19. 2020Buddhipongse Punnakanta 

By THE NATION

The Ministry of Digital Economy and Society said on Monday that it had ordered its permanent secretary to report to police those who violate the social media use orders under the state of emergency announced last week.

When asked if police had contacted the ministry to close websites or Facebook pages which urged people to join the protest, Minister Buddhipongse Punnakanta answered that his subsidiary will report about news agencies that had violated the orders on Monday.

He said that his ministry would contact some Facebook pages to close as soon as possible, if allowed by the court. He said that the ministry was monitoring all users, and over 300,000 URLs have violated the emergency decree.

Asked if the government was effectively silencing people, Buddhipongse explained that the operations against media and social media users would be executed with care. Those who are not obviously wrong would not be prosecuted, he assured.

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Panupong flung behind bars for sedition, altering historic site

PoliticsOct 19. 2020Panupong Jadnok 

By THE NATION

Protest leader Panupong “Mike” Jadnok was taken this morning to the Bangkok criminal court to be detained for 12 days for sedition and altering a historic site.

The sedition charge was related to his participation in the September 19 protest.

The second charge was related to his role in the installing of the 2020 coup memorial plaque in Sanam Luang on September 20. This case was filed by the Fine Arts Department.

Panupong was arrested on Saturday in Bangkok’s Ramkhamhaeng area and was then taken to Huamark Police Station.

The protest leader has denied both charges and police have objected to him being granted bail. Officers said Panupong faces other, more serious charges and may flee if he is granted temporary release.

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Chuan to explore possibility of extraordinary parliamentary session to discuss current crisis 

PoliticsOct 18. 2020House speaker Chuan Leekpai 

By The Nation

Speaker of the lower house of Parliament, Chuan Leekpai, plans to discuss on Monday with government and opposition MPs the possibility of holding an extraordinary session of Parliament to discuss the current political crisis.

Chuan’s statement comes as youth-led protesters have intensified their protests, camping in Bangkok and around the country since October 13.

Chuan said on Sunday that he had for a week prepared to convene an extraordinary session.

He said he had told the government that their MPs could sign a petition with opposition MPs. “I had informal talks with MPs from both sides and would discuss it again tomorrow,” he said.

So far he has not received any petition from MPs.

Opposition whip Suthin Klangsaeng said on Sunday that Pheu Thai Party is ready to push for a special session and urged the government MPs to also do so.

Support of one-third of the total 738-seat Parliament (488 MPs and 250 senators) is needed for an extraordinary session.

Opposition MPs total 212, so they need at least 35 votes from government MPs to convene an extraordinary session.

The government on September 24 used a tactic to delay a debate in Parliament on a draft of the Constitution for one month. The government move has now been blamed for the current political chaos.

So far, the government has not shown any signs of readiness to hold the special session, as some ministers argue that Parliament will resume normal sessions on November 1, in the next few weeks.

The government instead imposed a so-called “severe state of emergency” in Bangkok on October 15 to crack down on pro-democracy protesters.

Authorities have arrested many protest leaders. Police on Friday also used water cannons mixed with a dye to disperse the rally site packed with secondary school children and youth. The government action has been condemned by both locals and the international community. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights was also concerned about the situation in Thailand.

More protesters have poured on Bangkok streets on Saturday and Sunday in defiance of the severe state of emergency which gives sweeping powers to the authorities to crack down. Protesters across the country are also holding rallies in their provinces.

They are demanding the resignation of PM Prayut Chan-o-cha, the release of their leaders, rewriting of the Constitution and reform of the monarchy.

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Yingluck reminds Prayut of her predicament six years ago

PoliticsOct 18. 2020

By The Nation

In a veiled dig at Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, former premier Yingluck Shinawatra has jogged the general’s memory to a time six years ago when her government was besieged by protests.

In a Facebook post on Saturday, Yingluck said: “I do not know if everyone still remembers? Six years ago, a group of people called themselves the People’s Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) and demanded my resignation. And the Army chief, Prayut Chan-o-cha, asked if I could continue leading the government.

“In the end, I decided to announce the dissolution of Parliament to pave the way for new elections so that the people could determine the future of the country for themselves in keeping with democratic principles.”

Pointing to the series of rallies demanding the resignation of the PM and his government, Yingluck said: “Today, the same event has happened to Prayut. Students, brothers and sisters want to see the country change, and they are asking Prayut to resign and amend the Constitution. I have been monitoring the situation in Thailand with concern.

“It reminded me of a time when you [Prayut] asked me six years ago if I was okay. And I hope you remember that today and choose to make a decision quickly so that the country can calm down and move on.”

Political turmoil broke out at the end of 2013, when the then-Pheu Thai Party government led by Yingluck proposed a draft of the Political Amnesty Act, widely known as “executive Amnesty”. The move triggered a wave of resistance and large-scale protests. The PDRC demanded the withdrawal of the Amnesty Act, which later forced the government to resign. The government dissolved Parliament, but the PDRC prevented elections from happening calling for pre-election reform.

ไม่ทราบว่าทุกท่านยังจำได้ไหม เมื่อหกปีที่แล้วประชาชนกลุ่มหนึ่งรวมกันเรียกตัวเองว่า…Posted by Yingluck Shinawatra on Saturday, October 17, 2020

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Hospital apologises after doctor posts FB message critical of protesters

PoliticsOct 17. 2020Photo by Wanchai Kraisornkhajit 

By The Nation

Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Hospital has apologised for a Facebook post by its emergency room doctor critical of the pro-democracy protesters.

The doctor made the post on Friday after police used water cannons to clear protesters from their rally site at the Pathumwan intersection. Netizens criticised him after his post was shared widely. The doctor’s Facebook page has been closed.

On Saturday, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Hospital said on its Facebook page that the hospital had already warned the doctor and instructed him to remove the accusation from his page.

“Also, we have emphasised to our personnel to be careful when sharing their opinion, which may affect the hospital’s image and their career to ensure that a similar case does not occur again,” the announcement said.

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Amnesty berates escalation of tensions by use of water cannons against protesters

PoliticsOct 17. 2020

By The Nation

Amnesty International has hit out at the “excessive force” used by the authorities to disperse peaceful pro-democracy protests on Friday.

Amnesty International’s deputy regional director for Campaigns, Ming Yu Hah, called the actions “unwarranted and in no way complied with the principles of legality, necessity, and proportionality, as the Thai authorities claim”.

Responding to the dispersal of protesters by Thai police using water cannons with irritants and dye, Ming said: “The use of water cannons and irritants not only poses serious risk of injury, the use of dye is indiscriminate and could lead to the arbitrary targeting and arrest of peaceful protesters, journalists, or simply local residents who were marked with the colouring.

“In policing assemblies, Thai authorities should respect, protect and ensure the exercise of the human rights of organisers and participants. They must also ensure the safety and security of journalists, observers, and other members of the public observing the protests.

“We urge the Thai authorities to comply with their international obligations and facilitate the right to peaceful assembly. They must let peaceful protesters express their views – not exacerbate tensions further.”

Ahead of demonstrations expected at the Ratchaprasong junction at 5pm on Saturday, following the gathering of an estimated 10,000 people at the same location the previous day, police closed roads and erected barricades with multiple rows of barbed wire in order to prevent people assembling at the central Bangkok intersection.

Protesters then announced another rallying point further down the same road instead, at the Pathumwan junction. Later in the evening, police repeatedly used water cannons in attempts to disperse the crowd, estimated to be in the thousands.

According to a police spokesman, seven protesters were arrested and taken into custody. The spokesman confirmed that the water contained irritants and blue dye “to mark protesters for further legal action”.

Kitti Pantapak, a journalist with Prachathai was arrested, his equipment confiscated and is currently detained, according to a statement from Prachathai.

On Thurday, the Thai authorities ordered a 30-day ban on the gathering of five or more people in Bangkok, under emergency measures to stop escalating protests. The order also bans the publication of news or online messages that “could create fear”, affect national security or damage public morale.

Amnesty International called the order “drastic” and reiterated its call on the authorities to release peaceful protesters and lift arbitrary restrictions on freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.

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Defiant protesters gather at three sites for anti-government rally

PoliticsOct 17. 2020Photo by Wanchai Kraisornkhajit 

By The Nation

Protesters have started gathering at Ha Yaek Lat Phrao in Bangkok on Saturday for an anti-government rally.

The protesters flashed the three-finger salute while waiting for other protesters. Most of them were teenagers wearing black shirts. A huge number of protesters, some of them carrying speakers and megaphones. are walking from Chatuchak to the rally site.

Photo by Thanachart Chuengyaempin

Earlier, the United Front of Thammasat and Demonstration told protesters via Twitter to gather at three places — Ha Yaek Lat Phrao, Udomsuk and Wongwian Yai.

Photo by Thanachart Chuengyaempin

Photo by Wanchai KraisornkhajitPhoto by Wanchai KraisornkhajitPhoto by Wanchai KraisornkhajitPhoto by Wanchai KraisornkhajitPhoto by Wanchai KraisornkhajitPhoto by Wanchai KraisornkhajitPhoto by Wanchai Kraisornkhajit

Meanwhile, police officers have closed roads around Victory Monument to traffic to deal with the protesters’ moves.

Photo by Tanachai Pramarnpanich

Photo by Tanachai PramarnpanichPhoto by Tanachai PramarnpanichPhoto by Tanachai PramarnpanichPhoto by Tanachai Pramarnpanich

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Eminent citizens join chorus of criticism of the government over crackdown on protesters

PoliticsOct 17. 2020

By THE NATION

The government has come under fire from all sections of society over the violent crackdown on student-led protesters on Friday. Am

Among celebrities demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha was National Artist Suchart Sawatsri and activist Nuttaa Mahattana, on Saturday via their Facebook page.

Nuttaa updated this morning that the #ประยุทธ์ออกไป (Prayut, Resign) was trending on top on Twitter, following by other political-related trends, such as #ม็อบ17ตุลา (The mob of October 17) and #แบนดาราสลิ่ม (To ban those actors and actresses who support the government).

Meanwhile, Chulalongkorn economist Narong Petchprasert stated that there were two groups that disagreed with each other on the role of the monarchy – one wants to maintain the status quo and the other wants reform – while the third party aims to exploit the conflict between them to gain power and wealth.

Narong said that “This last group is dangerous to the Nation, People and the Palace”.

Meanwhile normal people posted, shared, and commented about Friday’s crackdown. Most of them felt sorry for the people at the site and expressed their anger at officials. Some people vowed on their social media to unfriend online those who agreed with the violent crackdown and showed sympathy to the police.

Sombat Boonngamanong, a pro-democracy activist, stated via his Facebook page that he has faced the “unfriending” situation since the coup in 2006. However, it was okay after having faced the situation.

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Blue Line services halted while protest group tells supporters to assemble at BTS, MRT stations at 3pm

PoliticsOct 17. 2020

By THE NATION

The Metropolitan Rapid Transit (MRT) Blue Line train services have been temporarily suspended from 12.30pm on Saturday due to the protesters’ planned political rally.

The announcement was made on Twitter.

The lead protest group, United Front of Thammasat and Demonstration (UFTD), on Saturday morning asked pro-democracy supporters via its Facebook page to standby at 3pm at all BTS and MRT stations, to prepare themselves for further movement.

In case railway services are closed, the UFTD said the pro-democracy protest would be held at the stations instead.

The newly formed Khana Ratsadon 2563 (People’s Party 2020) earlier changed its name to Ratsadon (The People), and had vowed to hold another rally on Saturday at 4pm.

The Airport Rail Link’s Phya Thai station and Bangkok Mass Transit System (BTS) Sukhumvit and Silom lines were temporarily closed on Saturday afternoon in view of the protests.