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https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30404360

Five protesters hauled up for allegedly ‘hurting liberty of Queen’

PoliticsMar 31. 2021Ekkachai Hongkangwan

By The Nation

Five protesters were indicted on Wednesday for allegedly hurting the “liberty of the Queen” when her motorcade drove past an anti-establishment rally on October 14 last year.

Prosecutors also charged them with holding a gathering of more than 10 persons and obstructing traffic.

Since five activists have said they will fight the charges and the Criminal Court has decided to hear their case on April 26.

“We have the right to fight for freedom and justice, and we were honoured for being given the chance. I will go to jail without any hesitation if the court decides. I will continue fighting so what I have done so far will not be in vain and my name will be recorded in history,” activist Boonkueanoon Paothong, 21, said.

“We did not do anything wrong because we had no idea a royal convoy was heading in our direction,” another indicted political activist Ekkachai Hongkangwan, 45, said.

Their lawyer Poonsuk Poonsukcharoen said she expects the five to be granted bail as they are not a flight risk. The protesters have apparently prepared Bt300,000 each as bail guarantee.

The lawyer said the charges carry a minimum sentence of 16 years in jail for violence or attempted violence against the queen or heir-apparent.

The event took place at the height of anti-establishment protests last year when Her Majesty’s motorcade passed through a group of protesters. Video clips show police pushing protesters away from the queen’s car.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30404318

Thailand will not push refugees back to Myanmar: PM

PoliticsMar 30. 2021

By The Nation

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha vowed on Tuesday that Thailand would not push back refugees fleeing violence in Myanmar.

Speaking at a briefing after the weekly Cabinet meeting, Prayut said Thai officials were seeking a solution to the refugee problem. However, he added that Thailand would negotiate to return those found crossing the border from Myanmar without good reason.

“Nobody is pointing guns to keep them out of the country,” said Prayut of the refugees. “This is a humanitarian problem and both sides need to find a solution together.”

Activists on Monday accused Thai authorities of pushing back about 2,000 ethnic Karen fleeing airstrikes by Myanmar government forces. Thai officials denied the reports. The airstrikes came amid the bloodiest week so far in the Myanmar junta’s crackdown on the civilian population, with 141 reportedly killed on Saturday alone.

Prayut said Thailand had many years of experience in resolving such issues, having hosted 400,000 refugees in nine border camps for 10 to 20 years.

He added that a repatriation programme for the 100,000 refugees who remain in the camps had been suspended following the February 1 military coup in Myanmar.

“The [Thai] government must therefore stop sending them back and prepare to accommodate more people who will be evacuated according to humanitarian principles,” said Prayut.

He added that usually, legal procedures should be followed when crossing the border, but this was an unusual situation and people were dying.

“Thailand has a duty to provide help to unfortunate people seeking aid, but authorities cannot announce they will accept everyone, as border security officials and related agencies must first work out a plan and principles to protect national security,” Prayut told reporters.

Asked whether the Thai government was in contact with United Nations refugee agency, Prayut said the organisation had a branch in Thailand and that refugees cannot be sent to a third country.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30404316

Nattawut calls for release of protest leaders, peaceful resolution

PoliticsMar 30. 2021

By The Nation

Former red-shirt leader Nattawut Saikua on Tuesday called on the government to release pro-democracy protesters from jail and seek a peaceful resolution to the political conflict.

Nattawut said sovereign power in the country belonged to the people as everyone is equal.

The former United Front of Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD) leader said his view on this had not changed even though he had been banned from political activities for 10 years.

“I have no regrets over the path I chose. I have been sentenced to jail three times, but I can handle it if I have to face such punishment again.”

Nattawut was speaking ahead of a large protest rally planned at Government House on Tuesday.

He also reaffirmed his support for the pro-democracy protesters, saying that he believes the new generation has the power to change the country.

“The country can’t move forward if the new generation is still in jail, so the government should talk with the [young protesters] to seek a peaceful solution for the country,” he said.

He added that he hadn’t talked with current UDD chairman Jatuporn Prompan about holding an anti-government protest at Pruesapha Prachatham monument in Bangkok’s Phra Nakhon district on Sunday (April 4).

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https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30404306

New Cabinet holds first meeting

PoliticsMar 30. 2021

By The Nation

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and his new Cabinet posed for a group photo before holding their first weekly meeting at Government House in Bangkok on Tuesday morning.

The reshuffled Cabinet features four new faces, namely Digital Economy and Society Minister Chaiwut Thanakamanusorn, Education Minister Treenuch Thienthong, Deputy Commerce Minister Sinit Lertkrai and Deputy Transport Minister Weerasak Wangsuphakijkosol.

The four new members paid their respects to sacred items inside Government House before joining the rest of the Cabinet for the photograph.

The reshuffle came after three former ministers – Education Minister Nataphol Teepsuwan, Deputy Transport Minister Thaworn Senniam and Digital Economy and Society Minister Buddhipongse Punnakanta – lost their posts when they were sentenced to jail on February 24 for their roles in 2013-14 protests against the Yingluck Shinawatra government.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30404305

Police anchor container barricade at Govt House for Tuesday’s protest

PoliticsMar 30. 2021

By THE NATION

Police stationed around Government House have anchored container barricades to the ground in a bid to prevent pro-democracy protesters from moving them during today’s rally.

Student protest group UNME of Anarchy announced on Facebook it will rally at Government House this afternoon (Tuesday). The announcement came after police dismantled the Talu Fah Village protest camp across from Government House on Sunday.

Police have set up the container barricades in the area around Government House, including near Phadung Krung Kasem Canal, Chamai Maru-chet Bridge and the United Nations building. Officials have also fortified barriers at Government House with razor wire.

Deputy Metropolitan Police Bureau Commissioner Piya Tawichai told reporters that the container barriers had been erected to prevent clashes between police and protesters.

Protesters managed to pull down part of a container barricade outside the Grand Palace during a March 20 demonstration, when police used tear gas and water cannon to disperse them.

The pro-democracy movement is calling for the prime minister and government to step down, a new Constitution, and reform of the monarchy.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30404253

Protesters to gather on MBK Skywalk on Monday following crackdown on ‘village’

PoliticsMar 29. 2021

By THE NATION

Pro-democracy Facebook page “UNME of Anarchy” announced a demonstration on Monday at the MBK Skywalk in Bangkok’s Pathumwan district.

The demonstration is in response to the police crackdown on the demonstrators’ Talu Fah Village camp on Sunday.

Also, the page announced the second demonstration in front of Parliament House on Tuesday.

On Sunday, crowd-control police had arrested pro-democracy protesters camped on Bangkok’s Rama V Road near Government House. The protesters were charged with violating the communicable disease act and the emergency decree.

The Talu Fah Village camp had been set up on Rama V Road for demonstration since March 13 this year.

The protesters are demanding that the government release imprisoned protest leaders, amend the Constitution, abolish the lese majeste law (Section 112 of the Criminal Code), and the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha.

A total of 99 protesters had been arrested and several protesters have raised funds for their release.

Deputy Metropolitan Police Bureau Commissioner Piya Tawichai told the press on Monday that all the protesters will be sent to the court for detention.

He added that the area where the Talu Fah Village had been set up was supervised by police, and traffic there can run as usual without problem.

Among the arrested protesters were six teenagers. The Central Juvenile and Family Court allowed them bail without bond.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30404224

PM monitoring impacts from blockage of cargo traffic in Suez Canal

PoliticsMar 28. 2021

By The Nation

Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha is monitoring the situation in the Suez Canal after a grounded large ship has blocked the passage of hundreds of cargo ships.

The PM is looking into the impacts and considering measures to help Thai entrepreneurs, deputy government spokesperson Ratchada Thanadirek said.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Commerce Jurin Laksanawisit said that he had told the overseas commercial office to prepare to coordinate with importers and exporters to request an extension of delivery time. Officials will also take care of exporters if they consider changing the transport route to the Cape of Good Hope to deliver their products, which would cost more and take a longer time.

Ratchada said that according to the assessment of the Energy Policy and Planning Office, Thailand’s energy supply, including oil, liquefied petroleum gas and liquefied natural gas, will not be affected as the quantity of natural gas imports through this route is not high and operators have managed to use other routes. People should not worry about shortage of fuel, as it is imported from many production sources. Moreover, entrepreneurs have sufficient stocks of oil in accordance with the amount required by law, Ratchada said.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30404217

Protesters camping near Government House arrested

PoliticsMar 28. 2021

By The Nation

Protection and crowd control police arrested pro-democracy protesters camped on Bangkok’s Rama V Road near Government House on Sunday morning.

The protesters were charged with violating the communicable disease act and the emergency decree.

Pro-democracy protesters set up their own Talu Fah Village on Rama V Road to protest against the government since March 13 this year.

They demanded that the government release imprisoned protest leaders, amend the Constitution, abolish the lese majeste law (Section 112 of the Criminal Code), and the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30404199

Kao Klai MP meets with police over alleged defamation of prime Minister

PoliticsMar 27. 2021

By THE NATION

Amornrat Chokpamitkul, a party-list MP of Kao Klai Party, on Saturday met with investigation officers at Nang Leong Police Station in Bangkok in response to police summons.

On August 11 and September 12, 2020 and February this year, Amornrat had posted on her Twitter account accusing Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha of tax evasion and failing to report his assets after receiving monetary benefit of more than Bt3,000 in the form of utility expenses for the military house that Prayut has been living in for more than 10 years.

The posts had been widely shared and criticised, and prompted Apiwat Khanthong, assistant to the minister of the Prime Minister’s Office, to file a defamation case against her.

During the short meeting, police notified Amornrat of the case filed against her. Investigation officers then scheduled for her to come in and give the statement to build the case.

After meeting with the police, Amornrat reportedly said that she was not worried about the case as her lawyer had informed her that the punishment could only be a fine.

“I will, however, fight this case in court to the fullest of my ability,” she said, adding that since the prime minister was a public figure, therefore honest criticism against him should be allowed.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30404197

On 11th day of fast, pro-democracy protester Parit ‘tired, but cheerful’

PoliticsMar 27. 2021

By THE NATION

Detained pto-democracy protester Parit “Penguin” Chiwarak’s fast entered the 11th day on Saturday, and he was still able to talk and write, the Facebook page of the United Front of Thammasat and Demonstration group updated on Saturday.

The group said that Parit was tired and found it hard to walk, but he was still cheerful and high-spirited

The group announced that Parit had decided to consume only water and electrolytes from his eighth day of fast.

The protest leader had announced on March 15 that he would go on a hunger strike until he and others accused of insulting the monarchy were granted bail.

In its update, the Department of Corrections clarified on Saturday morning that the protester did not have hypoglycemia.