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12 pro-democracy protest leaders ‘get police summons’ (nationthailand.com)

12 pro-democracy protest leaders ‘get police summons’

PoliticsNov 25. 2020From left: Mike, Rung and Penguin 

By THE NATION

Police have issued summons to 12 pro-democracy protest leaders over charges relating to Section 112, according to a news source at the Royal Thai Police headquarters on Tuesday.

Section 112 of the Criminal Code states that “whoever defames, insults or threatens the King, the Queen, the Heir-apparent or the Regent, will be punished with imprisonment of three to 15 years”.

Parit “Penguin” Chiwarak reportedly faces the most charges of eight. Six were filed by police stations in Khon Kaen, Ayutthaya, Ubon Ratchathani, Roi Et, Nonthaburi and Bangkok’s Chana Songkram district, and two charges will be filed by the Technology Crime Suppression Division.

Panusaya “Rung” Sithijirawattanakul is facing six charges, while Panupong “Mike” Jadnok and Arnon Nampa face four charges.

Patsaravalee “Mind” Tanakitvibulpon faces three charges while Chanin Wongsri is seeing two charges.

Meanwhile, Juthathip Sirikhan, Piyarat Jongthep, Thatthep Ruangprapaikijseree, Atthaphol Buaphat, Chukiat Saengwong and Sombat Thongyoi face one charge each.

The source also said investigation officers had requested arrest warrants from the court but were denied these due to the suspects being public figures with permanent residences, so they opted to issue summons instead.

“The police are working on summoning an additional 3-5 protest leaders under Section 112 charges,” the source added.

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Protesters change rally venue to SCB headquarters (nationthailand.com)

Protesters change rally venue to SCB headquarters

PoliticsNov 25. 2020

By THE NATION

The pro-democracy movement has changed Wednesday’s rally venue to Siam Commercial Bank headquarters on Ratchadapisek Road in Bangkok’s Chatuchak district instead of the earlier planned Crown Property Bureau in Dusit district.

At 10.25pm on Tuesday, the Free Youth group posted a message on their Twitter account saying “BREAKING: The Nov 25th rally will take place at SCB headquarters!

“This move is to avoid clashing with an organised mob and avoid playing the tyrant’s game,” it said. “Meet us there at 3pm to claim back the property that should have been the people’s.”

Previously, the Ratsadon group had planned to stage a rally at the Crown Property Bureau on Wednesday. However, on Tuesday afternoon, police set up barbed wire around the premises in anticipation of a mob.

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Thais overseas join battle for democracy at home (nationthailand.com)

Thais overseas join battle for democracy at home

PoliticsNov 23. 2020Photo Credit: Association for Thai Democracy, USA 

By The Nation

The Association for Thai Democracy, USA, a US-based non-governmental organisation, held a rally in Boston’s Bhumibol Square on Monday.

This association was created to seek international support for Thailand’s transition into democracy.

Thai expats in other countries, like Japan, France and the UK, have also been holding similar protests against the Thai government.

Meanwhile, protest leader Parit “Penguin” Chiwarak told protesters that a “big surprise” lay in store for them at the Wednesday rally outside the Crown Property Bureau. The anti-establishment protesters had last gathered in Nakhon Pathom’s Aksa Road on Sunday.

Parit said the protests signify people’s hopes and dreams for a better future as well as their right to decide on their destiny. He insisted that Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha’s resignation is necessary if the government wants to come to an understanding with the protesters.

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‘Big surprise awaits protesters on Wednesday’ (nationthailand.com)

‘Big surprise awaits protesters on Wednesday’

PoliticsNov 23. 2020

By THE NATION

Protest leader Parit “Penguin” Chiwarak on Sunday told protesters that a ‘big surprise’ lay in store for them at Wednesday’s rally.

In a demonstration held in Nakhon Pathom province on Sunday, Parit Chiwarak stated that the demonstration before the Crown Property Bureau on Wednesday would be peaceful.

He said the demonstration would show people the protesters’ hopes, as well as their dream for a better future and for being able to decide thei destiny. He reiterated that the PM must resign first if the government wanted to compromise with protesters.

He added that police had contacted him to hear a charge of lese majeste against him. However, he was not sure the charge related to which demonstration. The protest leader assured people that he would not flee Thailand to escape the severe charge.

Parit added that the car of another protest leader, Panusaya Sithijirawattanakul, had been damaged previously. “I don’t know what malicious action will be taken against other protesters. However, the use of an illegal procedure would only make people more determined to demand reform of the monarchy.”

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“Bad Students” launch a broadside against ‘authoritarian dinosaurs’ (nationthailand.com)

“Bad Students” launch a broadside against ‘authoritarian dinosaurs’

PoliticsNov 22. 2020The “Bad Students” group mocks the ‘authoritarian’ ways of the powers that be, represented by dinosaurs. 

By The Nation

The “Bad Students” group, in defiance of government threats, called for reform of the monarchy at their rally at Bangkok’s shopping district.

Bad students and people play with a ball symbolising a meteorite, representing democratic values.

Pro-democracy teens who call themselves “Bad Students” defiantly rallied on Saturday, mocking the current political class as “dinosaurs”, in a fresh call for change and reform.

The rally, themed “Bye Bye Dinosaurs” and attended by thousands of protesters, began at around 2pm on the road under BTS Siam Square station and ended at 9.45pm.

The rally was organised despite Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha issuing a statement, threatening to use the full force of the law against the protesters. Intensifying the standoff, ultra-royalists also called for the government to enforce section 112 of the Penal Code on lese majeste, which carries a jail term of between three and 15 years against pro-democracy protesters.

Police had earlier issued summons to two leaders of the high-school movement, who are in Mathayom 4 (grade 10) and Mathayom 6 (grade 12), accusing them of violating the emergency law by attending political rallies in October.

The teen leaders said their Saturday theme, “Bye Bye Dinosaurs”, aimed to escalate the political fight from more than just targeting the Education Ministry to the current undemocratic political system, including calling for reform of the monarchy.  Dinosaurs represent the set of values in Thai authoritarian culture while meteorites represent democratic values embracing liberty, equality and fraternity, they explained.

They blamed Education Minister Nataphol Teepsuwan, who voted to reject the Constitution draft proposed by Internet Law Reform Dialogue (iLaw), a Thai human rights NGO. 

Students blamed obsolete rules in schools as the source of human rights abuses and sexual harassment of students. They called for an end to mandatory short haircuts and school uniforms. The Education Minister also was urged to acknowledge the rights of LGBTQ+. 

They blamed the rote-learning culture, which an authoritarian government and teachers use to force high-school students to submit to dominance by the aristocracy, like the 12 Thai national values introduced by the junta government led by Prayut.

They demanded Nataphol’s resignation if he could not reform the education system.

Representatives  from vocational schools also took to the stage and accused the police of letting ultra-royalists attack pro-democracy protesters during a rally on November 17, to justify crackdowns on pro-democracy groups. Some vocational school students, who had served as guards on that day, suffered gunshot injuries.

On Saturday, students also put sarcastic plays and music on to mock Prayut and the monarchy. At one point, students played the royal anthem on the stage while the protesters did not stand up to pay respect as usual but instead raised the three-finger salute, a gesture of protest against dictatorship.

Bangkok is bracing for more pro-democracy demonstrations and counter-protests by royalist groups.

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HK democracy activist urges US firm to stop selling tear gas to Thai police (nationthailand.com)

HK democracy activist urges US firm to stop selling tear gas to Thai police

PoliticsNov 21. 2020Joshua Wong 

By The Nation

Hong Kong youth activist Joshua Wong has sent an email on Friday to NonLethal Technologies, a tear gas manufacturer in the US, calling for suspension of the sale of tear gas canisters to Thailand.

In the email, posted on his Facebook page, he wrote on behalf of Thais and Hongkongers, urging the company to halt the sales of tear gas canisters that were indiscriminately used to target elementary school students.

“Over the past few months since July, hundreds of thousands of Thailand protesters have been fighting for three demands, including constitutional reforms, through peaceful assembly and demonstrations. However, the military-backed government used police force and pro-monarchy mobsters to attack and quell dissent,” he said.

He cited the “Ratsadon” group’s demonstration outside Parliament on November 17 when riot police fired water cannons and tear gas at rally participants.

“According to Bangkok’s Erawan Medical Centre, at least 55 people were hurt, while around 32 of them were suffering from tear gas after-effects. Six people were reportedly shot with live rounds, according to medical staff,” he said, adding that even underaged primary school students were subject to the indiscriminate use of tear gas.

He also cited that multiple human rights groups in Thailand have condemned police brutality.

“Found at the scene, tear gas canisters show that your company is one of the suppliers of tear gas canisters to the riot police in Thailand. Therefore, Thai protesters and I urge your company to suspend the sale of tear gas canisters and other riot weapons to the Thai police force. We also call on the company to make public all the relevant user instructions concerning riot weapons that the Thai police use,” he concluded.

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Police set five conditions for pro-democracy rally today (nationthailand.com)

Police set five conditions for pro-democracy rally today

PoliticsNov 21. 2020

By THE NATION

Police have announced five conditions for pro-democracy protesters planning to rally on Saturday at the Ratchaprasong intersection in Bangkok.

On Saturday morning, Pol Maj-General Piya Tawichai, the deputy chief of the Metropolitan Police, announced the five conditions for the pro-democracy demonstrators.

▪︎They must stay at the intersection and nearby areas they had informed the police about;

▪︎They must not convey messages that are seditious or defamatory;

▪︎They must not move to other places or routes they have not given advance intimation to the police;

▪︎The amplifiers they use must not exceed 115 decibels, as stated in the law;

▪︎The demonstration must be peaceful, without weapons.

The latest rally is being organised by the Bad Student group, under the theme “Meteor Strikes Dinosaurs”. The protest will be held from 1pm to 9.30pm.

According to the latest update, the demonstration has been moved from the Ratchaprasong intersection to under the Siam BTS station due to rain.

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PM thanks people for helping clean graffiti-painted walls of police HQ (nationthailand.com)

PM thanks people for helping clean graffiti-painted walls of police HQ

PoliticsNov 21. 2020

By The Nation

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has thanked government officials and citizens who helped clean paint stains and graffiti on the walls of the Royal Thai Police headquarters on Friday, Government Spokesman Anucha Burapachaisri said on Saturday.

On Wednesday, thousands of pro-democracy demonstrators gathered at Bangkok’s Ratchaprasong intersection, surrounded the headquarters, and threw paint all over its walls.

The action was a protest against a crackdown by police on Tuesday, when officers fired tear gas and water cannon at demonstrators seeking to rally outside Parliament.

Anucha said the government has to take action under the law to maintain peace in the country, as the protesters have violated the law which may affect the nation, monarchy and people’s safety.

“The prime minister hopes that the protesters would use their freedom of expression under the law and express creative opinions,” he said.

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Prayut rejects as propaganda rumours he will quit on Nov 25 (nationthailand.com)

Prayut rejects as propaganda rumours he will quit on Nov 25

PoliticsNov 21. 2020

By THE NATION

Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha on Friday said he had never offered to resign, quashing rumours that he would step down before November 25.

Prominent human-rights lawyer Arnon Nampa, who is also one of the core leaders of the pro-democracy movement, had posted a Facebook message earlier on Friday, saying Prayut “might” resign before November 25, the date protesters have scheduled another rally at the Crown Property Bureau in Bangkok’s Dusit district.

“You must ask the person who said it where he got the information from, as I’ve never made contact with Arnon, leader of Ratsadon protester group,” said Prayut. “As they have scheduled another rally on November 25, I believe it is just a propaganda to invite more people to join the protest.

“Should we continue to believe the person who spreads groundless information like this? That is all I’m going to say,” added the prime minister.

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Student group slams police for targeting teens, vows another protest today (nationthailand.com)

Student group slams police for targeting teens, vows another protest today

PoliticsNov 21. 2020Representational Image 

By THE NATION

The “Bad Student” group has accused police of harassment after two of its members under 18 years old received police summons for violating the state of emergency.

In a Facebook post on Friday, the pro-democracy group consisting of high-school students and student organisations from 50 educational institutions nationwide said that two of its members, Benjamaporn and Lopnapat (last names withheld), who are high school students of Mattayom 4 and 6 respectively, recently received police summons asking them to report to be notified of charges for violating the state of emergency, for their participation in pro-democracy rallies in October.

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha declared a state of emergency in Bangkok on October 14 to control the escalating pro-democracy protests by demonstrators who call themselves the Ratsadon in front of Government House. The emergency ended on October 22.

“This is a harassment of adolescents who are under 18 years old,” the FB post said.

Earlier on Thursday, the Bad Student group declared that they would hold an anti-government protest with the theme “Meteor Strikes Dinosaurs”, at Bangkok’s Ratchaprasong intersection on Saturday.

They said the aim of the rally was to remind lawmakers that if they don’t change their dinosaur-like outdated mindsets, they would be hit by meteors.