The opposition Pheu Thai Party resolved on Wednesday to back the “people’s charter” put forward by the civil group Internet Law Reform Dialogue (iLaw).
Pheu Thai leader Sompong Amornwiwat called a party meeting on Wednesday morning before the Parliament began its session on voting for the draft proposed by iLaw.
Sompong asked all party MPs if they were for the iLaw draft, and most of them raised their hand.
MP Sutin Klangsang told the press later that his party was initially concerned that this charter draft can be seen as a violation of Article 255 of the Constitution, which states that Thailand’s administrative structure cannot change from a constitutional monarchy.
However, he said, Pheu Thai is not worried about this issue anymore because Parliament president checked the draft on Monday and said it is does not violate the current charter.
“If we are wrong, then the first person to be charged under this matter will be the president,” he said.
Activist and human-rights lawyer Arnon Nampa, one of the leaders of the Ratsadon pro-democracy group, asked all protesters to come “prepared and bring protective gear” to the planned rally at Ratchaprasong intersection at 4pm on Wednesday.
“Tear gas might be used again in today’s rally,” Arnon posted on his Twitter account on Wednesday. “Police officers that use tear gas were called in, partly from other provinces, to stand by at the rally site since this afternoon. Please be prepared and bring protective gear,” he wrote.
“We need to follow what Hong Kong protesters did in handling tear gas canisters shot by officials. Yesterday we failed to extinguish the canisters when they hit the ground, causing the gas to spread,” Arnon said.
“We need volunteers to be responsible to undertake ‘gas duty’ besides our security guards, as they already have overwhelming duties to carry out. If we have a gas extinguishing unit, it would be excellent,” he said.
Arnon
Ratsadon protesters had gathered outside Parliament on Tuesday to pressure lawmakers to accept iLaw’s constitution amendment draft. The clash emerged after riot police used tear gas and water cannons to prevent protesters breaking through to Parliament. Thirty-two people had been reportedly hurt by tear gas, six were hit by water cannons, four took sick and 13 had other symptoms.
Jon Ungphakorn, director of the non-governmental organisation Internet Law Reform Dialogue (iLaw), told the press on Wednesday morning that iLaw’s charter draft will be opposed by most lawmakers in Parliament.
He said a part of the Parliament does not accept that Thailand is changing and the young generation wants democracy.
“It is unfortunate that some members of Parliament are not aware of what is happening in the present, and this will worsen the situation,” he said.
He also insisted that there is absolutely no corruption in his organisation and it was unfair that people have been attacking it for graft and illegal funding without backing these allegations with evidence.
Fifty-five people were injured during a clash between pro-democracy protesters and police officers outside Parliament on Tuesday, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration’s Erawan Emergency Medical Service Centre said on Wednesday.
Some of them were injured as a result of clashes between pro-democracy protesters and yellow-shirt royalists.
The centre said that of the 55 injuries, 32 people had been hurt by tear gas, six were shot, four took sick and 13 had other symptoms.
“Thirty-seven people were sent to Vajira Hospital, five to Phramongkutklao Hospital, four to Praram 9 Hospital, and one each to Rajavithi Hospital, Phetcharavej Hospital, Klang Hospital, Lerdsin Hospital and Mission Hospital,” the centre said.
Ratsadon group protesters had gathered outside Parliament on Tuesday to pressure lawmakers to accept the iLaw constitution amendment draft, which aims to reform the monarchy and have it come under the purview of the Constitution.
However, the clash emerged after riot police used tear gas and water cannons to prevent protesters breaking through to Parliament. The demonstrators also reportedly threw a flare and a firecracker at police. Protest leader Arnon Nampa decided to call off the protest at 9pm, and asked demonstrators to gather at Ratchaprasong Intersection at 4pm on Wednesday.
House Speaker Chuan Leekpai said on Wednesday morning that a Parliament meeting today would feature voting on amended constitution drafts as proposed by both the ruling coalition and the opposition.
“The voting procedure will comply with the rules and regulations of the Parliament meeting. Each member will be called by name and will cast their vote on each of the drafts,” he said.
“I would like to ask all members to avoid announcing his/her name after it is called, or add any phrase to their vote [such as ‘I wholeheartedly approve the draft’], in order to save time.”
When asked about the possibility of a repeat of incidents in previous meetings, when some MPs and senators left early, Chuan said: “The voting today and at previous meetings are separate incidents. We decided to vote today instead of yesterday night as members previously agreed not to vote at night, and some of the parties have yet to submit their lists of participating members.”
When asked what would happen if the public draft of an amended constitution proposed by human rights watchdog iLaw was not approved in principle by Parliament today, Chuan said: “The draft will then be considered rejected and cannot be proposed again in this session of meeting. However, it can be proposed again in the next session.”
In order to be approved in principle, a draft will require at least one third of the senators’ okays, or 84 senators.
7.55am: Traffic is blocked from entering Samsen Road and Thahan Road leading to Kiakkai Intersection near Parliament.
1.15pm: The Navy deploys 20 boats in case it needs to evacuate Senators and MPs deliberating charter-change motions in the riverside Parliament building. Protesters gather outside.
2.03pm: The United Front of Thammasat and Demonstration group asks demonstrators to gather at Kiakkai intersection at 3pm. The Free Youth group asks supporters to bring along inflatable rubber ducks to ride in front of the building. Protesters reiterate Panusaya ‘Rung’ Sithijirawattanakul’s demand that Parliament must pass iLaw’s draft constitution.
2.17pm: Protesters in front of the Boon Rawd Brewery building attempt to clear a concrete and barbed-wire barrier erected by police to protect Parliament. Riot police issue a warning then open fire with water-cannon trucks.
3.10pm: At Kiakkai intersection, riot police continue to warn the demonstrators to stop approaching the barrier or water cannon will be fired.
3.12pm: Police fire water cannon after protesters try to remove barriers.
3.20pm: Police spokesperson Kritsana Pattanacharoen announces that riot police fired water cannon, minus chemicals, after protesters ignored the first warning not to dismantle the barricade. After they ignored further warnings, tear gas was added to the water fired at protesters, he said, adding this was just normal law enforcement rather than an attempt to clear the protest.
3.25pm: A protester throws a smoke bomb at riot police.
3.28pm Police push back protesters with more rounds of water cannon laced with tear gas.
3.50pm: Inside Parliament, Move Forward MP Wiroj Lakkhanaadisorn calls on police to refrain from using violence against demonstrators exercising their lawful right to protest.
3.55pm: Senators and MPs are evacuated by boat from the pier behind Parliament, escorted by a security team and marines.
4.20pm: Riot police continue to spray water at protesters who approach the barrier guarding Parliament. Some protesters shield themselves from the tear gas solution using rainwear, umbrellas and giant inflatable rubber ducks.
4.33pm: The Chao Phraya Express Boat service tells passengers to avoid Kiakkai pier and use other routes.
4.43pm: Protesters drag away a police van parked to block their path.
4.50pm: Shinawatra Chankrachang, leader of the New Generation Network of Nonthaburi protest group, leads a small flotilla of boats to Kiakkai pier. Officials bar protesters from entering Parliament.
4.55pm: Another water truck joins the operation as police continue to spray both plain and a teargas-laced water at protesters.
5.08pm: Protesters break down the metal fence erected at Kiakkai intersection and hurl objects at riot police.
5.11pm: Protesters clash with yellow-shirt government supporters at the other side of the intersection, as both sides hurl bottles and rocks at each other.
5.25pm: Opposition MPs protest to the Parliament president and seek to coordinate with police outside to halt the violence against protesters.
5.35pm: Deputy Metropolitan Police Bureau commissioner Piya Tawichai gives an update on the operation, explaining riot police used tear gas and water cannon to prevent protesters breaking through towards Parliament, adding that demonstrators had thrown a flare and firecracker at police. He insisted that protesters would not be permitted to approach Parliament where they could do damage.
6pm: Police gave their summary of the day’s protest around Parliament. Four rallies had taken place, but only three groups had been granted permission to protest on November 17-18: the ultraroyalist Thai Phakdee, People Political groups, and a monarchy protection group.
Police said the anti-government Ratsadon (People’s Party) had not asked for permission to protest as per emergency law.
9pm: Protesters call off demonstration for the day.
Protest leader Arnon Nampa calls for ‘one million’ demonstrators to gather at Ratchaprasong Intersection tomorrow at 4pm, shifting focus away from Parliament.
Lawmakers expected to continue debating charter change motions until 10pm.
6.05pm: Shinawatra Chankrachang jumps into the Chao Phraya River at Kiakkai pier but fails in his bid to swim to the Parliament building. Police continue to fire occasional water cannon volleys at protesters.
6.43pm: Metropolitan police commander Phukphong Phongpetra negotiates with protesters.
7.14pm: Protesters try to deflate tyres of water cannon trucks.
7.26pm: Parit ‘Penguin’ Chiwarak and Panupong “Mike” Jadnok lead protesters as they break through the police line at Kiakkai Intersection and march to Parliament
8.20pm: Ratsadon (People’s Party) and yellow-shirt protesters clash again.
8.29pm: An ambulance arrives at Kiakkai intersection.
8.31pm: It carries away casualties from both sides of the clash. Bangkok’s Erawan Medical Centre later reports a total of 18 people were injured in the protests, 12 suffering the effects of tear gas.
8.40pm: Confrontation eases. Ratsadon calls on its supporters to retreat to Parliament building fence for safety.
8.50pm: At the entry to Parliament, Anon Nampa announces that if Parliament rejects iLaw’s draft tomorrow, protesters will gather at Ratchaprasong intersection at 4pm.
9pm: Parit announces protesters will march from Ratchaprasong to Royal Thai Police headquarters tomorrow. United Front of Thammasat and Demonstration posts similar message, declaring: ‘This is the last warning! If they do not accept the people’s constitution, there will be no more compromises. Rally at Ratchaprasong Intersection tomorrow (November 18) at 4pm.’
9.33pm: Protesters call off demonstration for the day.
Some pro-democracy protesters came prepared to hold a barbecue party in the protest area on Bangkok’s Kiak Kai Road as police continue blocking them from rallying outside Parliament on Tuesday evening.
In a Facebook post on Sunday, Free Youth said the Ratsadon group will surround Parliament by air, land and water channels from 3pm onwards, and will not leave until lawmakers endorse the iLaw draft, which aims to reform the monarchy and put it under the purview of the Constitution.
Prominent human-rights lawyer Arnon Nampa, who is also one of the core leaders of the pro-democracy movement, is calling on supporters to gather outside Parliament on Tuesday to pressure lawmakers to accept the “people’s draft” submitted by the civil group iLaw.
On his Facebook page, he urged protesters to come armed with hats and sunglasses, and bring along any boats they may own. He also urged them to maintain peace during the rally.
“Winning the fight to have the charter amended will depend every much on everybody’s cooperation,” he said.
Meanwhile, actress and singer Intira “Sai” Charoenpura also posted a Facebook message calling on pro-democracy groups to gather outside Parliament and come armed with protective equipment as the situation may escalate.
In a Facebook post on Sunday, Free Youth said the Ratsadon group will surround Parliament by air, land and water channels from 3pm onwards, and will no leave until lawmakers accept the iLaw draft, which aims to reform the monarchy and have it come under the purview of the Constitution.
Suwit Thongprasert, or Phra Buddha Isara as he was known before being defrocked, led a group of royalists to the Bangkok City Pillar Shrine on Tuesday to pray for the safety of the monarchy.
He said he will travel to North on Saturday and the South from November 26 to 29 to say prayers at other city pillar shrines, and will also try to persuade members of the red-shirt movement to help protect the nation and the monarchy.
“We found a few red-shirt people in Roi Et participating in events to protect the monarchy and the country after some politicians stopped them from joining us,” he said.
Suwit was a member of the yellow-shirt People’s Alliance for Democracy, which was formed in 2013 to “eradicate the Thaksin [Shinawatra] regime”.
The red-shirt movement came together in 2006 after the elected government of Thaksin Shinawatra was ousted by the military.
Suwit said the royalists who gathered outside Parliament on Tuesday to protest against charter change will express their opinions peacefully.
He also said that lawmakers should accept some parts of the Internet Law Reform Dialogue (iLaw)’s draft because they benefit the country, society, economy and the environment.
The royalist group, “Thai Phakdee” (Loyal Thai), visited Parliament in Bangkok on Tuesday morning to submit a petition objecting to the amendment of the Constitution.
On Tuesday and Wednesday, Parliament is debating drafts on amendments to the 2017 Constitution..
The leader of the royalist group, Warong Dechgitvigrom, brought his supporters and handed over their petition to the senate representative.
The group objected to all draft charters, whether proposed by government parties, the opposition, or the non-profit organisation iLaw.
Warong slammed the draft charter of iLaw, warning it would destroy the administrative structure of Thailand. Also, he added, the Free Youth pro-democracy group had misled people about the current Constitution.
Warong said that politicians from both the government and opposition, aimed to amend the Constitution for their own benefit. So, the charters drafted by them must be blocked.
After submitting the petition, Warong and his royalist supporters will go to the Office of the Attorney-General to submit another petition for blocking any amendments.
Jon Ungphakorn 
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(File Photo) 
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Photos by Korbphuk Phromrekha 
File Photo: Arnon Nampa 
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