Anti-Prayut protesters in Bangkok may be prosecuted
The rally of free youth groups at the Democracy Monument (sarapongwongpan / Shutterstock.com)
Police are considering taking legal action against the leaders of the anti-Prayut rally held in Bangkok on Saturday, July 18, because the protesters broke the state of emergency and other laws.
The Student Union of Thailand and the Free Youth group led the rally at the Democracy Monument on Saturday demanding Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha's resignation. Police have said the group has not asked permission to demonstrate.
The Metropolitan Police held a meeting on Monday to discuss the allegations against the protest leaders. According to the police, they have evidence that some of them incited the mob and spread disinformation. The rally is also considered a violation of the state of emergency imposed since March as part of the effort to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.
The protest leaders called for the lifting of the state of emergency in their speeches. Other demands include the dissolution of parliament and the drafting of a new constitution. They also threatened to intensify the protests if the government does not respond to the demands within two weeks.
Source: Pattaya Mail
At the demonstration on Saturday at the monument of democracy, the turnout was about 2 to 2,5 thousand people, according to most media (BP writes 1000). A short video that gives a good impression has Thisrupt: https://thisrupt.co/videos/prayut-get-out-demands-protestors-gathered-at-bangkoks-democracy-monument/
The demonstration lasted from 17.00 pm and despite the fact that the leaders had wanted to stay until 8 am, they called off the demonstration just after midnight. The demonstration was peaceful, although the police did let it be known that they were in violation of the law (including a maximum of 2 years in prison for violating the ban on gatherings under the corona emergency law). The demonstrators on stage kept it pretty tidy, creative banners were displayed in the audience.
On Sunday there were also protests in Chiang Mai and Ubon Ratchathani, attendance in the hundreds. On Monday there was a small protest at the entrance of the Thai army headquarters, where a photo of Supreme Commander General Apirat was torn up. A sign near the stage read 'why do we have an army?' . See:
http://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/thai-protesters-take-aim-at-army-after-anti-government-rallies
More demonstrations have been announced in a dozen other cities in the coming days and weeks.
The youth (but there were also old people among the demonstrators) is fed up with this government and the great injustice, think of the constitution and the elections, both of which were not exactly fair. The high gentlemen themselves warn that permission is required for demonstrating (as if one gets it), is not possible now due to the state of emergency (Corona rules) and not to involve the highest institute. The question is what the authorities will pull out of their hat to fight the demonstrators. My own friends are worried about another October 6th (1976 massacre of students at Thammasat University).
Good, full story, with this addition.
There were also quite a few anti-monarchy banners. 'We have lost more confidence in the monarchy' was one of them. Other signs were more in code language, often with a reference to the letter -O- part of the monarch's name โอรส Orot, meaning 'son' in the royal language. For example: we want 'democracy', without the -O-, or 'dem O crazy'. The authorities therefore issued a special warning about this. Exciting times.
It's not surprising with all that's been going on here in the last 10 years. More corrupt officials than during Thaksin's time. Nevertheless, zero tolerance had been announced. Hopefully the Thais will move more to turn the situation around.
It might be nice to quote a few excerpts from an interview with one of the demonstrators, Panupong Jadnok:
Are you scared?
This is not my first time getting involved in something like this. I volunteered with YoungleadersThailand for three years and have experienced many threats. I was shot at. I'm very much used to it.
If I have to sacrifice something for democracy, like my life, it will be worth it. There's nothing left to fear.
How do you feel when people say “politics isn't for students, students should just focus on studying”?
[laughs] If you say that students are the future of the country, then we definitely have all the right, and even more of a reason, to be involved in politics.
It is our future, and that's why we have to protect our future.
https://thisrupt.co/society/fight-against-the-power/?fbclid=IwAR0LiKQbskd_D2ArC1NilJawcvOolVXDbuS8hLPUKwfvLA2TJ2gj7gkZ5Ps
Good story and very brave from these Thai students and other supporters, because this is of course not without some risk.
I hope that these brave people will achieve their goal, and that these leaders will not only step down but also go to prison for years, there are plenty of charges to think of.
But something else, I've been thinking more and more lately, it's something that not only Thailand but all over the world, yes also in the Netherlands!, that government leaders don't care what the population they represent wants, Well, as long as you have the police and army as a back-up, it's not all that difficult, but these people have to think for once, is this correct what I'm doing?
It is high time that this global addiction to power was seen as a disease.
Unfortunately, no medicine has yet been invented for this.
I find it strange that in Isaan, for example in Maha Sarakhan, diligent people were once again paid 500 baht per person who agreed to demonstrate. But yes, they must have learned that from former Prime Minister Taksim, right? Or maybe it is the same group behind it.
Source?
The source usually remains 'my neighbor says that'. What is certain: giving money to buy a protester or vote is of all years and all camps. You can substitute 'Thaksin' for many other names, but some people at the top look under their bed before going to sleep for Thaksin or communists hiding there.
What we also know for sure: at many demonstrations people went around to collect money (crowdfunding) in order to arrange facilities such as food, drinks, medical care, toilets, etc., together with volunteers. Source? Including 'Assembly of the Poor'. At Democracy Monument, 112 pizzas were handed out.
The stories of a third power are also as old as the road to Rome. For example, police spokesman Kissana Pattanacharoen warned of a third force behind the scenes. That implies that students are puppets (of Mr T? Or those other Mr T? Communists?). It is never made concrete, nor is there any evidence.
The police are concerned about the citizens, really. As I recently quoted how the man with the 'I have lost faith in…' shirt (now forced to be placed in a madhouse for observation) was told by the police that with that shirt on he "might be attacked and then falsely point to the authorities as the perpetrator” (no exact quote).
The often unsubstantiated message or warning is clear: the plebs are stupid and put themselves in danger, if they just learn to listen to the gentlemen at the top then...
Source: https://www.khaosodenglish.com/politics/2020/07/20/police-planning-to-charge-youth-protest-leaders/
The man of the famous shirt was immediately released yesterday. Rarararararar, who's behind that?
You mean Mr. Thiwakorn, Chris? With that text on his shirt: 'I no longer have faith in the monarchy'. yes right?
He was taken to a psychiatric hospital in Khon Kaen by a number of police officers and soldiers, it's nice that they care about mentally suffering people.
And then 'who is behind his release? 'Do you know that, Chris? Surely there is a psychiatrist in that hospital?
If it was someone from outside the hospital then…well, fill it in.
It was not Prayut, nor Apirat. And the doctor wouldn't dare do such a thing.
There can only be one person who gave the order to release the man. But hardly anyone believes that, except me.
You mean that for 500 baht one risks 2 years in prison?
Photos of the protesting students are now on social media. Despite warnings from the authorities, especially the ringleaders, risking an indictment with 2 years in prison, telephone calls and home visits from police in uniform or civilian clothes. They also risk deduction of a citizenship report. Improper ethics and violations of Thai cultural norms will result in you losing points on your report card. This happened to Netiwit in the recent past, for example.
To me, that courage suggests that people have had enough and despite the warnings and prohibitions of parties that can still make life miserable for the students, they continue anyway. They joke that there is not enough room to lock everyone up. And then those claims of 500 thb?? Real?? =/
Tomorrow probably a better source but here the announcement:
https://www.khaosodenglish.com/politics/2020/07/22/students-to-defy-universitys-ban-on-anti-govt-gatherings/
Maybe students from Thai secondary schools, but at bilingual and international (private) secondary schools and also at the universities there is no 'subject' of citizenship at all.
There is indeed a system with points for correct ethics. To illustrate Netiwit's example, 'many schools and universities use a 'demerit points' system to ensure correct behaviour. Points are deducted every time you break the rules. I call that loosely translated citizenship.
Which category exactly does that fall under? Good question. The subjects have slightly different labels, for example, Thai primary and secondary schools have the category 'society, religion and culture', which includes matters such as lessons in ethics, morality, citizenship. I cannot say exactly how an individual school arranges this. The point is that 'incorrect behavior' is punished with deduction of points and Thai students are constantly reminded of the correct norms and values through various social school subjects.
In these protests today, too, we read about rectors who warn that behavior points will be deducted if the students continue in this way.
- https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/1316491/netiwit-removed-from-student-council
Dear Chris,
No, in international schools there is no subject called 'Citizenship' as far as I know, but similar topics are discussed in subjects such as 'World Cultures' and 'Ethics'.
Jip and Janneke language can also come in handy.
Once upon a time there was a house and many children live there with a father who wants the best. But that father has to deal with children with many opinions…………zoom back to the home situation.
Woman + man + 2 children. Who's in charge?
Children will never be the boss, at most they can ask for a change.
The Arab Spring has shown how fantastic the idea of radical change is. Wikipedia is not necessarily a source, but if it results in so many deaths and little changes, then you can't support that, can you?
I don't want to name any people, but the clique for extreme change are often (or have been) wage slaves and what is the fun in pointing out what is wrong instead of contributing to setting up a company so that they can experience for themselves the challenges that this entails? gives?
Exactly according to the textbooks: see the nation as the family at home. Father is the boss, the family has the power. Maybe they can say something too, but father decides whether he does something with it. Children are too stupid and inexperienced. They can never fathom all of dad's actions. And although he sometimes uses aggression or violence, he means well, he really does. This is how Thai children learn. Paternalism to the extreme.
Apparently it's a scary thought to all sit around the home or company table and have a vote. Now you don't introduce a democracy overnight, that was also the excuse 1 years ago not to start it 'for the time being'. This is how you learn to cycle safely.. or?
No idea what a completely different continent has to do with this, with all kinds of groups and strange borders. You can't compare that with Thailand.
Nor do I see what is extreme about turning a semi-democracy into a full-fledged form of democracy with accountability, truly independent powers, etc.
And it makes no difference whether any of us are wage slaves or directors. Those who work among the Thai (as a colleague, boss or subordinate) can talk and especially listen to the Thai. It's up to them. Oh and those who are connected to Thai people in a different way: same thing: talk, exchange ideas, let the Thai have their say, in the end it's up to them. A democratic system would of course help the Thai to move their country forward, that is exactly what the protesters are so concerned about, they want to finally be taken for granted. I agree with them.
Once upon a time there was a house and there lived a father and many children. Father did his best to raise his children to be independent and responsible people, because he knew that one day they would have to take their place in society. At that moment he can let go of them and look back with great confidence. He is proud and happy because he also knows that his children will use changes for the better.