Thailand protestors take to street calling government to resign

[anddy]

Reporting by mainstream media about the protests may be limited for a reason other than being supportive of the government:

https://www.thaienquirer.com/17181/thailands-traditional-media-faces-new-challenges-as-protests-touch-on-taboo-topics/

 

[reader]

From Thai Enquirer

Video Story: What students can learn from ASEAN’s history of protest

https://www.thaienquirer.com/16213/video-story-what-students-can-learn-from-aseans-history-of-protest/

[reader]

From Coconuts Bangkok

Arrests of 9 Thai activists, rappers on ‘wanted list’ condemned

Thanayuth ‘Book’ Na Ayutthaya, aka ElevenFinger for his extra digit, raps about Khlong Toei and social justice. Photo: Coconuts

Human Rights Watch this morning condemned the arrests of seven pro-democracy campaigners and two anti-establishment rap artists by the police.

The arrests violate pledges made by the government to respect their rights at a time of swelling protests against its rule, the New York-based group said in a call for their immediate release.

“The Thai government’s repeated promises to listen to dissenting voices have proven meaningless as the crackdown on pro-democracy activists continues unabated,” said Brad Adams, the group’s Asia director. “The authorities should right their wrong and immediately drop the charges and release [Arnon Nampa] and other detained activists.”

The arrests were carried out last night and this morning.

Arnon, an attorney who’s led Thai Lawyers for Human Rights and was previously arrested after he broached the topic of royal reform, was reportedly taken into custody at the Bangkok Criminal Court, where he was tending to his clients. Between last night and this morning, he was arrested along with Baramee Chairat, Korakot Saengyenphan, Suwanna Tanlek, Todsaporn Sinsomboon, Thanee Sasom, Nathawut Somboonsup, Thanayuth Na Ayutthaya and Dechatorn Bamroongmuang. 

Dechatorn has used the stage as a weapon against the regime ever since Rap Against Dictatorship released popular anti-government track What My F**king Country’s Got in 2018. He performed at Sunday’s mass rally at the Democracy Monument, which drew an estimated 10,000 to 20,000 people, alongside Thanayuth, a teen rapper from Khlong Toei known as “ElevenFinger.”

[reader]

From Bangkok Post

Amnesty International presses for dropping of charges against activists

Amnesty International has called for the government to withdraw charges against anti-government protesters and asked its own supporters to send letters backing the demand to Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha.

The charges laid against 31 protesters for the July 18 rally against the government were aimed at silencing critics and were a violation of freedom of expression, the London-based human rights advocacy group said in a statement issued on Friday. 

The statement said the charges, which included sedition, should be immediately dropped.

Amnesty called on people around the world to send letters to the Thai prime minister supporting its demand.

"This recent slew of arrests of peaceful demonstrators illustrates the authorities' intensifying crackdown on freedom of expression and assembly," it said.

Rights lawyer Arnon Nampa and university academic Panupong Jadnok were among the 31  people charged by police.

The two are being held in custody after the Criminal Court on Thursday revoked their bail at the request of Samran Rat police. The court accepted the police argument that the two men broke the court bail stipulation that they refrain from similar offences.

The charges carry a maximum penalty of seven years behind bars. The two activists are being detained in Bangkok Remand Prison.

A rally was planned outside the prison on Friday to demand their release.

Protest leaders have set Sept 19 for another major rally, and promised there would be a much larger crowd at the Democracy Monument and in Ratchadamnoen Avenue that day.

Mr Anon posted a Facebook message on Thursday calling for people to go out on Sept 19. "Let my detention be a 'receipt' of intimidation against people. Sept 19, 2020 will be the day to respond," he wrote.

[reader]

From The Nation

'Bad' students make a strong case for reforms with huge rally at ministry

"Bad student", a group of high school students and student organisations from 50 educational institutions nationwide, has gathered outside the Ministry of Education on Saturday (September 5) to press its demands for reforms.

 

At 2pm, the protesters placed a lot of wreaths in front of the ministry's wall with messages stating that schools do not want dictatorship.

At 3pm, the road in front of the ministry was packed with students who came out in large numbers for the rally.

The group demanded that the ministry stop threatening students, cancel outdated regulations and reform education with the condition that the education minister must resign if the ministry cannot do as they demanded.

Some 50 police officers from Dusit Metropolitan Police Station and Metropolitan Police Division 1 are providing safety to the protesters, while the protesters have requested permission to hold the rally until 8pm today.

Meanwhile, the hashtag #หนูรู้หนูมันเลว (I know I was bad) was trending on Thai Twitter as school pupils rallied to demand democracy.

[reader]

From The Thaiger

Rumours of another coup are false, PM says

Coup? What coup? Rumours have been floating around about an impending coup d’etat by the army. When asked about a possible coup, PM Prayut Chan-o-cha dismissed it, calling the rumour nonsense and groundless. He then abruptly called the press meeting to an end.

Some have been saying the army is preparing for the coup by moving its forces and equipment. A spokesperson for the army says this isn’t true and calls the rumour a “distortion of information.”

Special adviser to the army says the army will tell make an announcement before they move their forces, making sure they don’t cause anyone in the area to panic. He says the army chief has warned all units to exercise caution due to the rumour and suggested they communicate with the public to end any speculation.

Army chief Apirat Kongsompong also dismissed coup rumour when asked by a reporter from the Bangkok Post, saying “Don’t worry. Won’t happen again.”

The last coup was in 2014 when Prayut was an army chief. There have been a dozen coups in Thailand since the first and nearly bloodless coup in 1932, ending nearly 800 years of absolute monarchy and stumbling into democratic parliamentary rule. The last few coups have been triggered by politics.

 

[Londoner]

Seems possible...the Generals get bored when they haven't a coup to organise. Nevertheless,  some sort of Martial Law is more likely than   a coup so that the old men (with  their Rolexes) can  imprison or massacre as many students as possible. They got away with it with the Red Shirts; why not repeat the process again?

[anddy]

5 hours ago, reader said:

When asked about a possible coup, PM Prayut Chan-o-cha dismissed it, calling the rumour nonsense and groundless.

uhm, wrong person to ask? By definition, the PM is the one to be ousted, so he certainly wouldn't/shouldn't know lol

[reader]

From Bangkok Post

No military roadblocks to stop protesters

NAKHON RATCHASIMA: There will be no military roadblocks to stop protesters from the Northeast travelling to an anti-government demonstration scheduled for Sept 19 at Thammasat University's Tha Phrachan campus in Bangkok, 2nd Army spokesman Maj Gen Rachan Prachantasen said on Monday.

Maj Gen Rachan said the 2nd Army's intelligence units have closely monitored political movements in the Northeast Region to assess whether the situation could turn violent.

Since the dissolution of the National Council for Peace and Order, the military is no longer responsible for maintaining law and order at various protest venues. Such responsibility is now in the hands of police and administrative officials, he said.

The military would help only when security roadblocks are needed.

As for the planned demonstration on Sept 19, there would definitely be no such roadblocks to stop protesters from the Northeast reaching it, simply because the people have the right to freedom of expression in a democracy, Maj Gen Rachan said.

Protests have been held at different times in various provinces in the Northeast, with groups of people travelling to those provinces to help set up stages for the local protesters.

From the 2nd Army's assessment, some protesters from the Northeast would travel to Bangkok to join the Sept 19 demonstration, but not in large numbers.

 

[Londoner]

Who trusts military governments- juntas- run by tired old men who have spent their adulthood giving orders and expecting to be obeyed? Anyone?

Wait for midnight arrests and disappearances. And if the movement becomes too popular-like the red-shirts-  gunfire.  

[reader]

From Bangkok Post

Pro-democracy crowd settles in for overnight stay

Thousands of protesters have gathered at Sanam Luang in Bangkok for what they say will be a two-day protest to press for a new constitution and an end to military-dominated government.

The mostly young demonstrators, who began the day by assembling under a steady rain at the Tha Prachan campus of Thammasat University nearby, have also vowed to press for reform of the monarchy, an issue that has provoked strong reactions from more conservative segments of society.

However, an increasing number of seasoned protest veterans from the red-shirt United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD), after keeping a low profile for the past few years, have decided it’s time to throw their support behind the movement. This story will be updated regularly and readers can also follow live feeds on Facebook and Twitter.

Continues with photos, timeline of events and video at

https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/1988239/pro-democracy-crowd-settles-in-for-overnight-stay

[vinapu]

peaceful protests tend to be more effective as stone throwing provokes violent reaction and tend to enrage " law and order" segment of population.

We can only wish them luck  even if democracy has own disadvantages. 

[ggobkk]

Even in the rain...powerful image

[anddy]

38 minutes ago, vinapu said:

We can only wish them luck 

yup. I this context I found this analysis interesting, with a good historical perspective on military power and coup politics:

https://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/opinion/1987267/thailands-changed-coup-considerations

[reader]

From Channel News Asia / Reuters

The Thai protest leader who emerged with a kiss

Tattep Ruangprakitseree (left) and his partner Panumas Singprom, also a member of the committee of Free People group, sit in a flat in Nonthaburi province, in Thailand, Aug 22, 2020. (Photo: REUTERS/Jiraporn Kuhakan)

BANGKOK: It was with a kiss that student activist Tattep Ruangprapaikitseree first took centre stage in Thai politics.

His embrace with his boyfriend at parliament as they campaigned for gay marriage rights last December shocked conservatives and stirred a social media storm.

Nine months on, the changes he now demands for Thailand are even more fundamental for the protest movement challenging an establishment long dominated by the army and the palace.

"I'm confused as to how I got here," Tattep, 23, told Reuters.

Since mid-July, protesters have been calling for the departure of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, a former coup leader. They want a new Constitution, fresh elections and an end to the harassment of activists.

Although there is no overall leader of the fragmented movement – and activists say they want to keep it that way – a Jul 18 protest by Tattep's Free Youth Movement unexpectedly drew some 2,500 people and helped to build momentum for almost daily demonstrations since.

"At that time, there was no one leading the protest, so I decided to do it," said Tattep, also known by the nickname Ford.

Tattep grew up in the heart of Bangkok. His father works as a delivery driver for a mobile phone app. When Tattep's mother died six years ago, they moved into one room in a shared house while he completed his studies.

"I support him because the movement is for the country: It's not only about him," said his father, Somrak Ruangprapaikitseree.

But his father worries the protests could turn violent, recalling the decade of bloody street turmoil before Prayut's 2014 coup.

Tattep said his political awareness began during those protests, when pro-establishment yellow shirts shut down Bangkok in clashes with red shirt supporters of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

While Tattep had initially hoped to be a pharmacist, he switched to political science and graduated from Bangkok's Chulalongkorn University this year.

He and boyfriend Panumas Singprom met on Tinder and realised they had been going to the same political meetings.

"We don't want to grow old and have our kids ask us, 'When the country faced injustice what did you do?'" said Panumas, who is often by his side.

Last year's election fuelled calls for change after Prayut returned as prime minister in a vote his opponents said was unfair. Prayut says the vote was fair.

As well as campaigning for LGBT rights, they set up a discussion forum on Facebook that became the Free Youth Movement – and later the Free People Movement to broaden its appeal.

"Let it end in our generation," shouted Tattep as he took the stage on Aug 16 at a Bangkok demonstration of more than 10,000 people, the biggest yet.

 

[GWMinUS]

In Sunday School they would tell us the story of David and Goliath. I hope Tattep and the other young Thais can be the David... GOD HELP THEM!!

[Londoner]

 A touching story. God bless him and all the other protesters. I worry for their prospects, recalling the ugly deaths suffered by previous generations to students in Thailand. The one thing that may help them to survive is the power of social media.

[reader]

From Khaosod English

Protesters Reinstall Plaque Symbolizing Democracy

BANGKOK (AP) — Anti-government demonstrators occupying a historic field in the Thai capital on Sunday installed a plaque symbolizing the country’s transition to democracy to replace the original one that was mysteriously ripped and stolen three years ago, as they vowed to press on with calls for new elections and reform of the monarchy.

The mass student-led rally that began Saturday is the largest in a series of protests this year, with thousands camping overnight at Sanam Luang field near the royal palace. On Sunday, they began marching to an undisclosed location, saying they want to hand over a petition to the king’s adviser.

A group of activists drilled a hole in front of a makeshift stage in Sanam Luang and laid down a round brass plaque, commemorating a 1932 revolution that changed Thailand from an absolute monarchy to a constitutional monarchy.

“At the dawn of Sept. 20, here is where the people proclaim that this country belongs to the people,” read part of the inscription on the plaque. In April 2017, the original plaque vanished from Bangkok’s Royal Plaza and was replaced by one praising the monarchy.

“The nation does not belong to only one person, but belongs to us all. Therefore, I would like to ask holy spirits to stay with us and bless the people’s victory,” student leader Parit “Penguin” Chirawak told the crowd.

Another activist, Panusaya Sithijirawattanakul, said their demands do not propose getting rid of the monarchy. “They are proposals with good intentions to make the institution of the monarchy remain graciously above the people under democratic rule.”

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From Bangkok Post

Activists end rally after submitting demands

Movement leaders to gather at Parliament on Thursday, call for general strike on Oct 14

Pro-democracy protest leaders ended their overnight rally early Sunday after presenting a list of their demands to the Metropolitan Police Bureau chief.

However, activists plan to gather again on Thursday outside Parliament, while student leader Parit “Penguin” Chiwarak has called on the public to take part in a general strike on Oct 14 — the anniversary of the 1973 student uprising.

The movement’s three core demands have been a new constitution, the resignation of the current government an end to harassment of critics of the government.

After the demands were presented to the city police chief, Mr Parit announced the end of the rally, which had drawn tens of thousands of people to Sanam Luang since Saturday afternoon.

However, he said protest leaders would gather again outside Parliament on Thursday, the second day of a two-day debate on motions to amend the constitution.

[reader]

From Thai Enquirer

The pro-democracy plaque installed by protesters has gone missing

A pro-democracy plaque installed by demonstrators this weekend at Sanam Luang has gone missing less than 24 hours after it was laid down.

Tens of thousands of anti-government demonstrators braved rain and heat to rally in Bangkok this weekend calling for a change in the way the country is run and touching on previously taboo topics in Thai society.

The protesters used the opportunity to address the royal institution, something which had previously been punished by the application of lese-majeste laws that blocked the discussion of the monarch and his family.

On Sunday morning, the protesters installed a commemorative plaque on the grounds of Sanam Luang to replace an earlier one that had been removed two years prior. The removed plaque was installed after the 1932 revolution that deposed of the absolute monarchy and replaced it with a constitutional monarch.

Sunday’s new plaque was to remind the country that the power still belongs with the people, student leaders said.

[fedssocr]

"gone missing"?

The police said they removed it. No big surprise.

[reader]

From Thai Enquirer

Lawmakers Put off Vote on Constitutional Amendments

BANGKOK (AP) — Scheduled voting by Thai lawmakers on six proposed amendments to the country’s military-backed constitution was canceled at the last minute Thursday as Parliament voted instead to set up a committee to further consider such proposals.

The action, taken after two days of debate, means any vote on constitutional amendments is likely to be postponed for at least a month, and likely longer.

At least 1,000 protesters pushing for charter reform gathered outside the Parliament building, and were angered when they heard that the voting might be postponed. They issued three demands for changes to the charter, including reform of the monarchy, limits to the powers of the unelected senators, and the election, not appointment, of any constitutional drafting committee’s members.

Protest leaders threatened that they would hold another rally in October if their demands are not met by Sept. 30.

[reader]

From Thai Enquirer

Thailand will be unlivable if protestors topple me, Prayut says

Prime Minister Prayut Chan o-cha said on Monday that he personally does not want a pro-democracy rally to take place on October 14 but he will follow the law.

“In regards of allowing it, I do not want to allow it but the law is the law,” he told reporters when asked if the government would allow a rally led by United Front of Thammasat and Demonstration (UFTD) on October 14, with demands to lower the power of the monarchy.

“If we do not allow it, they will not accept it. If we try to stop it, they will resist. When we enforce the law, they will say that we are putting pressure on them,” he added.

The PM said what could happen if he ordered the security officers to use full force would be based on “the people who do not want to respect the law”.

“Let me ask you this, if these people succeeded, how will their management of the country be like? I do not understand because the conflict is escalating and in the end, the country will be unlivable,” he said.

When asked what would happen if the pro-monarchy protestors decided to confront the pro-democracy supporters, the PM said the government will try to make sure that the two groups do not come face to face with one another.

He said the government will continue to provide spaces for pro-democracy rallies, as long as protestors follow the law.

“Today might look like we are being too soft,” the PM added. “But there is a need to see what their terms and conditions are, as they want this outcome [use of force] to happen and that could be playing into their way.”

 

 

[vinapu]

somebody should  tell him that cemeteries are full of people impossible to be replaced.

And it's always endearing when coup leader sings praises of obeying the laws 

 

[reader]

From Thai Enquirer

Government coalition rife with rumors about Thaksin comeback

Following an audience that was granted by His Majesty King Vajiralongkorn to the ex-wife and children of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, speculation and paranoia has increased in the government about a possible return for the exiled prime minister.

For the past six years, the government of Prayut Chan-ocha has tried to eradicate the complicated legacy of Thaksin. The Prayut administration has prosecuted Thaksin allies, rewritten history books to omit Thaksin and has accused the exiled prime minister of trying to topple the country’s revered monarchy system.

However, an audience granted by his majesty the king to Thaksin’s ex-wife last week where she donated ambulances to Siriraj Hospital has the ruling government coalition running amok with rumors.

Sources inside the Palang Pracharat and Democrat Party told Thai Enquirer that numerous theories have been floating around inside the cabinet and among senior members since the audience was granted.

The conspiracy theories have ranged from the plausible, Thaksin might receive a royal pardon, to the incredible, Thaksin might force Pheu Thai to join the government coalition.

While chances are the audience was just to receive a generous philanthropic gift, the rumors show that the government coalition are on a knife edge and feeling embattled after three months of pro-democracy protests.

That is not to say that the opposition has been free of rumors. The audience has sparked as many rumors as well including students accusing Thaksin and Pheu Thai of abandoning their cause to join the establishment.

======================================================

From Khaosod English

Pheu Thai Dismisses ‘Unity Gov’t’ Rumor in Wake of Sudarat’s Resignation

BANGKOK — The caretaker of the Pheu Thai Party on Monday said the abrupt resignations of its leaders are strictly a tactical move and not a sign of a “takeover” by any individual. 

Pheu Thai Party acting chairman Chusak Sirinial said the departures of party leader Sompong Amornvivat and chief strategist Sudarat Keyuraphan, among several others, will open an opportunity for younger politicians to have bigger roles in party leadership. 

“The new generations will be given a chance in administering the party more than before,” Chusak said. “This will show that we listen to the voices of the new generations.”

Chusak also discounted the speculations on social media that the resignations are part of a deal to form a “national unity government, and that Potjaman Pombejra, ex-wife of ousted former premier Thaksin Shinawatra, would take over the party.

[reader]

From The Thai Enquirer

Sompong elected as the head of Pheu Thai

Sompong Amornvivat, a close Thaksin ally, has been elected as the new head of the Pheu Thai party. The current head of the opposition will be charged with leading the party out of the doldrums and balance pro-democracy protests with the party’s relationship with Thailand’s conservative institutions.

Sompong is seen as close to the party’s patriarch Thaksin and his election could signal the former prime minister’s reemergence and reassertion in the party’s politics.

Somphong is a former ministry of industry, labour, transports, justice under previous Thaksin administrations.

The long-standing MP from Chiang Mai was a former member of the People’s Power Party that was dissolved in 2008. He was banned from politics for 5 years. 

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Prayut and government willing to address charter amendment

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ocha will support the rewriting of the entire charter, the Deputy Prime Minister, Wissanu Krea-ngam, told reporters on Thursday.

Prayut and his administration have been under pressure for the past several months as opposition parties in parliament and protestors on the streets push for a rewriting of the constitution.

Even coalition partner, Thailand’s Democrat Party, has pushed for amendments to the current military-drafted charter.

But so far the government has pushed back on amending the constitution voting last month to delay all motions to fix the charter and instead set up a research committee. The move prompted the opposition to walk out of parliament and drew an angry response from protesters.

Some senators, including senator Tuang Antachai, said last week that any attempt to set up a charter drafting committee before a referendum was unconstitutional – possibly delaying mendments further.

Paiboon Nititawan, an MP from the ruling party, then double-downed on the claim on Wednesday that a referendum would be needed if there was a proposal to amend the entire constitution.

On Thursday, Wissanu said that the prime minister was willing to consider re-drafting the charter and said that the senate’s concern should be brought up with the investigative body. He said that any charter that is re-drafted must also pass a referendum and that would require the drafting of referendum laws as well.