Thailand protestors take to street calling government to resign

[reader]

From Bangkok Post

Protests end peacefully at Victory Monument, Asok

Thailand erupted in protest on Sunday after organisers announced Victory Monument and Asok intersection in Bangkok as the principal rally sites in their ongoing bid to dislodge the government of Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha and bring freedom and democracy to Thailand.

Supporting rallies took place in 18 other locations around the country.

The rallies at Victory Monument and Asok intersection drew thousands of peaceful protesters. Organisers announced the end of the rally at Asok at 7.40pm and the protest at the monument ended 30 minutes later.

Traffic resumed to normal after the protesters left and authorities allowed BTS skytrain to run between all stations.

The rally locations were announced on Facebook by the United Front for Thammasat and Demonstration on Sunday afternoon. Earlier, the Free Youth movement posted a Facebook message calling on protesters to gather at all of Bangkok's BTS and MRT stations at 3pm in order to keep authorities guessing where the actual demonstrations would occur. 

The same tactic was used on Saturday before rallies in three locations -- Lat Phrao intersection, Tak Sin intersection near the Wongwian Yai BTS station and the Udomsuk-Bang Na area. Smaller rallies were held in other locations in Bangkok and other provinces on Saturday, including Ramkhamhaeng University.

The Metropolitan Police Bureau on Saturday estimated that 8,000 protesters assembled at Lat Phrao, 8,000 at Wongwian Yai, 6,000 at Udomsuk-Bang Na and 1,000 at the university, although the rally organisers claimed much larger numbers.

 

[reader]

From Bangkok Post

Crowds show up at three rally sites

Crowds of mostly young people have formed at three locations in Greater Bangkok after Free Youth, a core pro-democracy group, announced the locations for their rallies for Monday.

The three sites were the area in front of the Bangkok Remand Prison where their leaders are detained; Kasetsart intersection; and the MRT’s Public Health Ministry station in Nonthaburi, according to a post on Free Youth Facebook at 3.40pm.

In Nakhon Pathom, a protest was planned at Silpakorn University Sanam Chan campus at 5pm.

n the Northeast, rallies were planned at Rajabhat Buri Ram (3.30pm), Health Park at Maha Sarakham municipality (3.30pm), Songkhla University complex (4pm), Huai Muang public park in Ubon Ratchathani (3pm).

n the North, the rally site was the Three Kings Monument in Chiang Mai (4.30pm to 9pm).

In the South, demonstrators are instructed to meet at the clock tower in Hat Yai, Songkhla province.

[vinapu]

In meantime those who can have an access to THE ECONOMIST , last , 17-23 October issue may find interesting quite detailed and surprisingly frank article "Thailand's royal battle ".

[reader]

From Bangkok Post

Cabinet agrees special parliament amid protests

The Cabinet has backed a proposal from lawmakers to convene a special session of the parliament to discuss anti-government protests that have swept the nation’s capital and other major cities in the past week.

The house will meet for two days from Oct 26, Anucha Nakasai, minister for Prime Minister’s Office, told reporters after a cabinet meeting in Bangkok Tuesday. The proposal needs to be endorsed by His Majesty the King.

The move for parliamentary debate follows six straight days of rallies attended by tens of thousands of protesters calling for Prayuth’s resignation, a rewriting of the constitution and reform of the monarchy. While the prime minister on Tuesday didn’t say how far the government could go in meeting the demands, the parliament may move forward the process of constitutional amendment to placate the protesters.

“Given the escalating protest movement, the parliament won’t be able to delay the process for charter amendment any longer,” said Virot Ali, lecturer at Thammasat University’s Faculty of Political Science. “The move might be a tactic to buy time without really considering what the protesters demand, which will escalate the movement even further.”

The protests have weighed on the country’s stocks and currency as concerns mount a prolonged standoff may erode company earnings and delay an economic recovery. The benchmark stock index, the worst performer in Asia this year, snapped a four-day losing streak on Tuesday, while the baht fell 0.3% to 31.259 to a dollar, extending losses this year to 4.2%.

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From The Nation

Over 1,000 academics sign petition calling on Prayut to resign

As many as 1,118 academics have signed the Thai Academic Network for Civil Rights’ petition demanding that Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha step down.

A group of academics and students led by Thammasat anthropology lecturer Anusorn Unno and Rangsit University’s political science lecturer Thamrongsak Petchlertanan marched to Government House on Tuesday to deliver the letter.

The letter decries the October 16 crackdown on protesters and the government’s moves to silence critics.

Anusorn said the water cannons directed at the protesters caused injuries and only resulted in further angering the public.

Hence, he said, the network wants the government to stop using violence against unarmed protesters, cancel laws that silence critics or violate people’s right to freedom of speech and accept the protest movement’s demands.

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Khaosod English's Facebook page carries an interview with protest spokespersons gathered at Siam Paragon early Tuesday evening.

[reader]

From Khaosod English

Court Overturns Order to Shut Down 4 Online Media Sites

BANGKOK — The Criminal Court on Wednesday afternoon repealed a government order to close down a TV channel who’s been broadcasting live coverage of the student-led protests.

Media reports said the court’s decision overturned a previous ruling, which approved the digital ministry’s order to shut down “all platforms” of Voice TV. The decision came after Voice TV representatives argued to the court that the shutdown order breached the constitutional protection of media freedom.

The argument was accepted by the court, who noted that the order did not cite any clear wrongdoing. 

The court also rejected the government’s request to block three other online news sites – The Standard, The Reporters, and Prachatai – as well as today’s order issued by the digital ministry to shut down a Facebook page operated by anti-government activists.

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From Khaosod English

Schoolgirls Emerge as Leaders of Leaderless Protests

BANGKOK — Young protesters, many of them women and high school students, briefly took over parts of Bangkok on Monday and over the weekend to demand the government’s resignation, despite police threats to prosecute them. 

As much as 70 percent of the demonstrators who occupied Kaset Intersection in northern Bangkok on Monday were women, Khaosod English correspondents at the scene observed. With the declaration “everyone is a leader,” they are forging a new movement amid the police crackdown that put nearly every prominent activist behind bars. 

“The government’s violence makes people wake up,” A 17-year-old girl from Horwang School said. “The people fighting here are fighting for all of us. The government’s use of violence makes them even worse in our eyes.” 

 

[vinapu]

1 hour ago, reader said:

Schoolgirls Emerge as Leaders of Leaderless Protests

 

lesson from Belarus where also ladies feature prominently in protests. 

Very few governments want TV footage showing cops massacring grannies and young mothers not to mention school girls  

[reader]

NOTE -- Protesters peacefully ended a demonstration near Government House about 9:30p.m. Wednesday evening (BKK time).

From Bangkok Post

Prayut will lift Bangkok emergency 'if rallies stay peaceful'

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said his government is prepared to withdraw emergency rules banning large gatherings in the capital if the mounting protests demanding his ouster and monarchy reforms remain peaceful.

Gen Prayut’s pledge during a television address to review the state of emergency issued last week came as thousands of protesters marched to the prime minister’s office known as the Government House in Bangkok on Wednesday. Simultaneous rallies by pro-royalist groups in support of His Majesty the King also raised fears of clashes between the rival groups.

Gen Prayut urged the protesters to use a special session of the parliament next week to air their grievances through lawmakers and said the government and the activists should “each take a step back” and “find solutions to the problems.”

Gen Prayut said his promise to end the emergency decree -- "if there are no violent incidents" -- was a gesture to end the street protests and take the issues to Parliament. He appealed for talks before the conflict became too severe.

[reader]

From Bangkok Post

Protesters give Prayut deadline to resign, release activists

Anti-government protesters have given the prime minister three days to release detained activists and step down, or face a new round of demonstrations.

At the climax of a massive demonstration on a day that saw competing rallies, representatives of the pro-democracy movement submitted a mock resignation letter to the prime minister through Pratheep Keerathirekha, a deputy secretary-general of the prime minister, with Pol Lt Gen Pakkapong Pongpetra, commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Bureau, as one of the witnesses. 

They then announced the end of the rally.

[khaolakguy]

On 10/20/2020 at 1:03 AM, vinapu said:

In meantime those who can have an access to THE ECONOMIST , last , 17-23 October issue may find interesting quite detailed and surprisingly frank article "Thailand's royal battle ".

Thanks for that suggestion. It was an interesting article. For anyone wanting to read it you don't need to be a subscriber to access occasional articles in The Economist, you just need to register.

[reader]

Protesters mass at the Ratchaprasong intersection

From The Thaiger

Crowds are gathering at the Ratchprsong intersection in Bangkok, one of the promised locations for a rally in response to last night’s refusal of the Thai PM to resign. Thousands have already gathered and, if the weather holds out, the numbers will continue to swell as the evening approaches.

Ratchprasong intersection is one of the busiest intersections in the city, right in the middle of the central Bangkok shopping district.

People have crowded the roads at the intersection, with hundreds of onlookers watching from the skywalk that is strung under the BTS tracks. The crowd is building along Ratchdamri Road, in front of Central World. Banners are being prepared on site with demands for the Thai prime minister’s resignation and other calls for action. Some of the banners are being taken from protest to protest, becoming a canvas for thousands of protesters to share their signatures and messages to the Government.

Messages on one of the banners read “We are the people”, “Everyone is a leader”, “Thailand is for the people”, “Police should protect the people”.

Musical performances are planned for this evening as the peaceful rally slowly grows in number. People’s Party and Free Youth merchandise is also being sold, along with the usual assortment of food stalls along the sides of Ratchadamri Road.

here are very few police patrolling the intersection as of 4.45pm, outnumbered at this stage by opportunist motorcycle taxi riders waiting for the conclusion of the rally. First aid, food, safety gear and merchandise are all on hand, much of the assistance from University volunteers.

There has also been a smattering of foreign protesters joining the Thais, also flashing signs of support, in English.

Tomorrow protesters have promised to march from the Sam Ron intersection to the German Embassy, a symbolic march to draw attention to the chosen overseas domicile of a “very important person”.

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This demonstration is being carried live on Khaosod English Facebook page at this moment.

[vinapu]

5 hours ago, reader said:

 

Tomorrow protesters have promised to march from the Sam Ron intersection to the German Embassy, a symbolic march to draw attention to the chosen overseas domicile of a “very important person”.

 

very smart and sophisticated idea

[reader]

From Bangkok Post

Thousands pack Ratchaprasong to call for Prayut's ouster

Thousands of anti-government protesters filled Ratchaprasong intersection on Sunday, calling for Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha to step down.

Bangkok's top shopping area was transformed once again into a rally site by student-led protesters seeking to end the military’s longstanding domination of Thai politics.  

Jatupat Boonpattararaksa of the Dao Din group said the Ratchaprasong rally was to send a clear signal that Gen Prayut’s time as leader of Thailand was over.

The rally came after the prime minister refused to heed the protesters’ Saturday deadline to relinquish the premiership before Parliament holds a special session on Monday and Tuesday to find a way out of the political conflict.

Mr Jatupat said he had little hope that the crisis could be resolved in Parliament, and protesters would continue their peaceful demonstrations.

 

[reader]

From Bangkok Post

Protesters march to German embassy

Protesters began marching to German embassy on Monday evening, to ask Berlin to look into the matter of His Majesty the King living in Germany.

The pro-democracy movement gathered at Samyan intersection about 5pm and started marching on Rama IV Road to the embassy on Sathorn Road.

They said earlier that they would petition the German government through the embassy to look into whether the King had violated German sovereignty by exercising his power on German soil.

The German embassy on Monday released a statement written on Sunday stressing the need for a peaceful gathering by the protesters and protection of its premises by the government under the Vienna Covention.

The embassy said it would be ready to receive the petition and convey it to Berlin on condition it was conveyed in a "peaceful manner".

[vinapu]

I'm surprised that Bangkok Post was that brave to mention that residence 

[reader]

We're all witnessing historic developments in the Thai capital. Many of us have been in the country when previous coups or mass protests occurred. But the outcome those events--in retrospect--seemed more predictable. Currents events have a distinctly different feel.

Even the most conservative media sources no longer avoid reporting and commenting on these events. International media are focusing renewed attention on Thailand, making any efforts to suppress knowledge of these happenings from being widely disseminated impossible.

Khaosod English's Facebook site reports that pro-royalist demonstrators will gather in Lumpinee Park on Tuesday at 5p.m.

Thailand is certainly not alone among nations experiencing great political unrest. Access to the political discourse is essential. To the degree that governments do not attempt to curtail access to news of these historic moments should be applauded.

[reader]

From Thai PBS World

Do you know what will happen if I resign?

The Thai PM has asked opposition MPs if they know what would happen if he resigns – then proceeded to tell them. Speaking in Parliament yesterday, prime minister Prayut Chan-o-cha called on members of the opposition to clarify whether they want him to resign or to dissolve the House of Representatives.

Thai PBS World reports that his comment was in response to Pheu Thai MP Chulapant Amornvivat urging him to do the responsible thing and step down. The PM replied by asking if MPs knew what that would entail. He then went on to explain that if he resigns, Cabinet would technically be dissolved too, but be required to remain on in an acting capacity until there is a replacement Cabinet.

He added that a new PM would be elected by Parliament (under the current 2017 charter), but the winning candidate would need half of MP and Senators’ votes. He then pointed out that if he opts to dissolve the House of Representatives, all MPs lose their parliamentary status and a general election will be called.

Anti-government protests have been taking place since mid-July and show no sign of stopping. Indeed the royalist factions are now mounting counter-protests in support of the government and ‘status quo’ as regards the Thai monarchy. The primarily student-led movement is calling for the PM’s resignation, the dissolution of Parliament, fresh elections, and a Charter (constitution) re-write, among other demands. So far, the PM has held fast despite growing calls for him to go.

[Guest]

So is the PM's reply implying "We remain in power even if I resign (because the constitution is rigged, by us)" ?

A poor argument.

[spoon]

More like if he resign, all the ministers need to resign/lose their positions too. 

[vinapu]

somebody needs to tell him that cemeteries are full of people impossible to substitute

[reader]

From Channel News Asia

Motorcycle taxi drivers aid Thai protesters

BANGKOK: Orange-vested drivers of motorcycle taxis have become allies to Thailand's anti-government protesters gathering across traffic-snarled Bangkok, offering lifts and keeping an eye out for trouble.

When authorities shut down train lines this month in an effort to curb daily rallies, drivers of the capital's motorcycle taxis came to the rescue, ferrying stranded protesters to demonstration sites.

But they have long waited on the sidelines of the youth-led movement, cheering student leaders on as they demanded the resignation of Premier Prayut Chan-o-cha and issued unprecedented calls for reform to the kingdom's monarchy.

"I root for these kids," said driver Supatr Manapornsiri, 41, adding that he keeps his prices low because he supports their goals.

"My income has increased a bit," he told AFP, saying it jumps from 1,000 baht (US$32) a day to 1,300 to 1,400 baht during protests.

Another driver Pakin Kamhamauk, 44, sometimes even grants free rides.

"If they happen to have no money then that's fine," he said.

Motorcycle taxis may appear a haphazard transport option for Bangkok's traffic-clogged roads, but there is order in the chaos, with passengers lining up on specific street corners to wait for drivers.

Congregating around demonstrations in their signature orange vests, the drivers are also helpful as look-outs.

In October, when authorities deployed water cannon for the first time since protests kicked off in July, it was the drivers who rushed to provide early warnings and later blockaded some roads so activists could safely escape riot police.

Supatr said he worries for the mostly young protesters, who have rallied peacefully for their goals.

"They're well-disciplined. They don't go off to do stupid things," he said.

"I want every single one of them to be safe."

Dubbed by some as the "Orange Shirts", a play on Thailand's colour-coded political factions, motorcycle taxi drivers are able to snake through tens of thousands of protesters, leaning on their intimate knowledge of the capital's backstreets.

[reader]

From Khaosod English

Police to Charge Activists Over German Embassy March

BANGKOK — Up to 16 people could be charged for organizing a demonstration to the German Embassy in Bangkok earlier this week, a police source said Wednesday.

The source said the suspects include protesters’ representatives who submitted their petition to German ambassador Georg Schmidt inside the embassy, as well as other activists who gave speeches to the crowd and translated the documents.

Pro-democracy activists Patsaravalee “Mind” Tanakitvibulpon and Jatupat “Pai” Boonpattararaksa are among those marked for criminal investigation, though it is unclear what charges will be brought against them.

Deputy Bangkok police chief Piya Tawichai told the media yesterday the police were gathering evidence to prosecute the embassy protesters.

[reader]

From Khaosod English

Court Rejects Request to Arrest Embassy Rally Leaders

BANGKOK — The Criminal Court on Thursday turned down a request by the police to arrest five pro-democracy activists responsible for Monday’s march to the German Embassy.

The request was made on Wednesday by Thung Maha Mek police station, who sought to charge the activists with sedition and slap them with arrest warrants. But the court ruled on Thursday morning that the rally took place for a brief time, and there is no evidence that the suspects might flee the country.

The judges also advised the police to summon the activists for questioning before applying for the arrest warrants.

The five people marked for prosecution were identified by court documents as Patsaravalee “Mind” Tanakitvibulpon, 25; Korakoch Saengyenpan, 28; Chanin Wongsri, 20; Chollathit Chotisawat, 21; and Benja Arpan, 21.

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Khaosod English's Facebook page is broadcasting live from anti-government rally in front of Wat Kheak on Silom Road. The protest is billed as “the people’s art fair.”

https://www.facebook.com/KhaosodEnglish

[reader]

From Bangkok Post and The Nation

Protest leaders hospitalised as chaos reigns

A court in Ayutthaya on Saturday rejected a police request to detain three protest leaders currently in a Bangkok hospital after an eventful night that followed their temporary release from custody.

Police still have ample opportunity to make fresh arrests once the three are discharged. All told, there are 80 active warrants related to various offences connected with recent pro-democracy protests, according to Pol Maj Gen Piya Tawichai, deputy metropolitan police chief.

The court said the investigation was already done, so police could proceed with the case without having to detain them, and since they were in hospital they were not flight risks.

Mr Parit was injured with several glass fragments on his body and Ms Panusaya was exhausted. They joined Mr Panupong, who had been released at the same time and brought to the hospital earlier after fainting while in police custody.

At a briefing on Saturday, a team of doctors at the hospital said Mr Panupong suffered several minor cuts from glass fragments. He was very weak and physicians are checking what caused his blackout.

Mr Parit, who has asthma, also had cuts on his limbs and some glass fragments were found on his body. Ms Panusaya was suffering from severe dehydration and chronic sleep deprivation and was on a saline drip.

All three need at least two to three days to recover, the doctors said.

Pheu Thai MP Tossaporn Serirak and Piyabutr Saengkanokkul, a former MP of the now-defunct Future Forward Party and cofounder of the Progressive Movement, accompanied them to the hospital in the same van.

Their supporters who had been waiting at the police station left after the leaders told them to return home.

Ayutthaya police on Saturday morning visited Mr Panupong, who was suffering from a lack of oxygen, at the hospital, seeking to detain him. Mr Panupong refused to be held, saying the arrest began at the Bangkok Remand Prison, not at the hospital, and he had the right to be treated there, according to Thai Lawyers for Human Rights (TLHR).

Late Friday afternoon, the Criminal Court had granted bail to the three student activists and Patiwat Saraiyaem, another protester, after repeated appeals by their lawyers. They had been in jail for 16 days.

Mr Panupong, Mr Parit and Mr Patiwat were detained at Bangkok Remand Prison and Ms Panusaya was at the Central Women’s Correctional Institution nearby.

Mr Patiwat walked out of Bangkok Remand Prison around 8pm to cheers from supporters waiting to greet him outside.

He frantically told the waiting crowd that the other three had been taken from their cells by three men in civilian clothes while prison officials did nothing.

The men were later identified as plainclothes police officers who acted on arrest warrants for the activists’ roles during rallies in Nonthaburi, Ayutthaya and Ubon Ratchathani provinces.

However, their lawyers, citing Section 68 of the Criminal Procedures Code, argued the warrants were no longer valid since they had already acknowledged and denied the charges while at the Border Patrol Police Region 1 and the Bangkok Remand Prison.

Pol Col Ittichet Wonghomhuan, the Pracha Chuen police superintendent, said his team acted on the warrants of Nonthaburi, Ayutthaya and Ubon Ratchathani police, who had not revoked them yet.

While the lawyers were still talking to some policemen at the prison, the plainclothes officers took Mr Parit and Mr Panupong away through a secondary gate without anyone knowing, according to TLHR. Another van took Ms Panusaya from the women’s prison.

The van, with broken windows, took Mr Panupong and Mr Parit to the station at 9.30pm. Police did not allow them to get out at first since around 50 of their supporters were gathering there. Mr Parit shouted that Mr Panupong needed an ambulance immediately.

At 10pm, an ambulance took an unconscious Panupong to Kasemrad Pracha Chuen Hospital. He was later transferred to Praram 9 Hospital.

At the police station, Mr Parit said he and Mr Panupong resisted arrest because the people who took them did not wear uniforms and tried to illegally detain them. However, they were dragged by the neck to the van. Mr Panupong passed out later in the vehicle, Mr Parit claimed.

He said the supporters who were following them tried to ask the police to stop the van so Mr Panupong could get medical help but the officials refused to do so.

According to Internet Law Reform Dialogue (iLaw), some interviews and video clips showed what happened during the trip to the police station.

The van carrying Mr Parit and Mr Panupong stopped at a red light at the Pongpet intersection, followed by a few people on motorcycles believed to be their supporters.

Mr Panupong and Mr Parit shouted to them that they had been forcibly and illegally taken. Their supporters tried in vain to talk to the officials before attempting to break a window, allegedly to help the pair.

As the van driver tried to get away, the vehicle hit at least two other motorcycles nearby. One of the motorcycles fell in front of the van but the van driver ploughed on, dragging the smaller vehicle for around 200 metres. The owner of the damaged motorcycle, who was not a protester, later filed a complaint with police.

After their temporary release on Friday, four other protesters remained in jail as of Saturday.

At Bangkok Remand Prison, Ekkachai Hongkangwan has been imprisoned since Oct 12 on charges related to the royal motorcade, Arnon Nampha has been held since Oct 15 on sedition charges, and Somyot Prueksakasemsuk has been detained since Oct 16.

At Bang Kwang Prison, Suranart Panprasert has been held at since Oct 21 on charges in connection with a royal motorcade.

[reader]

From The Nation

Eleven pro-democracy protests planned today in Thailand and abroad

The Ratsadon (People) will organise 11 protest rallies on Sunday, which will take place in six provinces in Thailand as well as abroad, starting at 4pm local time.

In Bangkok, a rally will be held at Future Park Rangsit where the pro-democracy protesters were planning to stay overnight, and the other at the Udomsuk intersection, which will have the theme of liberty for the LGBT group.

The protest in Yasothon province will be organised at the Loeng Nok Tha District Office from 4pm to 8pm, while in Chonburi province, a protest will take place at Pattaya Beach Central shopping mall at 5pm.

Saraburi province will have a protest at a public park near a bypass stop, in Si Sa Ket province at the shrine of the city pillar and in Surat Thani province on Naris Bridge.

In New Zealand, the protesters will gather at midnight (local time) at Aotea Square in Auckland, while the protests in the US will take place at The Bean in Chicago, the International Fountain (Space Needle) in Seattle, and King Bhumibol Adulyadej Square in Boston.

[reader]

From Thai Enquirer

HM the King signals ‘compromise’ in surprise interview with foreign press

His Majesty King Vajiralongkorn said that Thailand was a land of compromise in a surprise ad-hoc interview granted to CNN on Sunday night.

The King was asked by CNN’s Johnathan Miller what he thought of student-led protests which have at times called for a reform of the royal institution to which he replied, “We love them all the same.”

When pressed by Miller on a possible compromise between the palace and the protesters, his majesty responded, “Thailand is a land of compromise.”

The interview was unexpected as the palace does not normally grant interviews.

Student-led pro-democracy protests have gripped the country for the past four months with demonstrators calling on the Prayut Chan-ocha government to resign, for the government to re-draft the military-backed charter and for the government to stop harassing dissidents.