Monday, November 23, 2020

THAILAND 

Hands off, warns protest group
Police told not to interfere in major rally


PUBLISHED : 22 NOV 2020
NEWSPAPER SECTION: NEWS
WRITER: POST REPORTERS
Pointing the way: Student protester volunteers manage traffic 
at a busy 'Bad Student' rally on Rama I road in front of Siam Paragon on Saturday.

The Ratsadon group has threatened to escalate its activities if its members are dispersed by authorities on Wednesday, when they plan to march to the Crown Property Bureau in Bangkok.

Panupong Sritananuwat from the anti-government Dao Din group, an affiliate of the Ratsadon group, said at a rally in Khon Kaen on Saturday that the group disagreed with parliament's rejection of a charter amendment bill submitted by the Internet Dialogue on Law Reform, better known as iLaw.

The bill, dubbed "the people's constitution", has the backing of the anti-government protesters and almost 100,000 people who signed up to support it.

Mr Panupong said Dao Din would carry on educating the public about iLaw's charter draft and confirmed the group would take part in Wednesday's major anti-government demonstration in Bangkok.


Rally charges
Protesters threatened
Police willing to use lese majeste law against protesters

He denounced the government's use of force to crack down on the Nov 17 demonstration in front of parliament and vowed to intensify Dao Din's activities, especially in Khon Kaen province.

The group's rally on Saturday ended quickly and peacefully amid tight security by officers from the Khon Kaen provincial police.

The Khon Kaen branch of Ratsadon also gathered at Ratchadanusorn Park in Muang district and vowed to continue to protest until Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha resigned and the charter was amended.

Protest leader Parit "Penguin" Chiwarak posted a Facebook message on Saturday urging demonstrators to gather on Aksa Road in Bangkok today at 4pm.


Costume drama: Protesters wearing dinosaur costumes line up at a Bad Student rally at Siam BTS station on Saturday. In keeping with the "Bye bye dinosaurs" theme, participants dressed in dinosaur costumes were pelted by inflatable meteorites launched at them from the crowd.

Meanwhile, young "Bad Student" activists gathered on Saturday beneath the Siam BTS skytrain station, a day after it was revealed that two of their teenage leaders were facing charges for taking part in pro-democracy protests.

The theme of the event was "#Bye bye dinosaurs" (old-guard politicians) and in keeping with that, some protesters dressed in dinosaur costumes and were pelted by inflatable meteorites launched at them from the crowd.

Deputy police spokesman Pol Col Kissana Phathanacharoen said the Bad Student group was given permission to demonstrate, but strictly prohibited from moving to other locations.

Police would also not tolerate protesters using signs with words that caused hatred and division in society, he said.

Legislators flee parliament as rival protesters clash

UPDATED: 18 NOV 2020 
WRITER: ONLINE REPORTERS
Legislators leaving the parliament board a Marine Department boat at Kiak Kai pier. 
(Capture from TV)

Legislators began leaving the parliament by boats as government supporters and pro-democracy demonstrators clashed at nearby Kiak Kai intersection in Bangkok on Tuesday evening.

Members of the two groups threw things at each other at the second barricade at Kiak Kai intersection. Riot police had not intervened, the Thai Lawyers for Human Rights Centre tweeted.

Protesters were held back by thousands of police standing behind barricades, who used tear-gas water cannons .

MPs, senators and parliament officials began leaving the parliament on boats arranged by the Marine Department, from Kiak Kai pier on the Chao Phraya river, around 4.40pm.

Matichon reported they left parliament by boats to avoid confrontation with demonstrators

Legislators left from the pier behind the parliament building.

Among those who left were MPs from both camps. They included Pol Lt Gen Viroj Pao-in and Karun Hosakul of the opposition Pheu Thai Party, and Chada Thaiset of the coalition Bhumjaithai Party.

Khaosod Online reported that police deployed more water cannon at the main gate on Sam Saen Road around 4.30pm. There were a total of four water cannons. Police kept firing the tear-gas solution at demonstrators to prevent from moving closer to parliament.

Around 5.05pm, police moved water trucks back from the confrontation at Kiak Kai intersection. Demonstrators managed to remove barricades and barbed wire and occupy areas at the intersection.

Police later moved back to Soi Wat Kaewfa. About this time, a clash erupted between anti-government demonstrators and yellow-clad people.

The BMA's Erawan centre reported that nine demonstrators were injured and were being treated at Vajira Hospital.

The new parliament complex backs on to the Chao Phraya river. (Photo: Bangkok Post) 



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