‘People’s march’ activists filtered through police checkpoint

[webfact]

‘People’s march’ activists filtered through police checkpoint

By The Nation

 

 

Organisers of the “We Walk” march from Bangkok to Khon Kaen say they came under police pressure starting at 4am yesterday, the second day of the event meant to bolster civil rights.

 

The “People GO Network” Facebook page – where the entire walk is broadcast live – said a crowd-control unit of 100 to 200 officers arrived at 5am at Wat Lat Sai in Ayutthaya, where the marchers had spent the night, and loudly called for the group’s leader to come forward.

 

The group resumed the walk at 6am, but then encountered a police checkpoint.

 

It was reported on Facebook that all cars were searched, licence plates and ID cards photographed and people interviewed.

 

A truck carrying food and beverages for the marchers was taken to a police station and its four occupants interviewed without lawyers present. They were released almost four hours later without being charged, the group said.

 

Police were reportedly citing the government ban on assemblies of five or more people. The network decided to split the marchers into groups of four so the walk could continue.

 

The People GO Network is an umbrella group of civil organisations working on issues related to rights and politics.

 

The marching, aimed at raising issues on healthcare, food security, human and community rights and the Constitution, began on Saturday at Thammsat University Rangsit on the outskirts of Bangkok, with scores of activists joining.

 

The goal is to cover 800,000 steps or 450 kilometres, reaching Khon Kaen on February 17.

 

Coordinator Supaporn Malailoy told The Nation that Khon Kaen was chosen to reflect their demand for government decentralisation and because the route follows Mittraphap Road, whose name can be translated as “friendship”.

 

As the activists walk, they seek out friends along the route to share their ideas about civic issues and the government’s failure to address them, she said.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/politics/30336842

 

-- © Copyright The Nation http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/politics/30336842

[webfact]

BKK – Khon Kaen Marchers To Sue Police

By Teeranai Charuvastra, Staff Reporter

 

People Go activists face off with police in Pathum Thani province on Saturday

 

BANGKOK — Activists walking cross country for expanded civil rights said Monday they’re suing the national police force for unlawfully obstructing the beginning of their march.

 

Organizers of “Walk for Friends,” a group of about a dozen activists walking from Bangkok to Khon Kaen province, said they will file suit and seek an administrative court injunction barring police from all further “intimidation” against the demonstrators, a lawyer representing the group said. A police spokesman maintained the force has acted within the law.

 

Full story: http://www.khaosodenglish.com/politics/2018/01/22/bkk-khon-kaen-marchers-sue-police/

 

-- © Copyright Khaosod English 2018-01-22

[YetAnother]

11 minutes ago, webfact said:

A police spokesman maintained the force has acted within the law.

and the thai police are Clueless as to why they are hated

[baboon]

3 minutes ago, YetAnother said:

and the thai police are Clueless as to why they are hated

I very much doubt that this is the polce acting unilaterally. They are simply military gofers these days.

[webfact]

Human rights marchers to file legal complaint against police obstruction

By The Nation

 

Photo from People Go Network Facebook page.

 

Despite ongoing intimidation from the authorities, participants made it to Mittraphab Intersection at Saraburi on Monday morning, the third day of the “People GO Network’s” long march to Khon Kaen to demand government recognition human rights.

 

After enduring obstruction at the beginning of the momentous “We Walk” campaign on Saturday, and facing continuing roadblocks and other acts by the police and military officers, the human-rights defenders continued Monday on their 450-kilometre journey from Bangkok to Khon Kaen. Participants are calling for the protection of state welfare, universal healthcare, food security, freedom of expression, human rights, and a just society for all.

 

As of Monday morning, the group had reached the Saraburi entrance to Mittraphab Road, the main highway to the northeastern region.

 

The group will stop at around 2.30pm to join up with allies from the farmers’ network and hold a public discussion about food security and the government’s policy that they said undermines the sustainability of the local agricultural system.

 

A post of their official Facebook fanpage said that police officers continued to closely monitor and track the group. Their legal team will file a complaint at the Administrative Court in Bangkok in the afternoon to ask that authorities cease all actions limiting the people’s freedom of expression of march participants and obstructing their long march, as those rights are protected by the Constitution.

 

Earlier, police officers blockaded the route of the marchers, arrested some of the protesters without charge, and allegedly threatened the demonstrators with abusive actions.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/politics/30336855

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-01-22

[kotsak]

Human rights?

 

 

 

[RichardColeman]

22 hours ago, kotsak said:

Human rights?

 

 

 

Horological man : "And what did you say to him"

Bold Illustrious Leader : :I said there'd be an election end of the year. Hehehe!"