Tight security around Democracy Monument before planned rally

By The Nation

 

 

Some 300 policemen were stationed around Democracy Monument on Saturday to keep an eye on the planned assembly of people calling for elections.

 

People arriving in the area were stopped at the police checkpoint and asked to provide their names and IDs. Some of them refused to reveal their identity to the police.

 

The monument itself has been decked with plants while the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration erected a portable fence on Friday night, seen as an attempt to block the rally.

 

The manager of a McDonald’s outlet located in the area was asked by police officers to “cooperate” in keeping order, even as participants waited there for the assembly to begin at 4pm. Some of the participants shouted at the police to express their dissatisfaction.

Three activists who are wanted by police for taking part in a pro-election assembly on January 27 have vowed to show up at Saturday’s rally despite knowing that they would be immediately arrested.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/politics/30338517

 

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-02-11

36 minutes ago, rooster59 said:

The manager of a McDonald’s outlet located in the area was asked by police officers to “cooperate” in keeping order, even as participants waited there for the assembly to begin ...

Aha! Perhaps now we know who the foreigners instigating unrest and sedition are!

The red and white clown (proof conclusive don't you think) and the white plastic southern Colonel could make a pretty dangerous combination...

 

A   story of free Big Macs for three hundred police,

or 

something else?

Freedom just a useless word here and there are those who support no freedom

3 hours ago, rooster59 said:

The manager of a McDonald’s outlet located in the area was asked by police officers to “cooperate” in keeping order,

Given that Thailand is a police state, that means do as we say.   A heavy police presence only shows what Thailand has become. 

Quote

A heavy police presence only shows what Thailand has become. 

Yeah, pragmatic -- based on history of out-of-control crowds.

 

That this crowd is allowed to assemble at all actually indicates Thailand can be more accommodating than its supposedly enlightened neighbors, Singapore and Malaysia:

 

https://www.theonlinecitizen.com/2015/04/06/the-freedom-to-assemble-peacefully-in-singapore-an-illusory-right/

 

https://www.hrw.org/report/2016/10/12/deepening-culture-fear/criminalization-peaceful-expression-malaysia

Edited February 11, 20188 yr by JimGant