Junta ‘fears social unrest’ over recent small protests

By The Nation

 

 

PM seeks ‘delicate’ approach in dealing with activists as memories of october 1973 invoked

 

A SMALL gathering of pro-democracy activists demonstrating over the weekend has caused major concerns for the junta regarding stability, as Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has instructed Army Commander-in-chief General Chalermchai Sitthisart to closely monitor activists and other “politically motivated” groups.

 

Sources close to Prayut said Chalermchai, who is also secretary-general of the National Council on Peace and Order (NCPO), which staged the 2014 coup, will also have to exercise caution in dealing with activist groups, especially those involving university students, as the situation was sensitive and delicate.

 

Any legal action against these groups, which have staged political rallies calling for elections this year in defiance of the NCPO’s orders, needed to be carefully weighed to avoid worsening the political climate ahead of the planned general election, which will probably take place early next year, the source said.

 

Saturday’s peaceful protest at Democracy Monument ended with the surrender of activist leaders, who later walked free on bail.

 

The groups include those led by student activists Rangsiman Rome and Sirawit Serithiwat as well as activists Ekachai Hongkangwan and Anon Nampa, all of whom had already been charged with violating the junta’s ban on political gatherings of five or more people as well as violating public assembly and sedition laws.

 

Those charges stemmed from their assembly near Bangkok’s MBK shopping centre on January 27, during which they demanded that the NCPO hold the long-delayed election this year as promised.

 

At Saturday’s demonstration near Democracy Monument, more than 200 police officers were posted at the scene. 

 

At Pathumwan Police Station, where the four were charged, about 200 people greeted them with a candle vigil, seeking an immediate end to prosecution for peaceful political expression.

 

The candles were placed in a funeral style on the poster of a clock, in an apparent taunt at Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister General Prawit Wongsuwan, who has been embroiled in a scandal over his possession of luxury watches.

 

Another activist, Piyarat Chongthep, who brought a pickup truck equipped with speakers to the Saturday assembly, was fined Bt200 for wrongfully using speakers before being released.

 

Meanwhile, Rangsiman was brought from the capital late Saturday to Khon Kaen Police Station to face charges in connection with a speech he had delivered at a forum on freedom of expression and the draft Constitution at Khon Kaen University in July 2016.

 

Police in the Northeastern province of Khon Kaen yesterday arrested Rangsiman and let him out on Bt10,000 bail, which was granted without condition.

 

His participation in the forum and the content of the speech allegedly broke the law. Police told Rangsiman that he would face military prosecutors on March 23.

 

Rangsiman was already facing several legal proceedings. Last week he turned himself in to police in Bangkok to face charges related to his participation in a pro-election assembly last month, but was also released on bail.

 

Rangsiman and three other activists were released on bail at Bt100,000 per person, after they turned themselves in to police on Saturday.

 

Sources said the government was also closely monitoring other “politically motivated” groups, which allegedly included those led by former politicians and academics hoping to create chaos similar to what happened prior to the student uprising on October 14, 1973, which led to a notorious massacre of dozens. 

 

One of the former politicians associated with Pheu Thai Party, Wattana Muangsuk, is also being watched after he posted on social media that he would join the next rally,

 

Maj-General Piyapong Klinphun, an NCPO spokesman, said the activists had insisted on holding more activities to push the government to hold the general election by the end of this year despite legal measures taken by authorities.

 

More importantly, he said, authorities wanted to create a “better understanding” with the public regarding the rescheduling of the general election from late 2018 to early 2019.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/politics/30338595

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-02-12

47 minutes ago, webfact said:

"Another activist, Piyarat Chongthep, who brought a pickup truck equipped with speakers to the Saturday assembly, was fined Bt200 for wrongfully using speakers before being released."

 

I bet there's an awful lot of people living close to noisy nightclubs and temples using PA systems, who would love to know more about "wrongfully using speakers".

A perfect 'catch 22'.  The junta keeps delaying the election, people peacefully protest about this, and then the Junta characterises this as 'unrest' and uses it as excuse for further election delays.

Edited February 11, 20188 yr by DNPBC0

17, 18, 19,

keep moving the goal post will in no way, appease the people you are supposed to

serve, 

what lessons from history do you not understand, and retain in  your brain.

If parties start ongoing protests and should any violence occur things will only deteriorate and that will leave the Junta no option but to forego any possibility of an election.

As said before and witnessed ....  Thailand is not ready for any election.

Damned. They worry over small protests? Only reason they are small is because the majority of the people are afraid of what will happen to them if they do anything.

 

Spare the JTA rod, spoil the population! 

Poor Steven. Your logic is illogical but nice try. Clearly after 4 years if there was some REAL evidence that an election was to held at a definite time then there would be NO protests. You blame the protestors while the real blame lays right at the feet of your pin-up boy.

 

4 hours ago, webfact said:

PM seeks ‘delicate’ approach in dealing with activists as memories of october 1973 invoked

Cue thousands at the next demonstration

4 hours ago, webfact said:

especially those involving university students, as the situation was sensitive and delicate.

No, it is simple.  The kids know better than their elders.  God love'em.

 

A perfect depiction of the junta

3 hours ago, bluesofa said:

 

I bet there's an awful lot of people living close to noisy nightclubs and temples using PA systems, who would love to know more about "wrongfully using speakers".

I always wanted to throw eggs at those vendors selling fruits and veggies propagating their crap in 20 minute long speeches over very-loudspeakers in front of the house.

1 hour ago, steven100 said:

If parties start ongoing protests and should any violence occur things will only deteriorate and that will leave the Junta no option but to forego any possibility of an election.

As said before and witnessed ....  Thailand is not ready for any election.

Ready or not the junta's days are numbered Steven, buddy. Are you ready for the move away from Thailand my friend? Are you, Steven??

 

Useful link for Steven

The Junta is in a difficult situation with no clear path forward, so they'll muddle along trying to restrain any pro-democracy demonstrations, without (hopefully) resorting to shooting protestors violence.

 

If they clamp down too hard and too publicly, they will look bad both domestically and internationally.

 

If they allow almost any protests, they may lose control, and the 2014 coup and subsequent machinations will be for naught.

 

In hindsight, they probably should have installed a civilian government shortly after the coup, and then managed them to transition to elections and democratic rule?

 

 

2 minutes ago, mtls2005 said:

The Junta is in a difficult situation with no clear path forward, so they'll muddle along trying to restrain any pro-democracy demonstrations, without (hopefully) resorting to shooting protestors violence.

 

If they clamp down too hard and too publicly, they will look bad both domestically and internationally.

It will be all right, they can pass it off as Thainess.

 

In other news…

 

Uncle Number One has directed appropriate agencies to address the issue of assembly.

 

In response, The Ministry of Truth has declared that the Democracy Monument will henceforth be known as…The Oligarchy Monument. The Proles are duly reminded that this does not reflect any change: it has always been the Oligarchy Monument.

 

Joyous, spontaneous gatherings in support of oligarchy are, and have always been, permitted.

 

 

Edited February 12, 20188 yr by Hayduke

Oh the irony of it all.

 

We say Thailand is not ready for democracy as they fight with each other over who is right and who is wrong and who deserves to lead the country.

 

Meanwhile we on TV spit venom and bile at each other for our differing opinions, are we democratic well yes I suppose we are at least we are able to have an opinion.

 

The human race in action, we'll get it right one day.

This Junta fears nothing more then elections and try to find any way to keep upcoming electrions in a way they are still keeping their power and you can be very sure: they wont step down to control the country and the people up to this country is completly ruined and far from any democratic system!!!!

 

So the only thing something might change if millions!!!!!! of people stand up against this Junta. Otherwise say bye bye to any democratic movement in Thailand

49 minutes ago, JAG said:

albeit living under a 6pm to 6am military curfew, with nothing on the tele' but reruns of his beloved leaders speeches and ballads!

errr .....  I hope not. If it ever comes to that i'm otta here .. sorry for our tif yesterday. my appologies.

A flame and a couple of replies have been removed

2 hours ago, steven100 said:

If parties start ongoing protests and should any violence occur things will only deteriorate and that will leave the Junta no option but to forego any possibility of an election.

As said before and witnessed ....  Thailand is not ready for any election.

....'leave the Junta no option', you mean give the junta an excuse.People are no longer prepared to wait even for the only symbolic election (the junta still retains the real power no matter what the outcome is). The junta rather likes the driving seat. 

If parties start ongoing protests and should any violence occur things will only deteriorate and that will leave the Junta no option but to forego any possibility of an election.
As said before and witnessed ....  Thailand is not ready for any election.

You are naive to think the Junta need this as an excuse to postpone any election! It,or He will have another excuse soon enough!


Sent from my iPhone using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

3 hours ago, leeneeds said:

17, 18, 19,

keep moving the goal post will in no way, appease the people you are supposed to

serve, 

what lessons from history do you not understand, and retain in  your brain.

 

The notion that governments are "supposed to serve" the people is totally alien to Thailand.

 

The opposite is true in Thailand.

 

Widespread ignorance (among foreigners) of that simple bald fact is the reason for so much impotent outrage on these pages.

 

 

2 minutes ago, markaoffy said:

You are naive to think the Junta need this as an excuse to postpone any election! It,or He will have another excuse soon enough!


Sent from my iPhone using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

The General is playing with the media. The Junta have absolutely no plan whatsoever to give up power, I know this and all these things are playing right into his hand.

6 hours ago, webfact said:

Junta ‘fears social unrest’

TRANSLATION:

Junta 'fears freedom of speech'

 

7 hours ago, webfact said:

Junta ‘fears social unrest’ over recent small protests

the protests Are the social unrest; what the junta fears is being backed into a corner by increased scale of protests  which dramatically increases the possibility of violence , which would be accelerating the end for them

1 hour ago, Enoon said:

 

The notion that governments are "supposed to serve" the people is totally alien to Thailand.

 

The opposite is true in Thailand.

 

Widespread ignorance (among foreigners) of that simple bald fact is the reason for so much impotent outrage on these pages.

 

 

"Opinion is the medium between knowledge and ignorance "

 

Plato.

7 minutes ago, YetAnother said:

the protests Are the social unrest; what the junta fears is being backed into a corner by increased scale of protests  which dramatically increases the possibility of violence , which would be accelerating the end for them

The elites would have to be out of their minds to let that happen again.   They will cave.  That is what the unelected MP's are for, their plan B.  The shills will do the bidding of the elites and the army.  That too will get tiresome after a while.   The shills will dislike being targets of the media and objects of hatred.   Educated Thais will not tolerate them for more than a few years.  What happens after that is anyone's guess. 

I really like the new buses in BKK and the great police reforms lol. I have a 1 page list and honestly l don't know how you managed to fool the people this long. Incompetence must be in fashion..

Good luck to the people they deserve so much better 

Seems a collection of "P"s and their friends are "P" ing their panties !

 

Their time is over !

6 hours ago, DNPBC0 said:

A perfect 'catch 22'.  The junta keeps delaying the election, people peacefully protest about this, and then the Junta characterises this as 'unrest' and uses it as excuse for further election delays.

Yes and are out of time. Perhaps they should ask Prawit for a watch.