Arrested but not disheartened

[webfact]

Arrested but not disheartened

By KAS CHANWANPEN, 
WASAMON AUDJARINT 
THE NATION

 

 

Leaders vow to fight on after pro poll rally in Bangkok is broken up by police.

 

PRO-ELECTION activists were arrested as their attempt yesterday to march to Government House to push for an early election was blocked by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, who insisted that the poll would be no sooner than early 2019.

 

The protest leaders arrested after more than five hours of confrontation with police were Anon Nampa, Chonthicha Jangrew, Nuttha Mahattana, Ekachai Hongkangwan, and Chokchai Paiboonrachata. Three others – Rangsiman Rome, Siriwaith Seritiwat and Piyarat Chongthep – also turned themselves in soon after. 

 

 

Their arrests came after the Administrative Court rejected their request for an injunction that would have allowed for the staging of a political rally under junta rule. The junta’s orders prohibit assemblies of five people or more for political purposes.

 

 

“They cannot march, whether they support or oppose us. It breaks the law. They will just cause conflict and upset the economy,” Prayut told reporters.

 

Enforcing the law and breaking up the protest did not violate their human rights, he said, claiming that other countries would do the same in this situation.

 

Prayut who staged a military coup to topple the elected civilian government four years ago, is facing growing calls for an election to bring democratic norms back to the country. 

 

“They can demand all they want but the law is the law,” he said. “There will be an election early next year, no sooner than that. We will have to progress according to the readiness of related laws.” 

 

The premier and junta chief referred to four organic laws related to the election. According to the 2017 Constitution, the election must be held within 150 days of all the four laws coming into effect. 

 

 

The junta leader declared last year that the election would be held by this November but that date was changed again when junta-appointed legislators agreed to delay the enactment of the MP election law by 90 days. 

 

That meant a further delay to the poll date of three months from this November, putting it at next February.

 

The move stirred dissatisfaction among pro-democracy activists, who are sceptical of reasons given for the delay and have been calling for an earlier election since January.

 

 

Hundreds of protesters had camped overnight at Thammasat University’s Tha Prachan campus. Their attempt to march to Government House was thwarted as several hundred police officers lined up and their path was blocked by barricades outside the university.

 

After a stand-off between the demonstrators and police lasting more than four hours, some of the protesters who had been outside the police circle and were led by protest leader Anon, managed to advance closer to Government House. 

 

But they were faced by hundreds more police in front of the United Nations office on Rachadamnoen Avenue, less than two kilometres away from Government House, and were pressured to disperse. 

 

The leaders then accepted that they would not reach their destination and decided to read aloud a statement, condemning four years of military rule and calling for an early election, before letting the police take them away. 

 

Throughout four years of rule, the statement said, the ruling junta had destroyed the country’s rule of law, human rights, economy and its future.

 

 

Meanwhile, the other group in front of the university tried to push back against the police in order to break out and join with their fellow demonstrators. After a brief moment of intense confrontation, the leaders asked the protesters to withdraw, fearing that violence might break out. They later agreed to turn themselves in and asked other protesters to go home.

 

“Today is a step in the march of history, we will fight together until we overcome some day,” Siriwith said, before leaving the scene with police. “I have fought against the junta for four years. I will not give up.”

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/politics/30346053

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-05-23

[webfact]

Thai protest leaders surrender as pro-democracy march disperses

By Panu Wongcha-um and Aukkarapon Niyomyat

 

Anti-government protesters confront riot police officers during a protest to demand that the military government hold a general election by November, in Bangkok, Thailand, May 22, 2018. REUTERS/Athit Perawongmetha

 

BANGKOK (Reuters) - Eight Thai pro-democracy protest leaders surrendered to police on Tuesday after police blocked a march held on the anniversary of a 2014 coup in their demand for early elections.

 

Around 500 protesters gathered at two locations in Bangkok to mark four years since the coup but were outnumbered by around 3,000 police and had dispersed by late afternoon.

 

The protest came amid widespread concern over the military's prolonged rule and what rights groups say its misuse of repressive laws to silence critics.

 

Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha reiterated that a general election will he held next year as protesters demanded a November vote.

 

The demonstrators, some holding Thai flags and cartoons of Prayuth as Pinocchio, set off from Thammasat University but were blocked by rows of police in black uniforms from reaching the prime minister's offices at Government House.

Protesters intermittently tried to push up against police throughout the day.

 

Government House and surrounding streets were declared a no-go zone and protesters were warned not to defy a junta ban on public gatherings.

 

Prayuth, who as army chief led the 2014 coup ending months of street protests and political gridlock, reiterated on Tuesday that there would be no election until 2019.

 

"I've said already that it will be according to my steps and that is early 2019 and no sooner," Prayuth told reporters.

 

"These people have shown their point of view many times and we have taken onboard what they've said within our capacity."

 

The military has promised a return to democratic rule but repeatedly delayed general elections.

 

Rangsiman Rome, 26, a protest leader who surrendered to police, called on activists to go home.

 

"We have been successful," Rangsiman told reporters. "This should enable others to stand on our shoulders to take things further, to continue the struggle."

 

Two protesters were arrested near U.N. headquarters. Police said they had broken the law but declined to give details.

 

The junta, the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO), said it had filed charges against five protest leaders for holding an illegal gathering.

 

The NCPO is facing a public perception crisis, according to international and domestic polls that say corruption is as endemic as ever.

 

Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan defended the junta's work.

 

"The prime minister works hard ... the NCPO these four years has worked every day," Prawit said.

 

Suchada Saebae, 55, a market vendor, disagreed.

 

"I think the NCPO has done a rubbish job these past four years," Suchada said.

 

Amnesty International in a statement the NCPO had used repressive laws to target critics.

 

"Authorities continue to flagrantly use deeply repressive laws and decrees to target human rights defenders, activists and political opponents peacefully exercising their human rights to freedom of expression association and assembly.

 

These laws must be lifted without delay," the group said.

 

The junta has banned political campaigning and made political gatherings of more than five people illegal.

 

Protests against military rule have taken place intermittently in Bangkok since the start of the year.

 

Some have been led by young activists, others by supporters of ousted former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who was toppled in 2006 and fled abroad.

 

His sister, Yingluck Shinawatra, was ousted in the 2014 coup and also fled abroad before being convicted in absentia of corruption.

 

Thailand has been rocked by pro- and anti-government street protests for more than a decade, some of them deadly. The military says it carried out the 2014 coup to end the cycle of violence.

 

(Additional reporting by Amy Sawitta Lefevre, Panarat Thepgumpanat and Pracha Hariraksapitak; Writing by Amy Sawitta Lefevre; Editing by Nick Macfie)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2018-05-23

[Samui Bodoh]

What can one say? I have tremendous respect for these people as they are willing to fight for the rights of others; is there a more noble  cause?

 

"...Their arrests came after the Administrative Court rejected their request for an injunction that would have allowed for the staging of a political rally under junta rule. The junta’s orders prohibit assemblies of five people or more for political purposes..."

 

Is this the same court that gave legal cover to Suthep and his rent-a-mob? The lack of consistent justice in Thailand is appalling and damaging. Further, an election has been promised and steps taken to proceed administratively, what is the justification for continuing the ban on peaceful protests? There is none.

 

"..."We have been successful," Rangsiman told reporters. "This should enable others to stand on our shoulders to take things further, to continue the struggle...."

 

This is true, but the question remains, will the Thai people take up the struggle? Either on the street or at the ballot box? That should be a relatively easy question to answer, but it isn't. What are you going to do, Thai people?

 

"..."The prime minister works hard ... the NCPO these four years has worked every day," Prawit said..."

 

In response to Prawit, I would point out that no one asked you to. And no one wanted you to.

 

What must it be like to go to bed knowing that the Thai people do not like you? What must it be like to go to bed knowing a small group of protesters have superior morals that you? And for a Buddhist, what must it be like knowing that you'll come back as a cockroach?

 

I can't imagine.

 

[gk10002000]

So the guy says they would hurt the economy.  How exactly would he know?  How much money is coming in to the general treasury?  How much money is going in to the Junta's payroll?  How much do all these self appointed and otherwise appointed people make? Is there any open accountability of the tax revenues and other sources of  monies that go in to the Thai junta?

[gk10002000]

56 minutes ago, webfact said:

early 2019 and no soone

OK.  No sooner.  got it.  How later?

[cornishcarlos]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

There will be an election early next year, no sooner than that.

 

So what about February ?? Or have we now slid quietly to "early" as opposed to a specific month ??

About as subtle as a not very subtle thing...

[cornishcarlos]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

They later agreed to turn themselves in and asked other protesters to go home.

 

So only the leaders get arrested, even though all the protesters were at the "political gathering" ??

Surely if it takes more than 5 to break the law, they should all have been arrested !! I don't get it....

[YetAnother]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

They will just cause conflict and upset the economy,” Prayut told reporters.

upset the economy ? really ? the guy is daft , guess that is what thai voters want in a leader as he is leading the polls

[Eligius]

I was pleased to see that Thanathorn of the 'Future Forward Party' actually bothered (unlike other 'politicians') to get out there on the street and support the demonstrators. While I have reservations about Thanathorn, I do respect his display of solidarity with people who are simply demanding what is the Thai people's due: human rights, civil rights, and democracy.

 

The depressing thing to me is that there are still Thais (I was speaking to one last night - educated - from the South of Thailand) who continue to believe that Prayut is sincerely following a road-map and that the only reason the election has been delayed is because of the 'organic laws' and that Thaksin was behind the whole of yesterday's protest (all the demonstrators 'are Red Shirts'). With that level of naivety and gullibility amongst even educated Thais  - one almost wants to despair.

 

Yet I do not believe that this viewpoint any longer represents (which, in fact, it never did) the silent will and wishes of the Thai people. I think they are heartily sick of the junta. BUT they must get out there and support those brave people who dare to put their head above the parapet. Otherwise - it is goodbye Thai freedom for years and years to come.

[grumbleweed]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

“They can demand all they want but the law is the law,” he said

As if the law was written in stone and had been there for all eternity, instead of being conjured up by the Manchurian PM to stifle any descent 

[Aj Mick]

40 minutes ago, grumbleweed said:

As if the law was written in stone and had been there for all eternity, instead of being conjured up by the Manchurian PM to stifle any descent 

The law is section 44, thus it is whatever the maker of the illegitimate coup wants it to be. 

Edited May 23, 2018 by Aj Mick

[Juan B Tong]

All politics aside, I love a good scrum!

[coxo]

The whole world is watching you Mr General, it is time for the country to be a democracy again, four years of military dictatorship is enough, let the people decide who the PM will be.

[RichardColeman]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

The military says it carried out the 2014 coup to end the cycle of violence.

Now their is only a cycle of violence against democracy protesters !

[scorecard]

3 hours ago, Samui Bodoh said:

What can one say? I have tremendous respect for these people as they are willing to fight for the rights of others; is there a more noble  cause?

 

"...Their arrests came after the Administrative Court rejected their request for an injunction that would have allowed for the staging of a political rally under junta rule. The junta’s orders prohibit assemblies of five people or more for political purposes..."

 

Is this the same court that gave legal cover to Suthep and his rent-a-mob? The lack of consistent justice in Thailand is appalling and damaging. Further, an election has been promised and steps taken to proceed administratively, what is the justification for continuing the ban on peaceful protests? There is none.

 

"..."We have been successful," Rangsiman told reporters. "This should enable others to stand on our shoulders to take things further, to continue the struggle...."

 

This is true, but the question remains, will the Thai people take up the struggle? Either on the street or at the ballot box? That should be a relatively easy question to answer, but it isn't. What are you going to do, Thai people?

 

"..."The prime minister works hard ... the NCPO these four years has worked every day," Prawit said..."

 

In response to Prawit, I would point out that no one asked you to. And no one wanted you to.

 

What must it be like to go to bed knowing that the Thai people do not like you? What must it be like to go to bed knowing a small group of protesters have superior morals that you? And for a Buddhist, what must it be like knowing that you'll come back as a cockroach?

 

I can't imagine.

 

 

"....I have tremendous respect for these people as they are willing to fight for the rights of others; is there a more noble  cause?"

 

'...fight for the rights of others...'

 

That statement could be interpreted many ways...

 

 

 

[baboon]

7 minutes ago, scorecard said:

 

"....I have tremendous respect for these people as they are willing to fight for the rights of others; is there a more noble  cause?"

 

'...fight for the rights of others...'

 

That statement could be interpreted many ways...

 

 

 

Only wilfully by tenth-rate muck peddlers devoid of any counter arguments. 

Edited May 23, 2018 by baboon

[chrisinth]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

“They cannot march, whether they support or oppose us. It breaks the law. They will just cause conflict and upset the economy,” Prayut told reporters.

Coups cause conflict and upset economies.

 

Peaceful protests show democracy at work allowing people to voice their opinions.

 

And as for these marches breaking the law; this is the law of the Junta and not of a democratic country.

 

A couple of points that will always cause conflict when a soldier tries to be a politician.

 

In general, the (my) definition of an army is a collection of able bodied men & women assembled to sort out the mistakes of politicians. What happens now when the army are trying to reverse roles?

[Eric Loh]

33 minutes ago, scorecard said:

 

"....I have tremendous respect for these people as they are willing to fight for the rights of others; is there a more noble  cause?"

 

'...fight for the rights of others...'

 

That statement could be interpreted many ways...

 

 

 

Maybe you should take off that yellow tainted glasses and the green one too, you will see clearer. And please take off that silly Prayut T-shirt. 

[Anak Nakal]

Listen to the students.

The students are smart.

[greenchair]

3 hours ago, cornishcarlos said:

 

So what about February ?? Or have we now slid quietly to "early" as opposed to a specific month ??

About as subtle as a not very subtle thing...

Lol. February 2019 has now become early 2019, which will become late 2019 and so on. The we want election now group have understood that for some time. Because it was the same mantra in 2016, 2017, 2018. 

Unfortunately, they all have been charged with 116 of the criminal code. 

Probably unlikely to get bail this time. They are facing several years in jail and like pao din will come out broken men. 

What I can say is, they were the greatest heroes for a day.

[coulson]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

“Today is a step in the march of history, we will fight together until we overcome some day,” Siriwith said, before leaving the scene with police. “I have fought against the junta for four years. I will not give up.”

Good on him

[mikebell]

It is preposterous that Prawit feels the need to comment on breaking the law!

[Becker]

1 hour ago, scorecard said:

 

"....I have tremendous respect for these people as they are willing to fight for the rights of others; is there a more noble  cause?"

 

'...fight for the rights of others...'

 

That statement could be interpreted many ways...

 

 

 

Look guys, a "but, but, but...Thaksin!!" post! Hooray - don't see many of those anymore!

Of course, there is a myriad of reasons why that is so and the junta supplies additional reasons on a daily basis. Tells a lot about those few who still post this drivel and none of it is good.

[connda]

If you want to control the people, then outlaw freedom of speech and the right of assembly. 

The hallmark of an authoritarian regime is the ability to outlaw that which is considered a 'right' in a free and open society.
Having outlawed freedom of speech and the right of assembly, large swaths of the populace are then labeled 'outlaws' for the outrageous act of demanding the democratic reform that allows freedom of speech and freedom of assembly.   It's Catch 22. 
People who embrace liberty will break unjust laws that seek to curtail their unalienable rights and freedoms.  That is the current 'playing field' that is now the state of Thailand.  On one side of the field is authoritarianism; on the other side is liberty.  Which side do you believe that the common Thai will choose?  That's the long-term question.  Answer that and you can predict the course of events in this country over the next decade if not longer.  If you're a student of history, your predictions will be even more accurate.  If nothing else, it's interesting to watch play out as a neutral observer.

We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.  - Thomas Jefferson

Edited May 23, 2018 by connda

[TKDfella]

I also read today that journalists had to wear a police issued armband when filming the protesters, which the papers say looked similar to police arm bands. Apparently journalists have their own issue of armband but it was not allowed in this case...I wonder why? News paper(s) are saying that this was a further infringement of their rights too.

However, during family and friendly conversations I spoke to people in two villages yesterday and though they wanted elections they didn't agree with the protesters either ??????

The PM says he won't be swayed by pressure...what pressure? 500 people out of millions. This guy doesn't know what real pressure means...Don't know what he''ll do if things really do snowball, Ha!

[Eligius]

11 minutes ago, TKDfella said:

I also read today that journalists had to wear a police issued armband when filming the protesters, which the papers say looked similar to police arm bands. Apparently journalists have their own issue of armband but it was not allowed in this case...I wonder why? News paper(s) are saying that this was a further infringement of their rights too.

However, during family and friendly conversations I spoke to people in two villages yesterday and though they wanted elections they didn't agree with the protesters either ??????

The PM says he won't be swayed by pressure...what pressure? 500 people out of millions. This guy doesn't know what real pressure means...Don't know what he''ll do if things really do snowball, Ha!

I know - it is dispiriting, isn't it? I, too,  know Thais who don't like the junta but think that 'at least things are peaceful in Thailand now'. Oh dear. What to say? Can they not see that 'peace' purchased via the barrel of a military gun and at the cost of personal liberty and political freedom is not peace at all - just ongoing threat of militarised violence?

 

I just hope that enough Thais wake up to the gravity of the situation. When the election is postponed again next February (which it will be - I think most of us are confident of that), if the Thais do not then make their fury and opposition felt in huge numbers - then it is all over for Thailand, I am afraid. Virtually nothing will stir them from their timorousness and complaisance towards their autocratic leaders - except, of course, blocking all Facebook/ Twitter and Thai soap operas: now that really would cause a revolution!

 

 

Edited May 23, 2018 by Eligius

[soistalker]

"The law is the law," says the man who illegally staged a coup against a democratically elected government.

[poohy]

Peace Prosperity and Happiness does not come when a gun barrel is being pointed at you Thailand

 

At this stage sadly the only hope for change seems from the students, the rest of the population are too apathetic brainwashed or simply scared .

[Eligius]

18 minutes ago, poohy said:

Peace Prosperity and Happiness does not come when a gun barrel is being pointed at you Thailand

 

At this stage sadly the only hope for change seems from the students, the rest of the population are too apathetic brainwashed or simply scared .

Well said, Poohy. You've nailed the factors that are in play here, keeping the Thais from taking the decisive action that is so urgently needed. Those inhibiting factors are - as you say - apathy, social conditioning, and fear. Tyranny thrives above all else on -  fear, rank terror of the men with guns and the stolen power! I have heard it a thousand times from Thais who don't like the junta: 'But they have the guns - what can we do ....' So they lie down on their serf-bed and do - nothing at all (except grumble behind their hands - and then give a nice beaming smile to any passing fascist controller in the neighbourhood  - and a nice, polite waai as well, just to show that they know their place).

 

Edited May 23, 2018 by Eligius

[poohy]

12 minutes ago, Eligius said:

Well said, Poohy. You've nailed the factors that are in play here, keeping the Thais from taking the decisive action that is so urgently needed. Those inhibiting factors are - as you say - apathy, social conditioning, and fear. Tyranny thrives above all else on -  fear, rank terror of the men with guns! I have heard it a thousand times from Thais who don't like the junta: 'But they have the guns - what can we do ....' So they lie down on their serf-bed and do - nothing at all (except grumble behind their hands - and then give a nice beaming smile to any passing fascist controller in the neighbourhood  - and a nice, polite waai as well, just to show that they know their place).

 

You have described my village perfectly!