Protesters dismiss Prayut’s legal threat, refuse to bow to ‘failed govt’

By THE NATION

 

 

The “Free Youth” pro-democracy group has urged its supporters not to surrender, after the prime minister declared that “all relevant laws” will be used against protestors.

 

On Thursday, PM Prayut Chan-o-cha warned that the government and security agencies would step up law enforcement to handle demonstrators who act illegally and fail to respect other people's rights and liberty. The warning came after two days of protest culminated in protesters splashing paint over signs and walls at police headquarters in Bangkok on Wednesday, in retaliation for a crackdown with tear gas and water cannon on Tuesday.

 

Responding via social media, Free Youth said Prayut’s threat to use “all relevant laws” would include using the lese majeste law against protesters who are calling for a more accountable and transparent monarchy. The police on Thursday confirmed they would use the lese majeste law against protesters if asked to do so.

 

Free Youth said the PM’s statement also sounded like a declaration of war by the government against the people.

 

The group said it was not discouraged by the actions of a “failed government” against peaceful protests such as paint splashing. It stated that the future of Thailand depended on all Thai people – whether office workers, landowners, farmers, etc.

 

The pro-democracy Ratsadon movement would not surrender to a government that had failed in its duties, it said.

 

“If we do not fight, we will be slaves for years. Be ready for the actions of the failed government,” the Free Youth statement said.

 

Prayut’s announcement also met with fierce criticism from supporters of the youth-led democracy movement.

 

The government “has done justice to the paint-splashed signs by cleaning and repainting them. But it has not offered justice to the victims of authorities,” said Pavin Chachavalpongpun, a self-exiled academic living in Japan.

 

Fellow exiled academic Somsak Jeamteerasakul said Prayut’s statement amounted to a threat to re-impose the draconian lese majeste law, which carries long prison sentences.

 

Meanwhile, activist Sombat Boonngamanong said it was ridiculous to see a PM who came to power in a coup using legal means to deal with citizens who only want him to resign.

 

Source: https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30398241

 

-- © Copyright The Nation Thailand 2020-11-20

 

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Thai police ready to use lèse majesté law against protesters who offend the Monarchy

 

 

Police are ready to invoke the lèse majesté law against any protesters who offend or insult the Monarchy and to ask the courts to withdraw bail already granted to protest leaders already facing multiple charges for their involvement in previous protests.

 

The police readiness to enforce Section 112 of the Criminal Code, known as the lèse majesté law, follows the statement by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha today, stating that the government will strictly enforce every existing law, and every section of the law, against protesters who offend the Monarchy.

 

Pol Maj-Gen Piya Tavichai, deputy commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, said today that police are not worried about invoking the lèse majesté law again “because we are just performing our duty and we are not in conflict with any group of people.”

 

Full story: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/thai-police-ready-to-use-lese-majeste-law-against-protesters-who-offend-the-monarchy/

 

-- © Copyright Thai PBS 2020-11-20

 

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