Police: Protests Illegal Under Covid-19 Emergency Decree

[snoop1130]

 

BANGKOK (NNT) - Due to the recent gatherings of protesters outside the Supreme Court and Bangkok Remand Prison, where Arnon Nampa and other protest leaders are detained on charges including lese majeste and sedition, Metropolitan Police Bureau deputy commissioner and spokesman Police Major General Jirasan Kaewsangek said it was illegal to gather under the anti-Covid emergency decree.

 

He cited although Bangkok has been designated as a “tourism province” and has been exempted from some measures, anti-Covid guidelines, and the Communicable Diseases Control Act remain in force. Any gatherings that may lead to an outbreak can be considered a breach of the regulations.

 

Police Major General Jirasan said city police are prepared and well equipped to maintain peace and order, while there was no sign of armed groups or violence-prone demonstrators in the protests.

 

In addition to previous protest-related cases, metropolitan police have investigated 814 cases since July 2020. Of the total cases, 409 have been brought to court while the rest are still under investigation.

 

-- © Copyright NNT 2022-01-17

 

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[mtls2005]

So will the COVID Emergency Decree follow the path of the restive Southern Province Emergency decree, renewed a WHOPPING SIXTY-THREE (63) times since 2005.

 

 If it gives the authorities a way to limit free speech, freedom to gather and express dissent, then, yeah. 

 

 

[sitanonchai]

>Due to the recent gatherings .... Police Major General Jirasan Kaewsangek said it was illegal to gather under the anti-Covid emergency decree.

 

Isn't that convenient.

[Mavideol]

are there any elections coming soon??? this is a very convenient decree, timing is everything   555

[Mavideol]

maybe the man is right   555

 

Thai police are doing a wonderful job - stop blaming us for everything or face jail, says RTP spokesman

[daveAustin]

Sad. Do wish Thailand could dig itself out of this sino-style mire. ????????

[bang saen guy]

Vaccination gatherings at Bang Sue must be illegal then

[ikke1959]

3 hours ago, bang saen guy said:

Vaccination gatherings at Bang Sue must be illegal then

Everything the RTP or the Government doesn't like is illegal....Mass gatherings for vaccines is ok... Mass gatherings for Countdown is ok, and so on

[RichardColeman]

he needs a scarf and a woggle

[bendejo]

10 hours ago, Mavideol said:

maybe the man is right   555

Thai police are doing a wonderful job - stop blaming us for everything or face jail, says RTP spokesman

At the next ASEAN meeting expect them to follow in the steps of a certain former PM now in exile:  if this decree is mentioned I am walking out.

 

[JoePai]

3 hours ago, RichardColeman said:

he needs a scarf and a woggle

 

But he seems to be missing his 'Good Conduct' badge ?

[hotchilli]

15 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

General Jirasan Kaewsangek said it was illegal to gather under the anti-Covid emergency decree.

How convenient, all other gatherings, fireworks displays, music festivals, food festivals, NY countdowns

mass transport systems all okay?

[tlcwaterfall]

4 hours ago, RichardColeman said:

he needs a scarf and a woggle

And a dunces cap and a few days standing in the corner to contemplate his stupid words.

[jingjai9]

The idea that Thailand uses an emergency decree to control protest movements is certainly not excusive to Thailand. It is merely a local version of a worldwide theme. What about China and Hong Kong or what about the US and The Patriot Act which has been renewed several times since it was first invoked in 2001?

 

I heard one social critic articulate a litmus test for evaluating whether or not a country is truly a democracy or not with one simple question, "In your country could you go to the center of a big city within the earshot of a large number of people during the day and shout out at the top of your lungs: 'This country sucks' and then bellow out the names of the  most powerful leaders accompanied by some spicy adjectives, and not get arrested?" 

 

Many countries pride themselves on freedom of speech, but as Malcolm X pointed out - there is a difference between free speech and effective speech. In other words, you can say anything you want, but if your speech begins to change the way people think and act, will you end up on the radar of the intelligence community? The security and surveillance state is global.

[Stargeezr]

Well at least there won't be any anti vaxxer protests in Bangkok.

   I wished I was there if only because of that.  Just heard on the news that in the USA there

have been over 10 million omicron cases since January 1st.  Good thing that it was not that many delta

variant cases. Good luck to all in Thailand, hopefully if you catch COVID now, it will likely be omicron.

[Harveyboy]

anti-Covid emergency decree. will be with us for eternity then .. control 

[connda]

17 hours ago, bang saen guy said:

Vaccination gatherings at Bang Sue must be illegal then

Mass gatherings in Thai malls, mass gatherings at Marko, Big C, Tesco and other Big Box stores - all these must be illegal.

But it seems mass gatherings to consume - OK!
Mass gatherings to petition the government over grievances - Illegal.

Perfectly logical using Thai logic.

[Maybole]

Everything is illegal if Thai police say so.

[Knocker33]

Of course they are. Dictatorship's do not allow protests