Anti-coup marcher allowed to walk

[webfact]

Anti-Coup Marcher Allowed to Walk
By Khaosod English


Pansak Srithep was allowed to continue his anti-coup march on 15 March 2015.

BANGKOK — An anti-coup activist was allowed to continue his symbolic march against the military junta in Bangkok yesterday following a change of tactics from police, who had arrested him for walking on the previous day.

Police officers detained Pansak Srithep on Saturday, only an hour after he began what was supposed to be a 50-km "march for justice" in protest of the junta’s suppression of civil rights. Police said the walk was a political activity, which the junta banned after seizing power last May. Pansak was later released that afternoon without charges.

Pansak renewed his walk on Sunday, starting in Bangkok's Makkasak district, where his 17-year-old son Samapan Srithep was shot dead during the military crackdown on Redshirt protesters in May 2010.

Police officers followed Pansak throughout his walk, but made no attempts to arrest him. One of the police officers told reporters they were there to prevent any "third hand party" from picking a fight with Pansak or "causing chaos."

At the spot where Samapan was killed, now marked by a small plaque on the road, Pansak read a poem dedicated to his son. Although a court inquest investigating the cause of Samapan’s death has not been released, witnesses say he was killed by soldiers who opened fire on Redshirt protesters near Soi Ratchaprarop 18 during the crackdown on 15 May 2010.

After reading the poem, Pansak walked to the Royal Plaza and laid flowers on a small plaque that marks the spot where a group of military officers and civilians seized power from the royal government on 24 June 1932 and proclaimed Thailand a constitutional democracy. He then continued on to Thammasat University.

Source: http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.php?newsid=1426494616&section=11&typecate=06


-- Khaosod English 2015-03-16

[Costas2008]

It will do good for him.

That belly of his needs some exercise and walking is the best.

[JOC]

It will do good for him.

That belly of his needs some exercise and walking is the best.

The guys son was killed allegedly by the army, and this is the best you can come up with??

Shame on you!!

And yes, unlike the Greeks, the Thais can afford food!!

[oneday]

Imagine the aggravation and fewer news articles there would have been if they had just ignored him to begin with. Children!

[Felipesed]

It will do good for him.

That belly of his needs some exercise and walking is the best.

The guys son was killed allegedly by the army, and this is the best you can come up with??

Shame on you!!

And yes, unlike the Greeks, the Thais can afford food!!

Don't pretend that this is anything more than a gimmick.

Do you think that if his son had been killed by a drunken motorist he would be protesting at the Samsong or Chang headquarters about alcohol consumption?

[Fat Haggis]

It will do good for him.

That belly of his needs some exercise and walking is the best.

The guys son was killed allegedly by the army, and this is the best you can come up with??

Shame on you!!

And yes, unlike the Greeks, the Thais can afford food!!

Don't pretend that this is anything more than a gimmick.

Do you think that if his son had been killed by a drunken motorist he would be protesting at the Samsong or Chang headquarters about alcohol consumption?

A gimmick ? another shameful post by a farang with more rights than Thais eh?

He's trying to get justice, he's not going to get it as the army gave themselves immunity sure there Reds are to blame but he's doing this March for a purpose unlike your snidey remarks.

[SOUTHERNSTAR]

It will do good for him.

That belly of his needs some exercise and walking is the best.

The guys son was killed allegedly by the army, and this is the best you can come up with??

Shame on you!!

And yes, unlike the Greeks, the Thais can afford food!!

He was not allegedly killed he was killed by the army. A Thai court found his death to be at the hands of the army. Article for your info http://news.yahoo.com/four-thai-activists-face-military-court-landmark-case-072417762.html.

[Wilsonandson]

If you are protesting and the army is called out to quell the protests then someone is going to get hurt. His son knew the risks, soldiers are trained to kill, his son put himself in harms way. The protest march against the current authority that rules is perhaps part of his grieving process and perhaps influenced by the company he keeps now.

[mamypoko]

allowed to walk? allowed to peacefully protest? should this ever be in question?

[greenchair]

Brave men like him are few in the world. Bless.

[gerry1011]

Courageous guy.

[Chris Lawrence]

It will do good for him.

That belly of his needs some exercise and walking is the best.

The guys son was killed allegedly by the army, and this is the best you can come up with??

Shame on you!!

And yes, unlike the Greeks, the Thais can afford food!!

Don't pretend that this is anything more than a gimmick.

Do you think that if his son had been killed by a drunken motorist he would be protesting at the Samsong or Chang headquarters about alcohol consumption?

I take it you are not a father/mother?

I take it that you have never comforted someone who has lost their children?

I take it that you don't understand the process of grief?

You and Costa only show the disdain you have for someone that has suffered real loss with such disparaging comments. I can think of nothing worse than to experience a loss in this manner.

I hope the poor man in the OP finds peace.

I don’t know what the facts were in this young man’s death, but I suppose this is what his Father is looking for?

[Enoon]

It will do good for him.

That belly of his needs some exercise and walking is the best.

The guys son was killed allegedly by the army, and this is the best you can come up with??

Shame on you!!

And yes, unlike the Greeks, the Thais can afford food!!

Don't pretend that this is anything more than a gimmick.

Do you think that if his son had been killed by a drunken motorist he would be protesting at the Samsong or Chang headquarters about alcohol consumption?

Maybe not. But a grieving parent, in such a situation, might well become invoved in an Anti Drink Driving campaign.

In 1956 John Osborne wrote what is recognised as one of the most significant plays of the 20th century. You may have heard of it, but I would not be suprised if you haven't. It was called "Look Back in Anger".

In the play one of the characters tells another:

“ if you were to have a child and if that child would die, then you might suffer enough to become a human being”

Do you have a child? My guess is no. But If you do, there’s hope for you yet.

[Bignose]

It is surprising how often it is the same characters that continually belittle and minimize serious comment on TV, yes it is your right to make comment and express an opinion, but do you ever read the comments you have previously posted?

This is a man who has lost a son in tragic circumstances, we are still living in a "less than ideal" society but he still has the courage to make a point about the country he lives in.

Whether we deem his actions as futile or meaningless matters not, it is the lone voice that makes itself heard that is the very basis for democracy.

He has made his point, and I don't think it is insignificant that he was allowed to make it, in the present situation that is to be appreciated. Where as we see comments such as "That belly of his needs some exercise and walking is the best" Is this your best contribution to the discussion? Is this the first and only meaningful comment you have to make?

It would be great to great through some of these threads without the shallow and cynical comments, unfortunately I fear I am going to be disappointed waiting for that to happen...

[DM07]

It will do good for him.

That belly of his needs some exercise and walking is the best.

The guys son was killed allegedly by the army, and this is the best you can come up with??

Shame on you!!

And yes, unlike the Greeks, the Thais can afford food!!

Don't pretend that this is anything more than a gimmick.

Do you think that if his son had been killed by a drunken motorist he would be protesting at the Samsong or Chang headquarters about alcohol consumption?

You see no difference and nuance there?

Accident under the influence- ordered shooting of unarmed civilians...just for starters?

[Linky]

If you are protesting and the army is called out to quell the protests then someone is going to get hurt. His son knew the risks, soldiers are trained to kill, his son put himself in harms way. The protest march against the current authority that rules is perhaps part of his grieving process and perhaps influenced by the company he keeps now.

Oh well that's ok then, fire away. He deserved it. ?

[Bignose]

<script type='text/javascript'>window.mod_pagespeed_start = Number(new Date());</script>

If you are protesting and the army is called out to quell the protests then someone is going to get hurt. His son knew the risks, soldiers are trained to kill, his son put himself in harms way. The protest march against the current authority that rules is perhaps part of his grieving process and perhaps influenced by the company he keeps now.

????

[Docno]

If you are protesting and the army is called out to quell the protests then someone is going to get hurt. His son knew the risks, soldiers are trained to kill, his son put himself in harms way. The protest march against the current authority that rules is perhaps part of his grieving process and perhaps influenced by the company he keeps now.

Don't know what country you hail from, but is it common there for soldiers to fire on protestors with live ammo in urban free fire zones?

[halloween]

Could only happen in a military dictatorship, right? Or Queensland.

"On the same day in 1978, Bundaberg dentist Henry Akers subjected the government policy to utter ridicule when he applied for a police permit to march down a No Through Road at 2.45am with his dog, Jaffa. He informed the police that he would be carrying a protest placard and that the march would be peaceful. The placard read:

"The majority is not omnipotent. The majority can be wrong and is capable of tyranny."

The applications were refused. Undeterred, Henry Akers and his dog undertook an illegal march down a quiet street in the early hours of April Fools' Day, watched by a carload of detectives. However, the detectives did not arrest him (or his dog)." https://independentaustralia.net/politics/politics-display/taking-to-the-streets-of-brisbane,4572

Look at the sign the anti-democratic bastard was carrying.

[Standao]

It will do good for him.

That belly of his needs some exercise and walking is the best.

[chainarong]

One can possibly hope that in the long term a few more will join this brave person and voice there right as a free nation not a repressed one like now and if the Junta supporters don't like that word repressed think about it and look at the repressive measures introduced all under the disguise of freedom, lets face it , you certainly don't know the mind of the Thai military, after knowing three 4 stars, I think I am qualified to say that.

[EnglishJohn]

It will do good for him.

That belly of his needs some exercise and walking is the best.

The guys son was killed allegedly by the army, and this is the best you can come up with??

Shame on you!!

And yes, unlike the Greeks, the Thais can afford food!!

He was not allegedly killed he was killed by the army. A Thai court found his death to be at the hands of the army. Article for your info http://news.yahoo.com/four-thai-activists-face-military-court-landmark-case-072417762.html.

All I see is "an activist whose son was killed in a 2010 army crackdown on anti-government protesters" with no mention of a court finding.

Maybe your 'verdict' comes from when Pheu-Thai had that ridiculous pantomime where they got the court to say who was killed by Army bullets. Every wonder why everything stopped there ?. An intelligent person might think they didn't want people to know what they were doing at the time to attract those bullets. But don't let that bother you if it doesn't suit your cause.

That Reuters article is shamefully biased. I see the old favourite "Thammasat university' crops up once again like a bad smell.

[MZurf]

It will do good for him.

That belly of his needs some exercise and walking is the best.

And to think this poster was in the running for TV poster of the year...

[Linky]

Could only happen in a military dictatorship, right? Or Queensland.

"On the same day in 1978, Bundaberg dentist Henry Akers subjected the government policy to utter ridicule when he applied for a police permit to march down a No Through Road at 2.45am with his dog, Jaffa. He informed the police that he would be carrying a protest placard and that the march would be peaceful. The placard read:

"The majority is not omnipotent. The majority can be wrong and is capable of tyranny."

The applications were refused. Undeterred, Henry Akers and his dog undertook an illegal march down a quiet street in the early hours of April Fools' Day, watched by a carload of detectives. However, the detectives did not arrest him (or his dog)." https://independentaustralia.net/politics/politics-display/taking-to-the-streets-of-brisbane,4572

Look at the sign the anti-democratic bastard was carrying.

Wow, you post something from nearly 40 years ago to show that a protestor was NOT arrested. ?

[h90]

It will do good for him.

That belly of his needs some exercise and walking is the best.

The guys son was killed allegedly by the army, and this is the best you can come up with??

Shame on you!!

And yes, unlike the Greeks, the Thais can afford food!!

yes when his son demonstrated AGAINST Democracy....

[lucky11]

If you are protesting and the army is called out to quell the protests then someone is going to get hurt. His son knew the risks, soldiers are trained to kill, his son put himself in harms way. The protest march against the current authority that rules is perhaps part of his grieving process and perhaps influenced by the company he keeps now.

Don't know what country you hail from, but is it common there for soldiers to fire on protestors with live ammo in urban free fire zones?

In war, if the enemy is firing at you then there is the instinct to fire back otherwise you will become a victim yourself. There were reports that the black shirts were amongst the people at the temple and so if anyone is to blame then it is them!!

What will this pointless walk achieve? I don't know why these people do this as it is meaningless IMO.

The protesters were told to disperse and they would be allowed to go back home peacefully - I'm guessing that the red shirt leaders (under Thaksin's command) were telling them to remain. So, in essence, it was Thaksin and the red/black shirts between them that were the cause of the loss of these lives and not Abhisit or the army.

[halloween]

Could only happen in a military dictatorship, right? Or Queensland.

"On the same day in 1978, Bundaberg dentist Henry Akers subjected the government policy to utter ridicule when he applied for a police permit to march down a No Through Road at 2.45am with his dog, Jaffa. He informed the police that he would be carrying a protest placard and that the march would be peaceful. The placard read:

"The majority is not omnipotent. The majority can be wrong and is capable of tyranny."

The applications were refused. Undeterred, Henry Akers and his dog undertook an illegal march down a quiet street in the early hours of April Fools' Day, watched by a carload of detectives. However, the detectives did not arrest him (or his dog)." https://independentaustralia.net/politics/politics-display/taking-to-the-streets-of-brisbane,4572

Look at the sign the anti-democratic bastard was carrying.

Wow, you post something from nearly 40 years ago to show that a protestor was NOT arrested. ?

I suppose it was WAAAAy to much to expect that you might read the link. Or understand it.