Six pro-democracy student protesters to be charged

[Smokemachine]

The students should be told that there is a democratic civilized country not far from Thailand is also not allow such protest to held in public places, unless they got approval and the protest is only done at some designated speech corner. Not as and when u like.

Ps: The peaceful protestors in that country are been charged as well.

Edited June 6, 2015 by Smokemachine

[jesimps]

Most probably they aren't Pro Democracy.....They are Pro Thaksin.

Same same. Thaksin = elected. Junta = unelected.

[lostoday]

Rangsima said when he and about 30 other university students were released after the May 22 incident, police told them they would not be charged.

"Now, how can we trust these officers?" he said.

Maybe if you had kept your mouth shut after the event.

Thailand is going through a period of much needed reform - you are either with it or against it

It may not be ideal but is definitely better than people being murdered on the streets

Reading this thread it seems that the majority of the posters favor the position of the students. Would you have the police throw the posters to the ground and kick them too?

[Alwyn]

Rangsima said when he and about 30 other university students were released after the May 22 incident, police told them they would not be charged.

"Now, how can we trust these officers?" he said.

Maybe if you had kept your mouth shut after the event.

Thailand is going through a period of much needed reform - you are either with it or against it

It may not be ideal but is definitely better than people being murdered on the streets

So your idea of needed reform is for the police to kick the snot out of anybody that wants to have a voice ay? Nice.

[wabothai]

Rangsima said when he and about 30 other university students were released after the May 22 incident, police told them they would not be charged.

"Now, how can we trust these officers?" he said.

Maybe if you had kept your mouth shut after the event.

Thailand is going through a period of much needed reform - you are either with it or against it

It may not be ideal but is definitely better than people being murdered on the streets

you sound like Bush

[lostoday]

Rangsima said when he and about 30 other university students were released after the May 22 incident, police told them they would not be charged.

"Now, how can we trust these officers?" he said.

Maybe if you had kept your mouth shut after the event.

Thailand is going through a period of much needed reform - you are either with it or against it

It may not be ideal but is definitely better than people being murdered on the streets

you sound like Bush

Do you realize every time you mention his name it pulls the thread off topic and gets the perps off the hook. Is that what you are trying to do? Or are you just another anti Yank obsessive?

[thesetat2013]

After reading this thread it seems clear that most TV members approved of the students actions and disapprove of the police actions. So I have a question to you all. Were you there to see what actually happened? Did you see if the students resisted when the police tried to arrest them? Or are you just taking a statement made from a student made to the NATION (Thailand's most reliable source of news) and believing it all?

These kids knew what they were doing. They were testing to see what would happen. They knew about the ban and went anyway. They knew the police would come and arrest them. So maybe? Just maybe they resisted and the police used force.

The simple fact is that these students are not in another country where public gatherings and freedom of speech is allowed currently. These boys were not heroes as one TV member claims. They violated a law to make a show that this country is currently under a non democratic system with laws that prevent some basic freedoms. They did it deliberately as a child would do when sticking his hand in the cookie jar. I don't know what exactly what happened there. Buy those kids went there knowing the police would be there to stop them. It seems more logical that they resisted to make a point.

Either way both parties were wrong. The students were wrong for trying to defy an order given by the leader of Thailand and the police for losing their cool and using excessive force. End of story.

[ddavidovsky]

They are pushing their luck to mess with the students.

[smutcakes]

After reading this thread it seems clear that most TV members approved of the students actions and disapprove of the police actions. So I have a question to you all. Were you there to see what actually happened? Did you see if the students resisted when the police tried to arrest them? Or are you just taking a statement made from a student made to the NATION (Thailand's most reliable source of news) and believing it all?

These kids knew what they were doing. They were testing to see what would happen. They knew about the ban and went anyway. They knew the police would come and arrest them. So maybe? Just maybe they resisted and the police used force.

The simple fact is that these students are not in another country where public gatherings and freedom of speech is allowed currently. These boys were not heroes as one TV member claims. They violated a law to make a show that this country is currently under a non democratic system with laws that prevent some basic freedoms. They did it deliberately as a child would do when sticking his hand in the cookie jar. I don't know what exactly what happened there. Buy those kids went there knowing the police would be there to stop them. It seems more logical that they resisted to make a point.

Either way both parties were wrong. The students were wrong for trying to defy an order given by the leader of Thailand and the police for losing their cool and using excessive force. End of story.

Why should they not protest? It is inconceivable that a Government can ban protests and free speech, whilst rewriting the law of the land, probably in such a way that it would not be beneficial to those whose opinion differs from the powers that be. Why should they not protest it? They should just sit there and wait for everything to be enacted? then protest?

If people are not allowed to express their opinions now, then they sure as hell will do when a new law is rammed down their throats....

[lostoday]

They are pushing their luck to mess with the students.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thammasat_University_massacre

Ya right.

[CiaranO]

The students knew the penalty for their actions yet did it anyway, now the time has come to pay the price and the whinging starts, if you can't do the time don't do the crime.......................simple

What a ridiculous comment

[tbthailand]

Rangsima said when he and about 30 other university students were released after the May 22 incident, police told them they would not be charged.

"Now, how can we trust these officers?" he said.

Maybe if you had kept your mouth shut after the event.

Thailand is going through a period of much needed reform - you are either with it or against it

It may not be ideal but is definitely better than people being murdered on the streets

yes, and if you are against these "much needed reforms" then just sit down, shut up, and take your medicine.

just remember that one General's 'reforms' are another man's oppression.

[tbthailand]

After reading this thread it seems clear that most TV members approved of the students actions and disapprove of the police actions. So I have a question to you all. Were you there to see what actually happened? Did you see if the students resisted when the police tried to arrest them? Or are you just taking a statement made from a student made to the NATION (Thailand's most reliable source of news) and believing it all?

These kids knew what they were doing. They were testing to see what would happen. They knew about the ban and went anyway. They knew the police would come and arrest them. So maybe? Just maybe they resisted and the police used force.

The simple fact is that these students are not in another country where public gatherings and freedom of speech is allowed currently. These boys were not heroes as one TV member claims. They violated a law to make a show that this country is currently under a non democratic system with laws that prevent some basic freedoms. They did it deliberately as a child would do when sticking his hand in the cookie jar. I don't know what exactly what happened there. Buy those kids went there knowing the police would be there to stop them. It seems more logical that they resisted to make a point.

Either way both parties were wrong. The students were wrong for trying to defy an order given by the leader of Thailand and the police for losing their cool and using excessive force. End of story.

the students were wrong for exercising HUMAN RIGHTS

how sad for you.

[smedly]

The interesting irony of some posters on this thread is the fact that while voicing your support for freedom of expression and speech you are routinely insulting posters that have a different opinion to your own, if we were all face to face in a room it would easily develop into a violent brawl but you hide behind your keyboard pumping out your insults and personal attacks, might be time to take a long look at yourselves and how hypocritical your behaviour is on this forum.

[smedly]

After reading this thread it seems clear that most TV members approved of the students actions and disapprove of the police actions. So I have a question to you all. Were you there to see what actually happened? Did you see if the students resisted when the police tried to arrest them? Or are you just taking a statement made from a student made to the NATION (Thailand's most reliable source of news) and believing it all?

These kids knew what they were doing. They were testing to see what would happen. They knew about the ban and went anyway. They knew the police would come and arrest them. So maybe? Just maybe they resisted and the police used force.

The simple fact is that these students are not in another country where public gatherings and freedom of speech is allowed currently. These boys were not heroes as one TV member claims. They violated a law to make a show that this country is currently under a non democratic system with laws that prevent some basic freedoms. They did it deliberately as a child would do when sticking his hand in the cookie jar. I don't know what exactly what happened there. Buy those kids went there knowing the police would be there to stop them. It seems more logical that they resisted to make a point.

Either way both parties were wrong. The students were wrong for trying to defy an order given by the leader of Thailand and the police for losing their cool and using excessive force. End of story.

Why should they not protest? It is inconceivable that a Government can ban protests and free speech, whilst rewriting the law of the land, probably in such a way that it would not be beneficial to those whose opinion differs from the powers that be. Why should they not protest it? They should just sit there and wait for everything to be enacted? then protest?

If people are not allowed to express their opinions now, then they sure as hell will do when a new law is rammed down their throats....

Why should they not protest

we all know exactly were protests end up in Thailand - people being murdered on the streets and that is a fact not an opinion

[smutcakes]

After reading this thread it seems clear that most TV members approved of the students actions and disapprove of the police actions. So I have a question to you all. Were you there to see what actually happened? Did you see if the students resisted when the police tried to arrest them? Or are you just taking a statement made from a student made to the NATION (Thailand's most reliable source of news) and believing it all?

These kids knew what they were doing. They were testing to see what would happen. They knew about the ban and went anyway. They knew the police would come and arrest them. So maybe? Just maybe they resisted and the police used force.

The simple fact is that these students are not in another country where public gatherings and freedom of speech is allowed currently. These boys were not heroes as one TV member claims. They violated a law to make a show that this country is currently under a non democratic system with laws that prevent some basic freedoms. They did it deliberately as a child would do when sticking his hand in the cookie jar. I don't know what exactly what happened there. Buy those kids went there knowing the police would be there to stop them. It seems more logical that they resisted to make a point.

Either way both parties were wrong. The students were wrong for trying to defy an order given by the leader of Thailand and the police for losing their cool and using excessive force. End of story.

Why should they not protest? It is inconceivable that a Government can ban protests and free speech, whilst rewriting the law of the land, probably in such a way that it would not be beneficial to those whose opinion differs from the powers that be. Why should they not protest it? They should just sit there and wait for everything to be enacted? then protest?

If people are not allowed to express their opinions now, then they sure as hell will do when a new law is rammed down their throats....

Why should they not protest

we all know exactly were protests end up in Thailand - people being murdered on the streets and that is a fact not an opinion

Well if they are not going to allow people to protest they need to find someway for ordinary people to openly and without fear of reprisals be able to air their opinions, even if they are opinions which the Junta do not like. They should also have made the NRC, CDC much more inclusive from people all over the country through all walks of life.

If people have not got avenue to air their opinions, and are not allowed to protest, there is sure going to be a lot of pent up frustration and discord which will overflow at some juncture.

I know you have difficulty fathoming it, but there are no doubt many people who dislike TS, but also are far from happy with what is happening now. I know mentally for you there are only two groups, those Pro Army Anti Thaksin, and Anti Army Pro Thaksin, but there are many people who don't fall into this bracket who are also unable to air their views. This suppression, the longer it goes on will only increase the tension. They need to find a sensible way for this pressure to be released.

[NongKhaiKid]

The interesting irony of some posters on this thread is the fact that while voicing your support for freedom of expression and speech you are routinely insulting posters that have a different opinion to your own, if we were all face to face in a room it would easily develop into a violent brawl but you hide behind your keyboard pumping out your insults and personal attacks, might be time to take a long look at yourselves and how hypocritical your behaviour is on this forum.

Talking about insults and personal attacks is rich coming from you.

[lostoday]

Why should they not protest

we all know exactly were protests end up in Thailand - people being murdered on the streets and that is a fact not an opinion

We all know better than you. Out of all the protests, out of all the millions of people who marched on the street there were very few examples of violence and that is not an opinion it is a fact.

[lostoday]

The interesting irony of some posters on this thread is the fact that while voicing your support for freedom of expression and speech you are routinely insulting posters that have a different opinion to your own, if we were all face to face in a room it would easily develop into a violent brawl but you hide behind your keyboard pumping out your insults and personal attacks, might be time to take a long look at yourselves and how hypocritical your behaviour is on this forum.

How you feeling? Did I beat you down and kick you in the street? If we were face to face in a room I would act just like I act now. I have disagreed with thousands of people over my life and never knocked anyone down nor kicked them while they were down. What goofy kind of place do you live in that people can not disagree without bloodshed?

I'm serious what place do you come from where the norm is a violent brawl as a result of a disagreement?

I'll give you the benefit of the doubt. Maybe you don't know any better. Where do you live?

[smedly]

After reading this thread it seems clear that most TV members approved of the students actions and disapprove of the police actions. So I have a question to you all. Were you there to see what actually happened? Did you see if the students resisted when the police tried to arrest them? Or are you just taking a statement made from a student made to the NATION (Thailand's most reliable source of news) and believing it all?

These kids knew what they were doing. They were testing to see what would happen. They knew about the ban and went anyway. They knew the police would come and arrest them. So maybe? Just maybe they resisted and the police used force.

The simple fact is that these students are not in another country where public gatherings and freedom of speech is allowed currently. These boys were not heroes as one TV member claims. They violated a law to make a show that this country is currently under a non democratic system with laws that prevent some basic freedoms. They did it deliberately as a child would do when sticking his hand in the cookie jar. I don't know what exactly what happened there. Buy those kids went there knowing the police would be there to stop them. It seems more logical that they resisted to make a point.

Either way both parties were wrong. The students were wrong for trying to defy an order given by the leader of Thailand and the police for losing their cool and using excessive force. End of story.

Why should they not protest? It is inconceivable that a Government can ban protests and free speech, whilst rewriting the law of the land, probably in such a way that it would not be beneficial to those whose opinion differs from the powers that be. Why should they not protest it? They should just sit there and wait for everything to be enacted? then protest?

If people are not allowed to express their opinions now, then they sure as hell will do when a new law is rammed down their throats....

Why should they not protest

we all know exactly were protests end up in Thailand - people being murdered on the streets and that is a fact not an opinion

Well if they are not going to allow people to protest they need to find someway for ordinary people to openly and without fear of reprisals be able to air their opinions, even if they are opinions which the Junta do not like. They should also have made the NRC, CDC much more inclusive from people all over the country through all walks of life.

If people have not got avenue to air their opinions, and are not allowed to protest, there is sure going to be a lot of pent up frustration and discord which will overflow at some juncture.

I know you have difficulty fathoming it, but there are no doubt many people who dislike TS, but also are far from happy with what is happening now. I know mentally for you there are only two groups, those Pro Army Anti Thaksin, and Anti Army Pro Thaksin, but there are many people who don't fall into this bracket who are also unable to air their views. This suppression, the longer it goes on will only increase the tension. They need to find a sensible way for this pressure to be released.

There is nothing wrong with your post until you decided again to throw personal insults and try to tell me how I think (also insulting) you may find that people will pay more attention to what you say if you cut out the unnecessary personal flaming towards other posters, or maybe you just can't help yourself

[Calimotty]

Rangsima said when he and about 30 other university students were released after the May 22 incident, police told them they would not be charged.

"Now, how can we trust these officers?" he said.

Maybe if you had kept your mouth shut after the event.

Thailand is going through a period of much needed reform - you are either with it or against it

It may not be ideal but is definitely better than people being murdered on the streets

a period of much needed reform ?

Unfortunately Thailand has been through this sequence many many times before.

Whats next after, No Minimum Wage and Spiraling Deflation?

[tbthailand]

After reading this thread it seems clear that most TV members approved of the students actions and disapprove of the police actions. So I have a question to you all. Were you there to see what actually happened? Did you see if the students resisted when the police tried to arrest them? Or are you just taking a statement made from a student made to the NATION (Thailand's most reliable source of news) and believing it all?

These kids knew what they were doing. They were testing to see what would happen. They knew about the ban and went anyway. They knew the police would come and arrest them. So maybe? Just maybe they resisted and the police used force.

The simple fact is that these students are not in another country where public gatherings and freedom of speech is allowed currently. These boys were not heroes as one TV member claims. They violated a law to make a show that this country is currently under a non democratic system with laws that prevent some basic freedoms. They did it deliberately as a child would do when sticking his hand in the cookie jar. I don't know what exactly what happened there. Buy those kids went there knowing the police would be there to stop them. It seems more logical that they resisted to make a point.

Either way both parties were wrong. The students were wrong for trying to defy an order given by the leader of Thailand and the police for losing their cool and using excessive force. End of story.

Why should they not protest? It is inconceivable that a Government can ban protests and free speech, whilst rewriting the law of the land, probably in such a way that it would not be beneficial to those whose opinion differs from the powers that be. Why should they not protest it? They should just sit there and wait for everything to be enacted? then protest?

If people are not allowed to express their opinions now, then they sure as hell will do when a new law is rammed down their throats....

Why should they not protest

we all know exactly were protests end up in Thailand - people being murdered on the streets and that is a fact not an opinion

the level of protester casualties has always been proportional to the level of violence used by authorities to "control" the situation, hasn't it...

[lostoday]

After reading this thread it seems clear that most TV members approved of the students actions and disapprove of the police actions. So I have a question to you all. Were you there to see what actually happened? Did you see if the students resisted when the police tried to arrest them? Or are you just taking a statement made from a student made to the NATION (Thailand's most reliable source of news) and believing it all?

These kids knew what they were doing. They were testing to see what would happen. They knew about the ban and went anyway. They knew the police would come and arrest them. So maybe? Just maybe they resisted and the police used force.

The simple fact is that these students are not in another country where public gatherings and freedom of speech is allowed currently. These boys were not heroes as one TV member claims. They violated a law to make a show that this country is currently under a non democratic system with laws that prevent some basic freedoms. They did it deliberately as a child would do when sticking his hand in the cookie jar. I don't know what exactly what happened there. Buy those kids went there knowing the police would be there to stop them. It seems more logical that they resisted to make a point.

Either way both parties were wrong. The students were wrong for trying to defy an order given by the leader of Thailand and the police for losing their cool and using excessive force. End of story.

Why should they not protest? It is inconceivable that a Government can ban protests and free speech, whilst rewriting the law of the land, probably in such a way that it would not be beneficial to those whose opinion differs from the powers that be. Why should they not protest it? They should just sit there and wait for everything to be enacted? then protest?

If people are not allowed to express their opinions now, then they sure as hell will do when a new law is rammed down their throats....

Why should they not protest

we all know exactly were protests end up in Thailand - people being murdered on the streets and that is a fact not an opinion

the level of protester casualties has always been proportional to the level of violence used by authorities to "control" the situation, hasn't it...

Kent State, Tiananmen square.

[Godders]

Welcome to the real world, children.

[NovaBlue05]

The level of anti-Thaksin venom mustered by some farangs here seem to have shut their brain down to the larger picture.

[tbthailand]

The interesting irony of some posters on this thread is the fact that while voicing your support for freedom of expression and speech you are routinely insulting posters that have a different opinion to your own, if we were all face to face in a room it would easily develop into a violent brawl but you hide behind your keyboard pumping out your insults and personal attacks, might be time to take a long look at yourselves and how hypocritical your behaviour is on this forum.

come on Smedly, you're not really that thin-skinned, are you?

and your indignation at hypocrisy and your sense of irony are - after all - completely misplaced, aren't they?

See, free speech, discussion and debate are not always about avoiding conflict but they are tools for resolving conflict... and while it is nice to keep the discussion civil, that isn't a requirement, is it....

so if someone like you makes a statement others find "stupid", then others have the right to say so, .... there is neither irony nor hypocrisy in that.

[tbthailand]

Why should they not protest? It is inconceivable that a Government can ban protests and free speech, whilst rewriting the law of the land, probably in such a way that it would not be beneficial to those whose opinion differs from the powers that be. Why should they not protest it? They should just sit there and wait for everything to be enacted? then protest?

If people are not allowed to express their opinions now, then they sure as hell will do when a new law is rammed down their throats....

Why should they not protest

we all know exactly were protests end up in Thailand - people being murdered on the streets and that is a fact not an opinion

the level of protester casualties has always been proportional to the level of violence used by authorities to "control" the situation, hasn't it...

Kent State, Tiananmen square.

even non-lethal examples can still be "over the top"...

https://youtu.be/rIccco4PRRk

[phoenixdoglover]

After reading this thread it seems clear that most TV members approved of the students actions and disapprove of the police actions. So I have a question to you all. Were you there to see what actually happened? Did you see if the students resisted when the police tried to arrest them? Or are you just taking a statement made from a student made to the NATION (Thailand's most reliable source of news) and believing it all?

These kids knew what they were doing. They were testing to see what would happen. They knew about the ban and went anyway. They knew the police would come and arrest them. So maybe? Just maybe they resisted and the police used force.

The simple fact is that these students are not in another country where public gatherings and freedom of speech is allowed currently. These boys were not heroes as one TV member claims. They violated a law to make a show that this country is currently under a non democratic system with laws that prevent some basic freedoms. They did it deliberately as a child would do when sticking his hand in the cookie jar. I don't know what exactly what happened there. Buy those kids went there knowing the police would be there to stop them. It seems more logical that they resisted to make a point.

Either way both parties were wrong. The students were wrong for trying to defy an order given by the leader of Thailand and the police for losing their cool and using excessive force. End of story.

To me, your conclusion is horrifying.

Free speech, association, and assembly are considered universal human rights, and Thailand has officially in the past pledged (to the UN) to respect these rights for all their citizens. The Thai constitution reinforces these universal human rights.

The current Junta has abrogated that agreement and is now violating the rights of its citizens each and every day. The Junta has no recognized justification for this suppression of rights at this time, nor do I believe they have ever had that justification.

The students were not wrong, and would not be wrong in the future if each day they asserted their universal right to free speech, conducted in a non-violent way, and in a way that does not infringe the rights of others.

[onelasttime]

I can remember back in 2010 walking amongst the Red Shirts at Ratchaprasong on my way home from work and the big thing that struck me was that they were all mostly old people, farmers and the like. I also remember waaaay back in Australia demonstrating against the Vietnam war (or the American War as the Vietnamese call it) and the vast majority of us were young people, uni students and the like. I thought it sad that there were no students (that I could see) protesting in Bangkok not so much because I supported Thaksin but more because it looked as though the student voice had been muted. I suspected that they remembered the Thamasat massacre of October 1976. The idealism of youth serves to reminds us of a pathway to a world of justice, equality and rights which is the cornerstone of a functioning democracy.

It is up to the Thais to work out their own destiny but all I can see at the moment is a government fiddling around the edges, fixing up the lottery sales etc. whilst at the same time redirecting the country back to a mythical past where the peons know there place in the world.

These students were brave and possibly foolhardy; but in a country where the heir to a fortune can run over a policeman whilst high and drunk and has yet to even turn up at the local station, surely their being charged illustrates the fear this government has of an idea and of a public voice.

just my 2 cents worth

[greenchair]

These brave students are heroes, standing up, peacefully, for democratic free speech. Not content with physically abusing them, the police thugs are now charging them. In itself, not surprising for such a heinous offence, I.e. challenging the government, however, they were told shortly after they were released that they would not be charged with an offence, so the matter was closed and put to bed. Now, the police, for whatever reason, have shown that they, and by inference the government, cannot be trusted and promises are hollow. Now, these student heroes are to be tried in Court with all the publicity that this entails. Do the government not realise that it is their actions and not the actions of peaceful protesters which is stirring up those people of principle within this nation! I hope that all us "old farts" on this forum who come from free speaking democratic countries will support these heroic future leaders. "Power to the people" I say.

Whether you support the current regime or a different government.

We all have a duty to support these brave young people.

Never put a young person down for fighting for what they believe in.

Heroes, and outstanding representitives of Thailand.