Police Block Anti-Coup Activists from Filing Charges Against Them

[Lite Beer]

Police Block Anti-Coup Activists from Filing Charges Against Them

By Khaosod Eng.

BANGKOK — Nearly one hundred police officers barricaded a police station today to prevent pro-democracy activists from filing a legal complaint against officers who they say abused them during a crackdown on their rally last month.

The seven activists had been ordered to surrender at Pathumwan Police Station for charges of violating the junta's ban on protests for leading the anti-coup rally in Bangkok on 22 May - the first anniversary of the 2014 coup d'etat. Police forcefully broke up the peaceful demonstration and arrested more than 30 people that night.

Last night, the activists announced that they would visit Pathumwan Police Station at 1 pm today, not to surrender, but to file charges against two police officers and one army officer who reportedly used excessive violence when they broke up the rally.

Police responded to the announcement by blocking the roads to the station with nearly 100 officers, preventing the seven activists and their supporters from reaching the station and filing the charges. A standoff between police and dozens of anti-coup protesters ensued for at least several hours, with the activists taking turns giving speeches through a loudspeaker.

The group was joined by pro-democracy activists from Khon Kaen province who have also refused to surrender to authorities after being charged with violating the junta’s protest ban. The Khon Kaen activists, who are leading members of a social justice group called Dao Din, said they arrived in the capital city today to show their moral support.

Read More: http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.php?newsid=1435152428

-- Khaosod English 2015-06-24

[Bluespunk]

"Police responded to the announcement by blocking the roads to the station with nearly 100 officers, preventing the seven activists and their supporters from reaching the station and filing the charges."

Some days the levels of ineptitude, incompetence and crass behavior by members of the BIB astounds me.

However even by their spectacular standards of stupidity and blatant disregard for the law, this is special.

Edited June 24, 2015 by Bluespunk

[borisloosebrain]

Puerile behaviour by the police, serving and protecting themselves .

[mark131v]

Where are all the apologists I need to get this explained so that I can understand that it is actually a good thing rather than the dim and petty actions of an organization that is losing the plot...

[tbthailand]

Police Block Anti-Coup Activists from Filing Charges Against Them

whoda thought?

[tbthailand]

students and activists who refuse to acknowledge the "legitimacy" of the junta expose the fact that the PM / junta have no clothes.

the more often this happens, and the more aggressive the response from the junta, the more people will see the junta for what it is...

[Anthony5]

So they are ordered to surrender but are not allowed anywhere near the police station.

[lildragon]

You can't complain against us, we won't let you in!

Just...amazing

[Lukecan]

Lol is this for real

[oldsailor35]

Just the first feeble beginnings of something that will one day become massive.

Edited June 24, 2015 by oldsailor35

[Manbing]

So once again, the laws don't apply to police. They can abuse and obstruct citizens.

Sure charge the demonstrators, after all they broke the law. But charge the police too. In trying to avoid the charges their crimes are growing. 3 protestors facing charges versus 100+ police facing charges.

[Somtamnication]

An amazing response by the police. Really, this place is a circus!

[ksamuiguy]

Knee jerk reaction,by people that don't have a clue.

Something also needs to be done about the "fox news" type of reporting.

As usual only bit of information about what is happening or what was said.

So no one knows the whole story at one time.

This type of story perpetuates rumors, speculation, miss-information.

The Press has a Responsibility, Not A Right!

Does no one check the facts before "things" are allowed to be publicized?

Responsible Professional Journalism is sorely lacking.

[ChrisY1]

An amazing response by the police. Really, this place is a circus!

All they need is big red noses and stupid red shoes.......

[NongKhaiKid]

I'd like to think the PM will do something about this because otherwise he's countenancing alleged thuggery by the national police and their denial of people's rights to complain and these complaints, as with any other, need to be investigated.

The BIB have no authority to decide who can and cannot make a formal complaint and things like this will just reinforce their belief they can do as they like.

I'd like to think ... but !

[arrowsdawdle]

So they are ordered to surrender but are not allowed anywhere near the police station.

"Thainess"

[bamnutsak]

A recent poll has found that everyone is happy as no complaints have been filed with the police.

[Always18]

Another display by the RTP of the contempt which they have for the law and due process.

Thai laws, as we all know, do not apply to the police, military, wealthy, well connected, etc., etc. ad nauseam...........

[Jai Dee]

A post containing defamation has been removed from this thread.

From the Forum Rules:

6) You will not post comments that could be reasonably construed as defamation or libel.

Defamation is the issuance of a statement about another person or business which causes that person to suffer harm. It does not have to be false to be defamatory. Libel is when the defamatory statement is published either in a drawing, painting, cinematography, film, picture or letters made visible by any means, or any other recording instruments, recording picture or letters, or by broadcasting or spreading picture, or by propagation by any other means. Defamation is both a civil and criminal charge in Thailand.

[Oziex1]

Have the Thais en masse got what it takes to truly stand up to this and make the sacrifices that change things.

I would like to say more but would be too subversive and not for outsiders to make suggestions on civil disobedience.

Edited June 25, 2015 by Oziex1

[Eric Loh]

Just the first feeble beginnings of something that will one day become massive.

Probably joined by those who have reached the poverty pain threshold like the farmers and workers who are struggling to make ends meet with current wages.

[EnglishJohn]

I can't help but laugh at this ridiculous farce.

Red-shirts wanted these pawns to be arrested immediately by the Junta and we had all those claims on here about how nobody dare oppose them because they would disappear.

But they didn't. They got taken in, cautioned and released. So those people looked a bit stupid and shut up about that.

Then these people are trying their hardest to get arrested again - simply for propaganda purposes.

But they haven't yet - so now they want to make a complaint against the police. And those same people who said they would disappear are now crying like this is the worst abuse of human rights possible.

Absolutely pathetic.

Maybe someone should be filing complaints about the behaviour of the police during the protests. Like guarding ends of bridges while snipers shot protestors or letting red-shirts through road blocks with weapons, but making sure they disarmed protestors. Or taking pot-shots from the roof of the Department of Employment. Or for failing to arrest a single terrorist despite many murders taking place in full daylight or when the suspect was seen clearly on CCTV.

[tbthailand]

I can't help but laugh at this ridiculous farce.

Red-shirts wanted these pawns to be arrested immediately by the Junta and we had all those claims on here about how nobody dare oppose them because they would disappear.

But they didn't. They got taken in, cautioned and released. So those people looked a bit stupid and shut up about that.

Then these people are trying their hardest to get arrested again - simply for propaganda purposes.

But they haven't yet - so now they want to make a complaint against the police. And those same people who said they would disappear are now crying like this is the worst abuse of human rights possible.

Absolutely pathetic.

Maybe someone should be filing complaints about the behaviour of the police during the protests. Like guarding ends of bridges while snipers shot protestors or letting red-shirts through road blocks with weapons, but making sure they disarmed protestors. Or taking pot-shots from the roof of the Department of Employment. Or for failing to arrest a single terrorist despite many murders taking place in full daylight or when the suspect was seen clearly on CCTV.

you really are on a different planet aren't you.

the students have been around and aren't "red shirt pawns"

the students are trying hard to get arrested, they are trying to speak out.

the complaint they want to file is about police abuse, not "propaganda"

but there is one side that is working hard on it's propaganda.... and you seem to be supporting them... just a guess.

[CantSpell]

At least now they have a good excuse...

"We couldn't surrender, you didn't let us in!!"

[Srikcir]

I'd like to think the PM will do something about this because otherwise he's countenancing alleged thuggery by the national police and their denial of people's rights to complain and these complaints, as with any other, need to be investigated.

The BIB have no authority to decide who can and cannot make a formal complaint and things like this will just reinforce their belief they can do as they like.

I'd like to think ... but !

Likely the PM has done something about this which is to direct the police to enforce Article 44 and block the peoples protests. Denial of such rights is PERFECTLY justified under Junta leadership. With the Junta in control of the government including the RTP it would be reasonable to expect that the RTP is not acting on its own initiative and knows its actions are accountable to the Junta's rule.

[casualbiker]

At least now they have a good excuse...

"We couldn't surrender, you didn't let us in!!"

Which was the point!

They had a 50/50 chance that the RTP would respond like this OR in a worst case scenario they would have to meet the charges BUT with massive media presence.

Win, win!