Junta Weighs Charges Against Coup Anniversary Marchers
By Khaosod English


Demonstrators rallied at Bangkok's Democracy Monument on Saturday, the ninth anniversary of the 2006 coup which removed former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra from power.

BANGKOK — Thailand’s ruling military junta may retroactively charge activists who defied the regime’s ban on protests to stage a demonstration Saturday in Bangkok.

Junta deputy chairman Pravit Wongsuwan said yesterday that security officers collected photographs and videos of the march at Democracy Monument and will file charges as soon as they deem any actions at the march to be illegal.

“We can’t just let anyone come out to protest. Whatever is wrong is wrong. We have to stick with the laws,” said Gen. Pravit, who also serves as minister of defense and deputy prime minister.

The march was organized by anti-junta group New Democracy Movement to mark the ninth anniversary of the coup that removed a previous elected government in 2006. The military would go on to stage another coup in May 2014, bringing the current junta to power.

The New Democracy Movement last night claimed to have received from a source a list of those under scrutiny for the demonstration.

Full story: http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.php?newsid=1442903643


-- Khaosod English 2015-09-22

Just how small minded can they get - sorry that was a rhetorical question ...

Weighing them is probably slightly better than mulling them.

"We have to stick with the laws"

Funny, they didn't stick with the laws when they staged an illegal coup. In fact, they changed the law, granting themselves immunity for past, present and future actions. But I guess that was okay, huh?

It is all about timing

A mass arrest of peaceful protesters after the fact will help to show the internationals and U.N. that the junta is serious about returning democracy and human rights.

We have to stick with the laws,” said Gen. Pravi

There are now no laws, only dictats. They really should learn the difference.

At the end of the article the PM claims “We are bringing order to this society, why are they opposing me? What were they doing before 22 May?” Gen. Prayuth quipped. “I’m worried for the future of these children. Some of them haven’t even finished classes. Their parents must be in pain.”

Um, over half the people in the photo are over 40.

In another development....

"http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/857582-thai-dpm-prawit-no-action-has-been-taken-against-rallying-students/#entry9881989

At the end of the article the PM claims “We are bringing order to this society, why are they opposing me? What were they doing before 22 May?” Gen. Prayuth quipped. “I’m worried for the future of these children. Some of them haven’t even finished classes. Their parents must be in pain.”

Um, over half the people in the photo are over 40.

Just out of their teens then.

The junta really loves to whine. Never witnessed a more fragile, insecure group in my life.

It is all about timing

Right. Not during UN meeting....but after

This was peaceful and no action should be taken on a peaceful gathering

Isn't this what you want Peacefulness?

“We can’t just let anyone come out to protest. Whatever is wrong is wrong. We have to stick with the laws,”

Don't seem to have a problem with pro government demonstrations....

"We have to stick to laws" umm... try again. You are the ones who trashed last Constitution, you are the ones who made these "laws" you now seem to act like "we don't want to stop them, but dang it, the laws make us do this".

"Whatever is wrong is wrong". And the junta is wrong in so many ways.

The NCPO is seeming a bit shrill and red-faced these days.

It seems that some insignificant people don't know their place.

Did everybody hear about the tourist numbers? Q4 is going to be great!

Really, this Govt is so insecure .... I swear the Chinese Govt is more tolerant towards peaceful demonstrations in China than these Thai Generals.

“We can’t just let anyone come out to protest. Whatever is wrong is wrong."

But you did allow the protest to take place. You did not enforce the law by rounding everybody up and arresting them. This is a criminal violation, not some petty misdomeanor.

Through the junta's inaction, it made a tacit approval of the protest. To retroactively charge protesters is an abuse power.

The NCPO is seeming a bit shrill and red-faced these days.

It seems that some insignificant people don't know their place.

Did everybody hear about the tourist numbers? Q4 is going to be great!

Just imagine how good Q5 will be and no one will be able to query the results.

It just a new quarter introduced into the Thai education system to make up for the 4 underperforming ones. Just like adding tea money to the calander.

Thai numbers are different from the rest of the world, they have to be adapted to Thai conditions.

So it ended peacefully and without incident...

In the mean time Navy, Army and government officials police and a judge are being charged with various crimes such as human trafficking, corruption, dereliction of duty etc.

And they are going after these guy's, Priority's people...

Seems the junta are quite delicate in certain areas but just fine in others?

"We are bringing order to this society," "Why are they opposing me?" "Some of them are just children" "Their parents must be in such pain"

Ya think it might be for past transgressions by the military against the Thai people? Ya think if ya listened to them you wouldn't have to ask why?

And maybe because It seems the junta hasn't a problem with charging "just children" in a military court and with threats of seven and a half years in gaol?

BTW can I get a seat on the UN security council?

Freedom of Speech. Freedom of the Press. Freedom of Assembly. Topics that could be added to this person's speech at the upcoming UN General Assembly.