Activist groups warned of tough enforcement of law for illegal public gathering

[webfact]

Activist groups warned of tough enforcement of law for illegal public gathering



BANGKOK: -- The Royal Thai Police cautioned the New Democracy Movement activists to refrain from holding public gathering otherwise they could face tough enforcement of the public gathering law.

The police warning came as a certain group of student activists gathered and travelled to Hua Hin yesterday on what was described as a politically motivated trip to stage a symbolic protest against the military in the Rajabhakti construction scandal.

The movement of the group as well as its alleged exposure on Facebook enraged the prime minister who labeled its exposure “disgusting”.

Royal Thai Police deputy spokesman Pol Man Gen Piyaphan Pingmuang said the police would invoke power under the public gathering law to tackle defiant activists if the gathering comprises over five persons and with political motive.

But he said so far the police have not yet found any violation of the law by activist groups opposing the military junta.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/video-activist-groups-warned-of-tough-enforcement-of-law-for-illegal-public-gathering


-- Thai PBS 2015-12-08

[steven100]

lock them all up !! they are only out to make trouble same as red shirts.

[harada]

Mad monks excluded.

[Misterwhisper]

Wonderful! Now is the time to also sternly warn other "activist groups" to refrain from illegal gatherings - for example in front of the U.S. embassy. Or are there double standards deployed again?

[lovelomsak]

Wonderful! Now is the time to also sternly warn other "activist groups" to refrain from illegal gatherings - for example in front of the U.S. embassy. Or are there double standards deployed again?

Of course it is double standards Thais would not have it any other way.

[NCFC]

The group of Royalists waiting at the train station excluded, too, I suppose

[shirtless]

They are only exposing how corrupt the new government is , what happened to the war on corruption, only if it does not involve the army , mate you are a real joke.

[aussieinthailand]

lock them all up !! they are only out to make trouble same as red shirts.

So please tell us here, what's the difference between these people wanting to expose possible corruption, and calling for an independent and transparent investigation and when people wanting to expose possible corruption of any of the former governments???

wouldn't a non bias critical thinking person welcome an open transparent investigation to it's dealings so as to counter any such corruption claims???

But not these blokes and it seems not you nor a few others that simply say throw the trouble makers in gaol because they have different political views than you.

Edited December 8, 2015 by aussieinthailand

[ikke]

lock them all up !! they are only out to make trouble same as red shirts.

Yes, start with the mad monk .... or nobody !

[jcsmith]

lock them all up !! they are only out to make trouble same as red shirts.

Considering Prayuth got into power by yellow shirt rallies organized by Suthep, who has escaped any legal action, even after organizing public gatherings and setting up commitees, that's a pretty hypocritical statement to make.

[mrrizzla]

I would have a tiny bit more respect for the authorities if they at least came out and said they are biased.

200 marched on the US embassy in a political protest led by a 'monk' who has led several protests so far uninhabited. It just begs belief.

[EnglishJohn]

lock them all up !! they are only out to make trouble same as red shirts.

Considering Prayuth got into power by yellow shirt rallies organized by Suthep, who has escaped any legal action, even after organizing public gatherings and setting up commitees, that's a pretty hypocritical statement to make.

What a joke - even allowing for your semi-literate English.

You were obviously somewhere else during the protests and got your information from the village red-shirts. I watched it all unfold step by step.

No amnesty bill = no coup.

No murder of THIRTY protesters by Pheu-Thais UDD terrorists in over 90 grenade attacks and not a single arrest = no coup

And where were all these 'righteous protesters' when all this and the rampant corruption was going on under Pheu-Thai ?. Nowhere to be seen.

Hypocrite is a very good word. Now learn to use it correctly. I have grown to prefer it with the word 'massive' at the front these days.

Even the reason for their protest is based on a lie. They don't care one jot about the corruption. It's a political stunt which they have already admitted is organised by someone else they refuse to name.

Ethics = zero.

[inzman]

Apparently only some protests are illegal. Ones against the us embassy are ok, against the army, not ok.

[aussiesteve63]

The group of Royalists waiting at the train station excluded, too, I suppose

Double standards again,just makes them look like bigger fools to the eyes of the world

[LivinLOS]

Apparently only some protests are illegal. Ones against the us embassy are ok, against the army, not ok.

Unless as per the photo above its the army pretending not to be Army.. Protesting protesters against the army..

Such a good job the Junta have brought such happyness to the people huh !!

[Baerboxer]

Apparently only some protests are illegal. Ones against the us embassy are ok, against the army, not ok.

As with all things in Thailand, the law is flexibly and selectively enforced by those in power.

The police were just the same when supporting PTP, as were the various "offices" set up under Chalerm and Tharit - only interested in enforcing laws against those who PTP didn't like whilst protecting those PTP did like.

Now the military and government are one. Upset the government and the military will deal with you, or make sure the police do.

There is no chance of meaningful political reform, reconciliation and a fair just society until that changes. And the pay offs are too lucrative for either side to want to change.

[tribalfusion001]

That rent-a-mob will metamorphosed into a lynch mob and we will re-visit 1976 again.

Going to be hard with all these TV cameras, smartphones, internet connections, Wi-Fi in the modern era to control people like they used to be able to.

[oneday]

These gatherings are ONLY illegal because this illegal government says they are, because they are scared of the truth.

The type of gatherings they are aborting are not illegal in free countries or in the eyes of accepted international human right's laws.

Edited December 8, 2015 by oneday

[TKDfella]

It's difficult to write one's opinion when other posters have already made it clear. Double standards and all that and they, the Junta, don't even seemed bothered to cover it up. I think that shows just how bothered by anything when anyone says they are in the wrong. I have many Thai friends, educated (educated abroad that is) ones too, but this Junta seems to made of something that resembles the Martian plant life from War of the Worlds. Wonder if they'll meet the same fate?

[djjamie]

When certain groups have been known to use violence to express their opinion this sounds like a wise move to suppress any future incidents that involve blood spilling or will lead to it in the future. We do not want to see the devastation caused by these "certain groups" back in 2013/14 again in 2015.

Edited December 8, 2015 by djjamie

[tribalfusion001]

When certain groups have been known to use violence to express their opinion this sounds like a wise move to suppress any future incidents that involve blood spilling or will lead to it in the future. We do not want to see the devastation caused by these "certain groups" back in 2013/14 again in 2015.

After 18 months and no elections in sight, maybe people want an elected goverment back in power. If you were denied the chance to express your opinion in your home country you would probably be aggrieved too.

I was in Sakon Nakhon in 2011 on election day, the people seemed very happy with their choice of PM, things did go wrong, but military intervention is not the way forward!

[noosard]

Unfortunately military intervention is the way forward for those can't win an election

and a way to control the future

[Sunderland]

'Disgusting' ... ????

Hmmm ... a massacre without the guilty going on trial is disgusting.

A minivan full of mangled bodies is disgusting.

A young helmetless skull smashed on a road is disgusting.

A tourist shot in cold blood by an off duty policeman is disgusting.

Mass corruption robbing the country of real development to the benefit of a priveleged few is disgusting.

People demanding more transparency in alleged cases of corruption? Hardly disgusting by comparison.

[metisdead]

Off-topic, inflammatory posts and replies removed.

Please stay on the topic of the thread. That means addressing the issues presented in the post, not in making comments to or about other posters. Doing so is off-topic and your post will be removed and you could face a suspension.

You have every right to express your opinion about the topic. You may disagree, but it must be done in a civil manner.

Edit to add:

A post containing content that could be construed as defamation as there was no supporting link from a reputable source to substantiate the claim has been removed as well as the replies:

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.

Edited December 8, 2015 by metisdead

[Redline]

I guess that's why they are activists. All democracies started with them. Well, now they say terrorists, but we don't use that word here

[tuanku]

lock them all up !! they are only out to make trouble same as red shirts.

A well reasoned and convincing argument coupled with a practical solution...........brilliant!

[kaorop]

When certain groups have been known to use violence to express their opinion this sounds like a wise move to suppress any future incidents that involve blood spilling or will lead to it in the future. We do not want to see the devastation caused by these "certain groups" back in 2013/14 again in 2015.

After 18 months and no elections in sight, maybe people want an elected goverment back in power. If you were denied the chance to express your opinion in your home country you would probably be aggrieved too.

I was in Sakon Nakhon in 2011 on election day, the people seemed very happy with their choice of PM, things did go wrong, but military intervention is not the way forward!

Dont bother you wont get serious thoughtful replies, only the catch cry of "buttaky"

[tuanku]

lock them all up !! they are only out to make trouble same as red shirts.

Considering Prayuth got into power by yellow shirt rallies organized by Suthep, who has escaped any legal action, even after organizing public gatherings and setting up commitees, that's a pretty hypocritical statement to make.

What a joke - even allowing for your semi-literate English.

You were obviously somewhere else during the protests and got your information from the village red-shirts. I watched it all unfold step by step.

No amnesty bill = no coup.

No murder of THIRTY protesters by Pheu-Thais UDD terrorists in over 90 grenade attacks and not a single arrest = no coup

And where were all these 'righteous protesters' when all this and the rampant corruption was going on under Pheu-Thai ?. Nowhere to be seen.

Hypocrite is a very good word. Now learn to use it correctly. I have grown to prefer it with the word 'massive' at the front these days.

Even the reason for their protest is based on a lie. They don't care one jot about the corruption. It's a political stunt which they have already admitted is organised by someone else they refuse to name.

Ethics = zero.

You are wrong on so many levels. No potential succession crisis = no coup.

[metisdead]

A post containing comments in violation of the NOTICE TO MEMBERS POSTING IN THAILAND NEWS has been removed.

[Colabamumbai]

They are all welcome to protest at my place in Isaan. I'll see they have water to drink.