Student activist leader 'abducted' near Thammasat University

[kiwikeith]

Abducted or arrested? Isn't there an arrest warrant on his head?

Speaking out about gorky park and alleged coruption by those that are capable of conducting their own investigation is a dangerous thing to do.

Freedom of speech is becoming the right of only political / army / privately controlled media .

[JAG]

Snatching student activists of the streets! And so the next phase begins..

Will they admit to having him?

Will they make public where he is?

Will he be allowed a lawyer?

Is it snatching if he has been summoned by a court and refuses to turn himself in ?

(if they deny having him and not sending him to that court but keeping him locked up somewhere I will agree with you but so far that is not clear yet)

I think soldiers bundling him into a pick up truck at 11 pm on the street, and driving him away is snatching.

[LannaGuy]

I suppose the usual junta giks will defend this

Already have, see trogers post.

It is a question of language not support, it would appear that he was arrested not abducted, let us not get hysterical about this. I don't see trogers post as being in agreement with the present government he was just stating a fact. If he was being secretly abducted they certainly wouldn't be wearing uniforms and they could surely find a less public place to do it.

arrested or abducted by Military in the dead of night ... YOU call it what you want I, and any decent human being, will know what it is

[cumgranosalum]

Abductions - the hallmark of a benign government? I think not!

As said before the military have a tradition of fearing students. How can you respect a government that fears its own children? I guess they are concerned as the students have one thing they will never have - intelligence.

I think it is clear the direction that this government is headed and it seems it should be a matter of concern for any right-minded democratic people.

Edited January 21, 2016 by cumgranosalum

[NextStationBangkok]

He will disappear if world does not respond to political crisis in Thailand.

[webfact]

Ja New arrested



BANGKOK: -- One of the six student activists of the so-called New Democracy Group, Ja New or Siravich Serithiwat, was apprehended by soldiers after they challenged the Bangkok Military Court's power by rejecting its legitimacy, and violating the military junta's ban on political gathering.

Ja New was captured by six security personnel as he was walking with friends in front of Thammasat Rangsit University at 10.30 pm last night.

He was immediately taken to Nimitmai police station in Bangkok for questioning.

The police will escort him to the Thonburi railway station to face charge of violation of the political gathering ban this morning.

The court issued warrants for the arrest of Ja New and five other student activists yesterday after they challenged the court’s summon to report to the police to face charge of violating the Military junta’s political gathering

Earlier Ja New, leader of the group, said they would not turn in to the police after the Bangkok Military Court issued summon ordering them to report to Thonburi railway police for attempt to gather at Thonburi railway station to board a train to Hua Hin in what they said to probe alleged corruption by the top military personnel involving the construction of the Rajabhakti park.

They did arrive at the station but refused to report the railway police to acknowledge the charge.

Instead Ja New and other activists read a statement rejecting the legitimacy of the Military Court, at the Thonburi railway station.

Earlier Ja New and four activists said they did not understand the reason of the Military Court to issue arrest warrant for them as they did nothing wrong.

Besides they have not had any movement to run away, the activists earlier said.

The arrest warrants stemmed from a request of the Thonburi railway police to arrest the activists for illegal political gathering on December 7 last year to demand an investigation into suspected corruption in the park construction.

Facing police arrests are Siravich Serithiwat, alias Ja New, Ms Chonthicha Chaengraew, Ms Chanoknan Ruamsap, Mr Korakot Saengyenphan, Mr Abhisit Sapnapaphan and Mr Thanet Anantawong.

But activist Thanet had fled the country and is in the process to seek political asylum in a country.

He was believed to flee to Laos.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/content/147494


-- Thai PBS 2016-01-21

[In Town]

He will disappear if world does not respond to political crisis in Thailand.

Yes, I think it very likely he would have "disappeared" if the snatch had not been witnesses and videoed.

[Eric Loh]

Abducted or arrested? Isn't there an arrest warrant on his head?

Arrested by police, ok. Abducted by military, not ok. See the difference. Maybe not.

[captspectre]

Snatching student activists of the streets! And so the next phase begins..

Will they admit to having him?

Will they make public where he is?

Will he be allowed a lawyer?

the lad will probably be sent to the "attitude" adjustment camp! could say a lot more things but don't want to end up in the slammer! but going back to the FREE world in a few months and than will have a lot to say!

[MaxLee]

What's next. Abducting pregnant women for bearing possible revolutionary future bad children????

[Confuscious]

Snatching student activists of the streets! And so the next phase begins..

Will they admit to having him?

Will they make public where he is?

Will he be allowed a lawyer?

The answer is YES on all counts.

That is after they find him "dead" in custody.

[waldroj]

If true, it's a new low for Thailand. Let's hope foreign media run with this story (so it doesn't drop off the radar like so many other disgusting failures of the junta and the RTP)!

[sandgroper2]

Not sure if this place is better under military rule or not.

Consider becoming part of the solution instead of part of the problem.

Pray tell, how on this earth does one do that? Get your head out of the sand. Also, a dangerous comment.

[Confuscious]

What have these names in common?
1. General Pinochet.

2. Cinco de Mayo.

3. Thailand.

[MorristheRunt]

hope the reaction of the Thai public is the same as on here, because this is a freighting, dangerous and evil act.

Thailand future is on the brink.

[DrTuner]

History repeating itself. There needs to be a sudden, completely disruptive event if Thais are ever going to break the cycle.

[ggt]

These kind of abductions do not usually end without some form of harm coming to the abducted person...this kind of activity is not unique to Thailand...it might surprise you to learn how many so called civilized governments...touting human rights...engage in clandestine activity...at home and abroad...that seems to be what the world has come to...

[MrJohnson]

Am I mistaken, but are we not still living under martial law? It is a slippery slope. For all those out there that think this is some form of benign intervention on the part of the army to restore law and order, think again. This is part of something much bigger. The 'Iceberg Principle'. There is so much going on that is not being reported. Arrests, coercion, intimidation. A very slippery slope indeed.

[strawpanda]

To me it looks like a show of strength and a warning.

[seajae]

I suppose the usual junta giks will defend this

Already have, see trogers post.

hahahahaha, desperation from the shin/red supporters, how dare anyone state the facts, this has nothing to do with defending it is purely telling the truth if the matter. This student had an arrest warrant issued against him, if he was in fact arrested then there was nothing untoward done, if he was "kidnapped" it would be a different matter but if you care to read the rest of the articles it states he was arrested. Of course stating it was a kidnapping by his fellow activists sounds a lot better for them than admitting he was simply arrested, sometimes it pays to look at all the information before putting your feet in your mouth, if the junta does the wrong thing anyone with any sense will jump on them.

[scorecard]

Snatching student activists of the streets! And so the next phase begins..

Will they admit to having him?

Will they make public where he is?

Will he be allowed a lawyer?

The answer is YES on all counts.

That is after they find him "dead" in custody.

And/or maybe it's a planned opportunistic beat up and nothing more. More details needed.

[LannaGuy]

I suppose the usual junta giks will defend this

Already have, see trogers post.

hahahahaha, desperation from the shin/red supporters, how dare anyone state the facts, this has nothing to do with defending it is purely telling the truth if the matter. This student had an arrest warrant issued against him, if he was in fact arrested then there was nothing untoward done, if he was "kidnapped" it would be a different matter but if you care to read the rest of the articles it states he was arrested. Of course stating it was a kidnapping by his fellow activists sounds a lot better for them than admitting he was simply arrested, sometimes it pays to look at all the information before putting your feet in your mouth, if the junta does the wrong thing anyone with any sense will jump on them.

there you go... anyone who is against Military Junta rule is a 'shin/red supporter' what pure and utter ignorance

[tuanku]

First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Socialist.

Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Trade Unionist.

Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Jew.

Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.

[robblok]

Snatching student activists of the streets! And so the next phase begins..

Will they admit to having him?

Will they make public where he is?

Will he be allowed a lawyer?

Is it snatching if he has been summoned by a court and refuses to turn himself in ?

(if they deny having him and not sending him to that court but keeping him locked up somewhere I will agree with you but so far that is not clear yet)

I think soldiers bundling him into a pick up truck at 11 pm on the street, and driving him away is snatching.

As opposed to causing a riot if they got him in his classes ? How do you think the police in civilized countries arrest people when they don't want a disturbance.. in a public setting with loads of people who will resist or get him at a quiet place ?

But as I said if he does get his day in court and gets held somewhere without that I will agree with you.

[wabothai]

Now although I am very much not a junta supporter I would not take the word of this movement that he was abducted. Difference between abduction and apprehended. He was after all wanted by the military court on a BS charge.

This did not look like an arrest, but more like a kidnapping.

Keep digging boys.

[LannaGuy]

Snatching student activists of the streets! And so the next phase begins..

Will they admit to having him?

Will they make public where he is?

Will he be allowed a lawyer?

Is it snatching if he has been summoned by a court and refuses to turn himself in ?

(if they deny having him and not sending him to that court but keeping him locked up somewhere I will agree with you but so far that is not clear yet)

I think soldiers bundling him into a pick up truck at 11 pm on the street, and driving him away is snatching.

As opposed to causing a riot if they got him in his classes ? How do you think the police in civilized countries arrest people when they don't want a disturbance.. in a public setting with loads of people who will resist or get him at a quiet place ?

But as I said if he does get his day in court and gets held somewhere without that I will agree with you.

for riding a train to a PARK??? have you lost your mind?

[Traveling Sailor]

Snatching student activists of the streets! And so the next phase begins..

Will they admit to having him?

Will they make public where he is?

Will he be allowed a lawyer?

the lad will probably be sent to the "attitude" adjustment camp! could say a lot more things but don't want to end up in the slammer! but going back to the FREE world in a few months and than will have a lot to say!

Ditto on the FREE world part!

[scorecard]

Now although I am very much not a junta supporter I would not take the word of this movement that he was abducted. Difference between abduction and apprehended. He was after all wanted by the military court on a BS charge.

This did not look like an arrest, but more like a kidnapping.

Keep digging boys.

Does anybody have a link to the video, please?

[2fishin2]

Abducted or arrested? Isn't there an arrest warrant on his head?

Police arrest people. Military abducts people....

[MrJohnson]

I suppose the usual junta giks will defend this

Already have, see trogers post.

hahahahaha, desperation from the shin/red supporters, how dare anyone state the facts, this has nothing to do with defending it is purely telling the truth if the matter. This student had an arrest warrant issued against him, if he was in fact arrested then there was nothing untoward done, if he was "kidnapped" it would be a different matter but if you care to read the rest of the articles it states he was arrested. Of course stating it was a kidnapping by his fellow activists sounds a lot better for them than admitting he was simply arrested, sometimes it pays to look at all the information before putting your feet in your mouth, if the junta does the wrong thing anyone with any sense will jump on them.

And who exactly 'will jump on them'? The media? I doubt it. The opposition? There aren't any. The current government/army are completely un-accountable.

(BTW - I am not a red shirt)