Police set to keep close watch on June 24 activities

snoop1130 · June 21, 2017

Police set to keep close watch on June 24 activities

By The Nation

The Metropolitan Police on Wednesday will keep a close watch on potential activities planned for June 24, which marks the 85th anniversary of the 1932 Siamese revolution that transformed Thailand’s monarchy.

Pol Maj-General Panurat Lakboon, the deputy Metropolitan police commissioner, said that five activities were expected to take place in Bangkok on the day, besides academic seminars by experts and students.

Those who had got permission last year would have no trouble this year, Panurat said.

However, no political activities would be allowed at the Royal Plaza where the 1932 revolution plaque has gone missing since April and since been replaced by a “Na Sai” plaque, inscribed with ultra-royalist messages.

While authorities have maintained a close watch on this annual commemoration ritual since the junta came to power in 2014, this would be the first time that there would be a complete ban on any gatherings.

“On the day, there would be cleaning and live music at the Plaza,” Panurat said, referring to a weekly musical show, with military bands performing royally composed songs.

“People can pay tribute to the [to the Equestrian Statue of King Rama V] and ride bicycles in that area,” he said. “But if any political activity occurs, we may have to strictly enforce the junta’s order [on security control].”

Panurat had already issued a warning last Friday that any activists who tried to commemorate the revolution which turned Thailand from an absolute monarchy to a constitutional monarchy, at the Royal Plaza would be arrested.

He added, however, that security force deployment around the Plaza compound on the day would be as normal with no heightened measures.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/news/national/30318720