Chakthip to clarify ban order to House
National police chief Chakthip Chaijinda will be invited to testify in front of a House standing committee after activists behind an anti-government running event were allegedly barred from gathering at the Foreign Correspondents Club of Thailand to announce preparations for it.
The House committee on law, justice and human rights yesterday resolved to invite Pol Gen Chakthip, along with other senior police officers associated with the ban, after they received a complaint from one of the organisers, Tanawat Wongchai, said House committee spokesman Rangsiman Rome.
Mr Tanawat, former president of the Chulalongkorn University Student Council, was the only organiser who went to the House committee to speak about the ban.
“The committee had invited other people to speak — including representatives from the Foreign Correspondents Club of Thailand — to appear yesterday, but they were busy,” said Mr Rangsiman.
The run, dubbed Wing Lai Lung, or “Run to Oust the Uncle”, is being organised by the Student Union of Thailand, to drum up public support for the ouster of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha.
The event, which has also been referred to as “Run Against the Dictator”, will be held on Jan 12 in central Bangkok.
Mr Tanawat had previously criticised Thailand’s law on public gatherings, accusing it of being a tool to curb free speech and civil rights, before adding that such a law will be rendered useless if large numbers of people take to the streets.
Yesterday, the leader of the opposition Seri Ruam Thai Party and head of the House committee on corruption, Pol Gen Sereepisuth Temeeyaves, confirmed that he will not take part in the event, despite being invited.
The outspoken committee chief said that he did not think the run will trigger a mass street protest, before calling it “only a physical exercise”.