Bangkok Post

Arrests made as anti-government protests resume amid tight police security

- WASSAYOS NGAMKHAM

>>Anti-government protests resumed amid extra-tight security yesterday at four locations in Bangkok and Nonthaburi, following last Sunday’s clash between protesters led by Redem (Restart Democracy) and crowd-control police.

Some 20 to 40 protesters including Piyarat “Toto” Chongthep, leader of the pro-government group We Volunteer (WeVo), were arrested yesterday. Three police were injured, according to a police source.

Groups of demonstrat­ors from Redem, the People Go Network, Archeewa Mai Ao Phadet Kan (Vocational Students Against Dictatorsh­ip) and Naew Ruam Daeng Kao Na (United Front of Progressiv­e Red) turned out in the afternoon at their rendevous points for a march to their destinatio­ns.

Of the four groups, the Redemled activity was closely monitored by police.

The Redem group had clashed with riot police and anti-government protesters in front of the 1st Infantry Regiment barracks, King’s Guard and outside Din Daeng and Suthisarn police stations last Sunday.

Police had used rubber bullets for the first time as well as tear gas and a water cannon with dozens of police and protesters injured following the clash.

Redem protesters converged yesterday at Lat Phrao intersecti­on and marched to the Criminal Court on Ratchadaph­isek Road where they planned to dump garbage.

Razor wire was erected at the court compound and large nets were installed to block any objects which they threw into the compound.

Gathering about 5pm and marching since 6pm, the group arrived outside the court shortly before 7pm.

They later set fire to the rubbish they dumped under the picture of His Majesty the King, before a group of the protesters extinguish­ed the fire.

Some climbed up the base of the picture to attach a mock-up court warrant which says they had the rights to assembly.

They say they rallied peacefully but were faced with rubber bullets, tear gas and blasts from a water cannon. Plaincloth­es police took down the mock-up warrant.

On the other side of the road, protesters broke open two police trucks releasing protesters detained inside.

Fourteen of those protesters walked with their lawyer to turn themselves in at Phahon Yothin police station. It is unclear what charges they face.

Three police were injured, according to another source.

Naew Ruam Daeng Kao Na gathered at the Tesco Lotus Rangsit branch with a plan to march to the 11th Infantry Regiment headquarte­rs in Bang Khen district.

Razor wire barriers were erected as reinforcem­ent and water cannons put on stand by at the 11th Infantry Regiment. Stacks of shipping containers were also set up as barriers.

However, the group changed the destinatio­n, saying they would head toward an office and home of Palang Pracharath Party MP Sira Jenjaka on Chaeng Watthana Road instead.

They gathered outside Government Complex on Cheang Watthana Road and their leaders delivered speeches criticisin­g the government before dispersing around 9pm.

The People Go Network, led by activist Jatupat “Pai Dao Din” Boonpattar­araksa, began the march from Pathum Thani at 9am.

 ??  ?? LOOKING FOR CHANGE: Anti-government protesters occupy a section of Ratchadaph­isek Road during a rally led by Redem outside of the Criminal Court. Some of them hold placards calling for the abolition of Section 112, also known as the lese majeste law, while others demand the release of protest leaders.
LOOKING FOR CHANGE: Anti-government protesters occupy a section of Ratchadaph­isek Road during a rally led by Redem outside of the Criminal Court. Some of them hold placards calling for the abolition of Section 112, also known as the lese majeste law, while others demand the release of protest leaders.
 ??  ?? INCENDIARY SENTIMENT: Anti-government protesters set a fire outside the Criminal Court on Ratchadaph­isek Road despite police warnings that their activities were breaking the law.
INCENDIARY SENTIMENT: Anti-government protesters set a fire outside the Criminal Court on Ratchadaph­isek Road despite police warnings that their activities were breaking the law.

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