Marchers say barriers won’t stop them
2,000 activists to pile pressure on regime
Anti-regime activists have vowed not to let barriers erected by security forces prevent them marching on Government House today.
“We will start moving between 8.30 and 9am and will definitely reach Government House.
“I promise that we don’t aim to lay siege to the government compound, we just want to gather to demand the government holds an election this year,” said leader Rangsiman Rome, a co-leader of the Democracy Restoration Group (DRG).
The group informed Chana Songkhram police that about 2,000 activists will march from Thammasat University to Government House today.
The activists and supporters gathered at the university yesterday evening to prepare despite the fact that the university had sealed off its football field in what was seen as an attempt to block the group from using the campus as their base camp.
Today marks the fourth anniversary of the National Council for Peace and Order’s (NCPO) stint in power after staging the coup that toppled the Pheu Thai Party-led government in 2014.
The demonstrators, known as “People who want an election”, and led by the DRG, are trying to pressure the government into holding a general election by November this year as originally promised by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha despite his proposal of a new February 2019 date.
The activists are also demanding the NCPO step down before the poll and that the military should stop supporting the council.
A Facebook account named “Under Bed TU” posted a photo showing the football pitch cordoned off with a sign saying “This field is closed temporarily. Fertilisers and weed killers are being used on the pitch.”
Deputy national police chief Srivara Ransibrahmanakul said yesterday he had ordered the Chana Songkhram police station chief to revoke permission for the demonstrators to gather at Thammasat.
Pol Gen Srivara said that the gathering breached the NCPO ban on political gatherings of five or more people. If they defy the order, they will face legal action, he said, adding that up to 200 companies of crowd control officers will be deployed to beef up security.
Pol Gen Srivara said intelligence services had confirmed that hardcore elements of the red-shirt group intend to infiltrate the anti-regime activists’ ranks.
Pol Col Kampanat Na Wichai, commander of the police’s Special Branch Bureau’s Division 3, said that all buildings at Government House will be secured by police from 6am today onwards and barricades have now been set up.
Military intelligence personnel from the 11th Infantry Regiment, and the 21st Infantry Regiment, are on standby to support police security operations while City Hall will supply fire trucks and lighting equipment for security officers to deal with the protest.
Representatives of the tourism industry yesterday handed a letter to Tourism and Sports Minister Weerasak Kowsurat to relay their concerns about possible repercussions the anti-regime rally will have on the country’s image and travellers’ confidence in safety.
A Facebook account run by the DRG posted an interview with Mr Rangsiman who said that efforts would be made to ensure the march would not affect other peoples’ rights and pledged that it would be limited to only one traffic lane.
Responding to the university’s ban on the use of the football pitch, Mr Rangsiman said the group had switched to an area in front of Sri Burapha Auditorium at the university.
He allayed concerns about possible clashes between the demonstrators and security officials during today’s march, saying the demonstration would be well organised and the police had been consulted.
Mr Rangsiman also wrote on Facebook that he believed there would be a large turnout to support the march today, which means the number of people who fear the regime is declining.
Pro-election activist, Sirawith Seritiwat,
a key member of the demonstration, said on Facebook the protest will go ahead as planned despite the government exerting pressure to stop it.
The “People who want an election” group yesterday issued a statement denouncing state officials for violating human rights. The group accused security officials of intimidating people who plan to join the rally.
According to the statement, Uthai Thaewpho, who rented sound equipment to the group, and his wife, were escorted by soldiers from their home to a military camp on Sunday, which the group said was a violation of human rights.
Mr Sirawith, also known as “Ja New”, claimed the couple were later released after soldiers asked them to sign a document to confirm that they would not take part in the march.
Today is the fourth anniversary of the military coup d’etat by Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha. It is no cause for celebration. Indeed, protesters will be active today, demanding that Gen Prayut live up to his promise for a return to democratic principles, starting with a free and fair general election. Now the prime minister, Gen Prayut has promised elections every year since he seized control of government, yet he still refuses to set a date.
As the military regime enters its fifth year, it is sending its messengers out to claim a long list of supposed achievements. The chief spokesman and official controller of information, Lt Gen Sansern Kaewkamnerd, has spoken informally of a long list of economic and political successes, “so many it could fill 20 notebooks”. Almost all the supposed achievements are a matter of opinion, and Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva says the list is illusory.
The cold facts, short of opinion, show that the military regime has unquestionably ended the strife on the nation’s streets. Since May 22, 2014, there has not been a public clash between rival political groups. The competing political rallies — especially the Bangkok Shutdown group versus the red shirts — sapped economic resources and brought little or no political advantage. Whether the military has actually ended this divisive activity, however, or merely paused it at gunpoint, remains to be seen.
Just as clearly, all Thais for the past four years up until today have been forced to give up most of their basic rights guaranteed by the constitution. Today’s special orders from the regime and police specifically bar freedom of speech and freedom of movement, even more than the usual restrictions. International ratings of press freedom put Thailand at its lowest since the bad old days of blatant military dictators.
Arguably worse is that under the military regime, Thailand has become the worst performing economy in the region. While the regime cheerily assures the country that it is striving to reach GDP growth of 4% this year or next, every surrounding country is growing at rates of 6%, 7% or more. The achievements of the nation and successive governments of the past 30 years are being slowly eroded as neighbours catch up and credibly threaten to pass the once vibrant Thai economy.
The way out is clear enough. Prime Minister Prayut must set an election date, and revoke all orders that restrict political activity by parties and citizens. That will allow people to choose their government instead of having to accept one at gunpoint. There is much more to democracy than elections, but democracy is impossible without voting. Military rule, by whatever name, is unacceptable. The nation has rejected military dictatorship for the past 45 years, too often at the cost of martyrdom by true patriots.
Some timid people fear the power of the ballot box. They argue, including on this very page, that a popular government could be flawed. Indeed it could. But the current regime, while assuring public peace via the barrel of a gun, certainly has flaws. The difference is that elected governments are accountable. Accountability is the obvious antidote to government flaws. To democrats and those who truly love the country, a properly elected government is always superior to one established and maintained with military firepower.
The right to vote contains the responsibility to accept the outcome. Prime Minister Prayut appears to be angling to both hold an election and to try to remain as head of government. While he was wrong to seize power in 2014, he certainly has the right to compete at the polls and attempt to get support in parliament to become prime minister again. If he succeeds, everyone must respect this process.
Thais for the past four years up until today have been forced to give up most of their basic rights guaranteed by the constitution.