Police mull charges over protest
Anti-govt rally held ‘without permission’
Police are considering pressing charges against anti-government protest leaders over the weekend rally at the Democracy Monument, while denying claims there were “men in black” who threatened demonstrators at the protest site.
Samranrat station superintendent, Pol Col Itthipol Pongthorn, yesterday confirmed the protesters did not have permission to hold a gathering at the site.
“Three police stations will meet to discuss whether to press charges against the [protest leaders] for demonstrating in public places without a permit and/or violating the emergency decree,” he said, referring to Samranrat, Nang Loeng and Chana Songkhram stations, which have jurisdiction over the site.
Pol Col Itthipol also dismissed protest leaders’ claims that protesters were intimidated by suspicious men dressed in black outfits — saying the only officers present at the site were told to provide security. Media images showed clashes between police and the protesters over barricades.
“No one was arrested and no one threatened the protesters,” he said.
The protest at the Democracy Monument went on until midnight on Saturday, when its leaders called it off.
Meanwhile, activists and students yesterday gathered for another rally in Chiang Mai, demanding the ouster of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and his government.
Protesters converged at Tha Phae Gate with placards demanding Gen Prayut and his government step down.
Others had their hands raised in a three-finger salute as a sign of protest. Police at the scene urged them to end the rally as it violated the emergency decree.
In Ubon Ratchathani, a group of protesters, including high school students, staged a smaller rally near the City Pillar Shrine calling for the government to resign. “We really want to see changes,” one student told the crowd.
It is known that the “Free Youth” group was involved in organising both rallies. The rally at Bangkok’s Democracy Monument was the first big political gathering since the coronavirus outbreak put a halt to most activities.
Jatuporn Prompan, chairman of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship, yesterday sent a message to the protesters, saying they should make their demands clearer, as their statement calls only for Gen Prayut to dissolve the House, end intimidation of the people and draft a new charter.
“If they underline only the three demands, the situation will go as normal,” he said on his Facebook page. He advised the protesters to leave the monarchy out of their agenda, and called on authorities to be patient and open-minded as the rally was held with good intentions.
Spokesman of the Move Forward Party, Nattacha Boonchaiinsawat, denied the party was involved in the protest in Bangkok. He admitted traveling to the protest site, but only to observe and give moral support to the protesters.