BANGKOK, KOMPAS.com – Authorities at Thailand has filed the heaviest charges against two pro-democracy demonstrators under the article of the law covering violence against the queen.
Launch Associated Press (AP) two demonstrators named Ekachai Hongkangwan and Paothong Bunkueanum were detained on Friday (16/10/2020) who could face life imprisonment.
Indictments were handed over to the 2 activists when they led ongoing protests demanding popular demands, including demanding the election of a new prime minister, changing the Constitution to be more democratic and reforming the monarchy.
Demonstrators demonstrated their strength on Thursday evening (15/10/2020) with 10,000 people gathering in the center of the capital Bangkok, ignoring the ban in the previously announced national decree.
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Police announced on Friday that they would block the road leading to the Rajprasong junction in Bangkok where demonstration came after demonstrators called on supporters to come back together.
Thailand’s legal aid group Human Rights Lawyers said at least 51 people had been arrested since last Tuesday in connection with the protests.
Ekachai is a veteran activist who has been physically attacked several times for his criticism of the military.
Meanwhile, Paothong, a student who is also known as Francis Bunkueanum, has been involved in organizing the recent protests.
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The incident on Wednesday in which the two were allegedly involved was astonishing to most Thais, because according to tradition and law, members of the royal family are treated with great respect.
Videos widely circulated on social media showed people with the crowd making fun of the royal motorcade carrying Queen Suthida and Prince Dipangkorn as they slowly passed by.
Security forces stood between the vehicle and the crowd, but there was no visible violence.
The banter incident occurred during the third major demonstration in Bangkok that was summoned by the protesters.
They started a demonstration at the city’s Democracy Monument, after which several thousand people marched to the Government Building, where Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha’s office is located.
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At the same time, Raja Maha Vajiralongkorn and other members of the royal family were driving to attend the royal religious ceremony at the Grand Palace.
Queen Suthida’s motorcade met a small crowd that had gathered at the Government Building in front of the protesters.
“We were not informed by the police about the imminent motorcade of the royal motorcade. They did not tell us,” Paothong told reporters on Friday (16/10/2020).
“Once we learned that there was a motorcade of the queen and heir to the throne, I tried to break away from the line and used my megaphone to ask everyone to move away from the police barrier so the motorcade could pass easily,” he said.
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Prime Minister Prayuth’s declaration of state of emergency said that action was necessary because “certain groups of perpetrators intend to instigate unwanted incidents and movements in Bangkok in various ways and through different networks, including disrupting royal motorcades.”
Prayuth said Friday that his government hopes to end the state of emergency before its normal 30-day duration if “the situation improves quickly.”
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