By Facebook User:1984 |
<p>It has become increasingly clear over the past week since the imposition of Martial Law nationwide followed by the coup that one of Thailand’s most draconian and abused laws, the lèse majesté law or Article 112 of the Penal Code, is being used to persecute anyone who voices opposition to the coup.</p>
By Student For Democracy Group, Faculty of Political Science, Chulalongkorn University |
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<p><br />At midday on Sunday, hundreds of protesters gathered in front of McDonalds in Amarin Plaza, near Ratchaprasong intersection, following red shirt faction leader Sombat Boongam-anong's Facebook invitation to meet up "to have burgers." The confrontation heated up after soldiers tried to lock down the area and prevent civilians from entering. Protesters shouted "get out!" and "elections!" while the soldiers blasted Thai right-wing music at them from military vehicles.</p>
<div>[UPDATE] After anti-coup protesters pressured military officers and tried to negotiate for the release of a male protester wearing a white T-shirt, the military released the man around 7 p.m. on Saturday. The man was detained for about 15 minutes. </div>
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<div>On Saturday at 11am, approximately 200 anti-coup demonstrators gathered to protest against the military coup d'etat in front of Major Cineplex on Ratchayothin Road. Reportedly, a company of soldiers were deployed to maintain law and order. </div>
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<div>The situation became a bit chaotic when anti-coup protesters saw Porntipa Supattanakul, aka Fah Porntipa, a royalist who filed a lese majeste complaint against Saran Chuichai, aka Aum Neko, a transgender student activist, near the protest site.
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