Police to summon ‘sandwich protest’ student activists for attitude adjustment

 
Deputy National Police Chief Somyot Phumphanmuang is to summon the student activists who ate “anti-coup sandwiches” in front of the US Embassy on Tuesday, and send them to the military for “attitude adjustment,” Naewna has reported. 
 
Half a dozen student activists from the Thai Student Centre for Democracy gathered in front of the United States Embassy in Bangkok on Tuesday morning to “test the standards of the authorities,” after a lone anti-American, pro-coup demonstrator held a solo protest in front of the US Embassy on Sunday but was not arrested. 
 

Activists from the Thai Student Center for Democracy eat sandwiches
while reading George Orwell's 1984 in front of the US embassy
 
The students were able to carry out the activity for around 15 minutes, then they dispersed without getting arrested. 
 
Last week, Thep Vetchavisit, a cosmetic physician and a supporter of the pro-establishment People's Democratic Reform Committee, protested alone in front of the US embassy. He said he was there to voice his anger towards the US government for downgrading its military relations with Thailand in response to last month's military coup d’état.
 
Thep arrived at the US Embassy on a motorcycle and presented caricatures of former American presidents Bill Clinton and Richard Nixon to embassy officials. 
 
While eating sandwiches and reading George Orwell's 1984 in public is forbidden, the police said Thep's anti-American protest does not violate martial law.
 
Amnuay Nimmano, Acting Deputy Metropolitan Police Bureau Chief, said on Sunday that the anti-American protest was not violating the law, because he was merely expressing dissatisfaction. 
 
In contrast, on the previous weekend, nine students from the activist group were arrested ahead of an anti-coup sandwich activity in front of Siam Paragon Mall.
 
 
 
 

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