Bangkok –
Five anti-government protesters who made speeches at a mass pro-democracy protest at Democracy Monument in Bangkok on July 18 were detained at Samranrat Station police station for alleged charges of sedition.
Protest leaders Arnon Nampa, Baramee Chairat, Suwanna Tarnlek, and Korakot Saengyenphan were placed under arrest last night, August 19, while Dechatorn Bamrungmuang, a lead rapper of Rap Against Dictatorship, was arrested this morning, August 20.
According to the police arrest warrant, they were charged for sedition under Section 116 of the Criminal Code(sedition); of organizing an assembly of ten or more people under Section 215 of the Criminal Code; violating the Emergency Decree, which bans large gatherings under Section 385 of the Criminal Code; and of using a loudspeaker without permission under the Controlling Public Advertisement by Sound Amplifier Act.
This was the second arrest for human rights lawyer Arnon Nampa as he was previously accused of similar charges on August 7 and was bailed out for 150,000 baht. According to the Thai authorities’ statement, he was eligible to be arrested again if he repeated his acts of making another speech in a large gathering that allegedly violated Thai law.
The protestors were taken to the Bangkok Criminal Court at 8:50 AM for the inquiry officers to file a temporary detention request. None of them were allowed to be bailed out at the moment.
Photo courtesy: Thairath and Khaosod
