Arrested activists released on bail
Four activists were released on bail, at Bt100,000 per person, on Saturday after they turned themselves in to police over their participation in a pro-election assembly last month.
One of the activists, Rangsiman Rome, was brought to Khon Kaen Police Station where another warrant was issued for him due to his attendance at a public forum on the junta-written charter draft. He was charged under the law of referendum and junta order for his public speech in Khon Khaen in 2016, and granted bail.
As Rangsiman refused to provide his fingerprints to the police, he was also charged with obstructing the criminal justice procedure.
Rangsiman, Sirawit Serithiwat, Ekachai Hongkangwan and Anon Nampa were charged with violating the junta’s ban on political gathering of five or more people, the public assembly bill, and sedition.
The charges followed their assembly near MBK shopping centre on January 27, demanding that the National Council for Peace and Order hold the long-delayed election by this year as promised earlier.
On Saturday, the four activists showed up at another pro-election assembly held near Democracy Monument, with more than 200 police officers providing tight security.
After over two hours of speeches, the four turned themselves in to the police.
At Pathumwan Police Station, where the four were charged, around a hundred people greeted them with a candle-lighting ceremony, seeking an immediate end to prosecution for peaceful political expression.
The candles were placed in funeral style on the poster of a clock, taunting Deputy PM and Defence Minister General Prawit Wongsuwan who has been embroiled in a scandal over his collection of luxurious watches.
Another activist, Piyarat Chongthep, who brought a pickup truck equipped with speakers to the assembly, was fined Bt200 for wrongful use of speakers before being released.