THURSDAY, March 28, 2024
nationthailand

Activists demand election be held this year

Activists demand election be held this year

PRO-DEMOCRACY activists have demanded that the ruling junta step down and hold an election this year, or there would be a large-scale protests against them.

The activists made the threat during a demonstration yesterday at the Pathumwan intersection against the regime’s latest move to put off the promised election by a further three months. 
The group’s leading figure, Rangsiman Rome, vowed to continue fighting and said he would bring hundreds of thousands of people to protest on Ratchadamnoen Road until an election this year is secured.
He said that by February 10, the junta must respond to the group’s demand, announce a clear plan for the election and drop charges against activists, or they would march at the Democracy Monument.
Ratchadamnoen, where the Democracy Monument is located, is significant as the main site of pro-democracy demonstrations in the past.
Another activist, Siriwith Serithiwat, slammed the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) for repeatedly breaking its promises about an election date.
“[Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha] has said ‘next year’ since 2014. Now it is 2018 and, with the new year just started, they have delayed the election again by three months,” said Siriwith.
Anon Nampa urged more people to come out and demonstrate against the junta. If not, it was impossible that the junta would keep its promise regarding the election, said Anon.
The activity titled “People Want the Election” was held yesterday evening at the skywalk above the Pathumwan intersection. It was attended by at least 100 people. 
The participants said that they wanted the NCPO out and an election to be held this year.
They were observed closely by at least 50 police officers. The police allowed the group to carry out their activity from 5.30pm to 7pm.
Junta leader General Prawit Wongsuwan, who serves as deputy premier and defence minister, was also extensively criticised at the demonstration over the scandal involving his possession of luxury watches.
Ekachai Hongkanwan, a solo anti-junta activist, held up a banner showing Prawit’s watch collection and said he would try to see Prawit and give him a reasonably priced watch so he did not have to borrow watches from his friends and get into trouble.
Ekachai has tried this several times without success, as he has been blocked by military officers.
The group also read a statement against the regime’s alleged unfair treatment of the activists involved in the “We Walk” movement that has addressed policy issues such as healthcare and food security. The group demanded that the regime stop harassing the activists and let them conduct their walk to Khon Kaen in peace. 
The pro-democracy group also said they would go to walk at Lumpini Park today at 5pm in solidarity with the “We Walk” group.
 

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