Five new arrests as three activists released on conditional bail
Though the Criminal Court granted bail on Thursday (August 20) afternoon to three activists who were arrested the night before, police presented another five detainees in court for participating in pro-democracy protests.
Activists Baramee Chairat, Suwanna Tarnlek and Korakot Saengyenphan, all members of the “Free People” group, were released on bail under the condition that they do not repeat the actions they have been charged for.
The three activists – charged on several counts including provoking unrest, participating in an illegal gathering of more than 10 people and holding activities that expose the public to a contagion – spent Wednesday night in a cell at Samranrat Police Station. Their arrests were sparked off by the speeches they had delivered at a pro-democracy protest near Bangkok’s Democracy Monument on July 18.
Meanwhile, a statement from Thailand Lawyers for Human Rights said that this afternoon five people who participated in anti-establishment protests had been arrested and taken to Samranrat Police Station.
The five detainees included Dechathorn Bamrungmuang, the founder of the group “Rap against Dictatorship”, and Thanayut Na Ayutthaya, another rapper from the band “Elevenfinger”. The other three activists were Nattawut Somboonsap, Thani Sasom, and Tossaporn Sinsomboon.
The five detainees were then shifted to Criminal Court, where human-rights lawyer Arnon Nampa and the three activists had been taken to this morning.