KHON KAEN Universtiy student activist Mr. Jarupat Boonpattararaksa, or Phai Dao Din, and his group went to Samranrat police station this morning (August 28) to acknowledge charges stemming from the July 18 rally at the Democracy Monument leading to slight chaos and confrontation with the officers, INN News and Sanook.com reported.
The group had camped overnight at the October 14 Memorial as part of their “We are friends. Go camping, not sleeping in prison” activity.
Once at the station, another group of activists led by Mr. Parit Chivarak, or Penguin, joined them. The station was strongly guarded with police having set up a metal fence barrier. The two groups of activists set up amplifiers they had brought along and then chaotically pushed at the police barrier until they broke through and assembled near the station’s basement. Jarupat and 14 other activists then went up to acknowledge the charges.
Jarupat told reporters that last night’s sleepover at the monument was a trial run for the upcoming September 19 rally at Thammasat University Tha Prachan campus. There was discussions and it was concluded that the mob should not assemble at 3 p.m. because of the hot weather, with concern being voiced about the heat and rain.
He added that today after acknowledging the charges the group would break up and return home. However he confirmed that if the next rally does not yield result the sleepover will be extended from three to seven nights and activities would be stepped up until their group’s demands are taken up and implemented.
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Top: Slight chaos at Samranrat police station this morning. Thai headline says, “This morning at Samranrat.” Photo: INN News and Sanook.com
