Police strongly warn protesters to not gather at Ratchaprasong

AFTER the declaration of serious emergency in Bangkok by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha before dawn today (Oct. 15) police issued a stern warning to protesters to not assemble at Ratchaprasong intersection this afternoon, Thai Rath and Sanook.com reported.

Pol. Col. Krisana Pattanacharoen, deputy spokesman of the Royal Thai Police, and Pol. Lt. Gen. Piya Thawichai, deputy head of Metropolitan Police, said in declaring this emergency Prime Minister Prayut appointed National Police Chief Pol. Gen. Suwat Chaengyodsuk to resolve the situation.

They added that after this emergency was declared, some protesters still stood around outside Government House and 20 of them had been arrested.

Arrested early in the morning were Mr. Parit Chivarak, or Penguin, lawyer Mr. Anon Nampha, Mr. Panupong Chadnok or Mike Rayong and Mr. Prasit Utharroj, a leader from Chiang Mai.

A short while later Ms. Panusaya Sitthichirawattanakul, or Rung, was also arrested at a hotel room on Khao Sarn road. She had refused to be taken away and lay on the ground but police nevertheless bundled her out.

Before her arrest Rung had published a People’s Party statement on the Facebook page, Thammasat Alliance and Rally, stating the protest is to continue today at Ratchaprasong intersection at 4 p.m.

She wrote that the breaking up of the demonstration this morning and arrest of four leaders, Mr. Parit, Mr. Anon, Mr. Panupong and Mr. Prasit, was not justified because assembling is something allowed under democracy and is the fundamental right of every individual and for this reason no one should be arrested.

CAPTION:

Top: The hundreds of thousands of demonstrators at Democracy Monument yesterday. Photo: Thai Rath

First below: Policemen stand in a row to move in and control the demonstration. Photo: Thai Rath

Second below: Rung being arrested at a hotel room on Khao San road. Thai headline says, “Rung arrested.” Photo: Sanook.com