ONE of the leaders of People’s Party 2020 who staged a protest at Pathumwan intersection and outside the district police station last night (Feb. 10) said that the group will be holding a parallel no-confidence debate against the government outside Parliament next week, Sanook.com said today (Feb. 11).
Ms. Panusaya Sitthichirawattanakul, or Rung, said at around 9 p.m. last night that all the demonstrators and others who are interested should follow the debate their group is staging on February 16-19 in a parallel with the one taking place in Parliament, with the location to be soon revealed.
Rung added that the People’s Party has set a goal to get as many people as possible to join their drive, with the target being 2 million, because the bigger the rallies the greater the pressure on the government. The appointed time and place will be announced on a day to day basis to keep officials at bay.
Rung announced the end of yesterday’s protest at 9 p.m. after completing her speech.
The demonstration, which started early last evening, was aimed at evicting the government which the demonstrators claim had mismanaged the economy during the coronavirus outbreak.
It also took place after four pro-democracy activists were detained over a rally that took place at Sanam Luang at the end of 2020.
The four activists, lawyer Anon Nampa, student leader Parit “Penguin” Chiwarak, Mr. Somyot Prueksakasemsuk and Mr Patiwat Saraiyaem, also known as “Mor Lam Bank”, were denied bail and sent to pretrial detention by the Criminal Court on Tuesday over charges of violating the lese majeste law.
The demonstrators got angry after police detained ten participants and moved to the Pathumwan police station to pressure for their release. Police had fired tear gas to disperse the large crowd and later released the ten detained protesters.
This morning the Police Thailand Facebook page posted photos of protesters rampaging and destroying government property, Siam Rath said.
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Above and on Home Page: Photos police released showing damaged vehicles. Photos: Siam Rath
Home Page: Rung together with other protester during last night’s protest. Thai headline says, “Looking to censure government outside Parliament. ” Photo: Sanook.com’
