THE Redem protesters reached the Criminal court at 6.40 p.m. today (March 6) and upon facing a barbed wire fence and a large force of policemen guarding the complex started booing and shouting “Let go of our friends” and sprayed paint on the sidewalk, walls and the road, Thai Rath newspaper said.
The head of Phahonyothin police station used a megaphone to tell the protesters that this rally is against the law and the police have to take action if they continue while warning them not to break into the court compound. This drew loud jeers from the protesters.
After that one of the leaders of this demonstration, Ms. Jutatip Sirikhan, or Aou, sprayed paint on the pavement in front of the court while the protesters continuously shouted, “Let go of our friends” “Cancel 112” and “The peaceful way.”
At the sametime the protest peace team urged those assembled there to stay on the road and not get on the sidewalk.
At 7.15 p.m. the red shirts and Nonthaburi residents group ended their “chasing out dictators” demonstration in front of the Government Complex on Chaeng Wattana road amid tight security.
They had urged Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha to step down.
However the rally at the Democracy Monument by Archeewa Mai Ao Phadet Kan (Vocational Students against Dictatorship) fizzled out at around 6.30 a.m. after the demonstrators who had assembled in front of McDonald’s outlet nearby at 5.30 p.m. started returning as their leaders did not show up.
Meanwhile the leader of We Volunteer (WeVo) volunteer guards Mr Piyarat Jongthep, or Toto, live streamed on his Facebook account that a team of undercover agents had arrested him and his friends at a shopping mall in Ratchayothin area just as they returned to their car after eating.
These agents did not have any documents and it is not known where they have taken them. However the WeVo team and the police have a video clip of him and his friends being arrested.
CAPTION:
Scenes from this evening’s Redem protest at the Criminal Court and as they marched there from Ladprao intersection.
Last photo shows a protest vehicle at the Government Complex. All photos: Thai Rath
