LUMPINI police station has received a complaint over last evening’s demonstration at Ratchaprasong intersection and asked to prosecute the demonstrators, particularly 11 people who gave speeches, as well as media outlets that livestreamed video and audio of the event, Thai Rath newspaper said today (March 25, 2021).
Pol. Maj. Gen. Piya Tawichai, deputy chief and spokesman of Metropolitan Police, said Lumpini police had issued a complaint number and already knew the names of 10 of 11 speakers at last evening’s rally. Investigation will be expanded to cover other groups that participated in the demonstration such as those who brought in vehicles, audio systems, the guards and the participants.
Also possibly facing prosecution are those who held up placards with illegal messages violating Section 112 of the Criminal Code, known as the lese majeste law.
Regarding media broadcasting videos and audios of the rally, Pol. Maj. Gen. Piya said it has still to be ascertained whether they intended to break the law and if so they will be subjected to legal proceedings as well.
Checkpoints were set up at the Ratchaprasong intersection and surrounding areas and some people were found to have been trying to take kratom leaves, kratom drinks and other illegal objects to the gathering.
Regarding offense on violating Section 112 of the Criminal Code, this will be probed on a case by case basis, he mentioned.
Later Mr. Sonthiya Sawasdee, an adviser to the House Committee on Law, Justice and Human Rights, submitted photographs of those who gave speeches at the rally as evidence to Pol. Lt. Col. Narongchai Noisri, chief of Metropolitan Police Division 5, and asked that they be investigated for lese majeste.
He also called for investigation of a satellite TV channel that broadcast live the speeches being given without modifying the content.
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Top and Home Page: People participating in last evening’s demonstration. Photos: Thai Rath
