By Thai Newsroom Reporters
MOVE FORWARD MP Rangsiman Rome today (August 6) took to task the army’s disciplinary action which has put a sergeant behind bars only because he had flashed the three-finger salute on Tiktok.
Rangsiman denounced the army for the disciplinary action taken against the non-commissioned soldier who briefly made the pro-democracy gesture on TikTok. The MP commented that the penalty, which has put the unidentified sergeant in jail for 15 days at an army barracks, was a sheer disrespect to individual freedom of expression which he said did by no means affect military affairs or national security.
The sergeant attached to an army engineering battalion of the Third Infantry Division based in Nakhon Ratchasima was questioned by his superiors who found him disciplinarily guilty and handed him the penalty.
Army chief Gen. Narongpan Jitkaewthae has been reported of the matter by the commander of the army engineering unit in the northeastern province.
The three-finger salute, which refers to liberty, equality and fraternity, has been usually expressed by pro-democracy street demonstrators, especially those who have been mounting pressure upon Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha to step down in the face of an alleged fiasco over his handling of the pandemic situation.
CAPTIONS:
Top: A Thai protester giving the three-finger salute. Photo: Thai Rath
Home Page: Move Forward MP Rangsiman Rome. Photo: Facebook