RIOT police who quelled the protest by Thalufah (Through the Sky) activist group at Victory Monument yesterday (August 11) arrested at least 13 people with one of them being Ms Worawan Sae-ang, or Aunt Pao, who has attended almost every demonstration and has turned into a public favourite, Sanook.com said today.
The protesters intended to march from the monument to the First Infantry Regiment barracks on Vibhavadi Rangsit road within which is located the house of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ocha but were stopped by the police from doing so.
Human rights lawyer Noraset Nanongtoom said Aunt Pao is being held in a cell at the Narcotics Suppression Bureau and one of the charges she is facing is assaulting police officers with or without weapons. She will be taken to the Criminal Court to request for pre-trial detention tomorrow.
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Meanwhile Mrs. Amarat Chokpamitkul, a Kao Klai Party MP, enquired about her arrest and also talked to her. She said Aunt Pao is still in good spirits and wrote a letter to the public saying she will fight to the last breath.
Aunt Pao also related the events yesterday, saying she ran to help demonstrators who had been arrested collect their belongings.
While doing so she asked the policemen why they hit them. The policemen said they would arrest her, and she told them to do so because she was already 67 years old and only wanted to do something good for the country.
She confirmed that she did not have any weapons on her but despite that the policemen dragged her to their van. However she added that since being detained at the Narcotics Suppression Bureau cell she had been treated well.
CAPTION:
Aunt Pao being dragged to the police van, above, and writing a letter to the public, Home Page. Thai headline says, “Aunt Pao is in good spirits.” Photos: Sanook.com
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