WITH detractors now accusing Move Forward Party of being linked to the activists who honked a car horn at a royal motorcade on Feb. 4 because some members had been the bail bond agent for activists in the past, the party’s spokesman Rangsiman Rome urged the public to not create new monsters in the society, Naewna newspaper said this afternoon (Feb. 12).
Speaking at Parliament at 2.15 p.m. Rangsiman said, “Our society lives like this, so don’t create a society of fear, don’t create new monsters, don’t create new ghosts.
“The October incident is already a lesson, don’t repeat it – it’s not worth it.”
He was referring to October 6, 1976 massacre, also known as the October 6 event, which was a violent crackdown by police and lynching by right-wing paramilitaries and bystanders against students and activists who had occupied Thammasat University to protest the return of former dictator Thanom Kittikachorn to Thailand.
According to an official account 46 died on both sides and 167 got injured but unofficial reports state that over a hundred demonstrators were killed that day.
Rangsiman said the idea that various groups are supported by political parties is not new and has cropped up many times in the past but this mindset does not solve social problems.
Move Forward has been similarly accused in the past but what evidence do the accusers have linking the party to this or that person, he added.
This issue cropped after Ms. Tantawan Tuatulanond, or Tawan, 20, of the Thalu Wang group, and a colleague blared their car horn at a royal motorcade and also tried to overtake a police vehicle on Feb. 4. Their action was criticised by the authorities and a police complaint was filed for public disturbance.
Rangsiman added that Thailand had come a long way from a political crisis with those holding differing views being arrested and prosecuted leading to many party members then acting as bail bondsmen.
However in doing so it does not mean the party supported their actions only that it gave them a chance to fight the cases they were facing, he mentioned.
The new accusation is firstly aimed at discrediting Thalu Wang group and secondly damaging Move Forward Party.
“I assure you that we are not behind anyone and no one is behind us. Move Forward is a progressive party that acts from a human rights standpoint, we believe in freedom of expression,” he said.
CAPTION:
Move Forward Party spokesman Rangsiman Rome talking to reporters at Parliament today, Feb. 12. 2024, with an image of Ms. Tantawan Tuatulanond inset in above image. Top photo: Matichon, Front Page photo: Naewna
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