Thailand Arrests Leaders of Protests Challenging the Monarchy
More Thai Anti-Government Activists Arrested as Protests Sprout
(Bloomberg) -- Thai authorities have rounded up more leaders of growing demonstrations seeking to oust the military-backed regime and limit the monarchy’s power, with at least nine protest leaders now in custody since Wednesday night.
Among those arrested include two rappers from two separate anti-military music acts, according to the group Thai Lawyers for Human Rights. Lawyer Arnon Nampa, who made one of the first public demands for the monarchy’s power to be reined in, was re-arrested, having been out on bail after an earlier arrest.
“The Thai government’s repeated promises to listen to dissenting voices have proven meaningless as the crackdown on pro-democracy activists continues unabated,” said Brad Adams, Asia director at Human Rights Watch, who urged authorities to drop the charges and released those detained.
More than a dozen activists who participated in a growing anti-government movement that sprouted since mid-July had warrants issued against them, according to local media reports. They face charges that include sedition, which can lead to as many as seven years in jail. Police said on Wednesday they are seeking the arrest of six protest leaders for a demonstration last week.
The protesters are breaking deeply entrenched taboos in Thailand, where openly criticizing the monarchy can lead to long prison sentences, although they were not charged with lese majeste.
On Wednesday, Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-Ocha said he doesn’t want the protesters to discuss issues related to the monarchy because it’s a “respected” institution. “There are 67 million Thai people, and not everybody came out to protest,” he said. “The majority of the people in this country don’t agree with the demonstrations.”
Prayuth is a former general who took power in a coup in 2014 and was elected in a national vote in March 2019 that’s been criticized as unfair.
“Thai youth in particular are hungry for change, and the authorities’ threats will merely strengthen their determination,” Charles Santiago, chairperson of the ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights, said in a statement. “Thai leaders might find that listening to those willing to peacefully discuss Thailand’s future will in fact be of greater benefit to the country.”
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