Thai authorities have issued arrest warrants for six activists who took part in a demonstration at which students issued a 10-point call for reform of the monarchy last week, police said on Wednesday as students called more protests.
The charges against the six were not over the demands made at the protest by thousands of people at Thammasat University on Aug. 10, but for breaching internal security and measures to stop the spread of the coronavirus as well as computer crimes.
The six include Panusaya Sithijirawattankul, 21, the student who read out a manifesto demanding reform of the monarchy. They also include Anon Nampa, who made the first public call for royal reform and has also been charged over earlier protests.
"They can hand themselves in today or whenever but shouldn't bring a crowd," Police Lieutenant General Amphol Buarabporn told Reuters.
"If they don't hand themselves in, we can arrest them when they're spotted."
Student-led protests have taken place almost daily for more than a month to demand the departure of Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, a former junta leader, a new constitution and an end to the harassment of activists.
Some students have also called for reforms to curb the powers of King Maha Vajiralongkorn over the constitution, the armed forces and the palace fortune - touching a subject that had long been taboo in Thailand.
Insulting the monarchy can lead to a 15-year jail sentence, but Prayuth has said the king had requested no prosecutions under the lese majeste laws for now.
The Ministry of Digital Economy will file a complaint against exiled academic Pavin Chachavalpongpun for creating a Facebook group deemed critical of the monarchy, ministry spokesman Putchapong Nodthaisong told Reuters. The group, called Royalist Marketplace, has more than one million members.
"We have filed a request to Facebook to delete the entire group, but the platform hasn’t been cooperative,” Putchapong said. “So the ministry is now going to use the Computer Crime Act.”
Pavin did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Two of the six activists wanted over the Aug. 10 rally are among three who have already been arrested once and bailed for the organisation of earlier protests.
Prayuth has said that young people have the right to protest, but that the rally at which the calls for royal reform was made "went too far".
Prominent right-wing activists plan to meet on Wednesday in Bangkok to discuss way to counter the student-led protests.
High school students are also planning to rally at the Ministry Education on Wednesday following a string of pro-democracy demonstrations at schools across the country.
Reuters
Wed Aug 19 2020
Pro-democracy students use mobile phones as flashlights at a rally to demand the government to resign, to dissolve the parliament and to hold new elections under a revised constitution, at Mahidol University. REUTERSpic
Pakistani forces launch midnight raid on ex-PM Imran Khan's supporters, local media reports
At least six people, including four paramilitary soldiers, were killed before the Tuesday night raid was launched.
IPIC case: Najib, Mohd Irwan granted DNAA for six CBT charges involving RM6.6 billion
The judge made the decision after allowing the DNAA application submitted by the lawyers representing Najib and Mohd Irwan, respectively.
Gunfire heard across Beirut as Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire takes effect
Streams of cars began heading to southern Lebanon, which borders Israel, after the ceasefire.
Australia moves closer to ban social media for children
Australian parliament's lower house passes the bill, even as Google and Meta press the government to delay the legislation
Prospect of Lebanon ceasefire leaves Gazans feeling abandoned
Months of US-backed Arab mediation have yet to secure a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas to end the war in Gaza.
Four bodies recovered from capsized tourist boat off Egypt's Red Sea coast
The boat, the Sea Story, capsized on Monday near the Sataya Reef while carrying 31 tourists and 13 crew on a multi-day diving trip.
UTP introduced a first-of-its-kind Bachelor of Integrated Engineering with Honours
UTP has proudly unveiled Malaysia's first multidisciplinary engineering programme.
Biden to push for Gaza ceasefire after Israel-Lebanon deal
The US "will make another push, with Turkey, Egypt, Qatar, Israel and others, to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza," says Joe Biden.
JPS issues flood warning, 30 villages in Pasir Puteh expected to be inundated
Flooding is expected near Sungai Semerak, Pasir Puteh, affecting low-lying villages within 5km of the river, according to PRABN.
What Trump 2.0 could mean for trade, migrants, climate change and electric cars
Here's a summary of the policies Donald Trump has said he will pursue when he takes office on Jan. 20.
UN says Taliban detained journalists over 250 times in Afghanistan since takeover
The Taliban-led foreign ministry denies having arrested that number of journalists and added that those arrested had committed a crime.
TikTok becoming app of choice for criminals promoting investment scams - Police
Many users continue to be tricked and scammed even though police have repeatedly issued warnings about scams proliferating on social media.
MOE’s mental health screening identifies students with emotional challenges
Deputy Minister of Education says, those identified with severe emotional issues undergo screening twice a year.
Israel, Hezbollah agree to ceasefire brokered by US and France, to take effect Wednesday
Israel will gradually withdraw its forces over 60 days as Lebanon's army takes control of territory near its border with Israel to ensure that Hezbollah does not rebuild its infrastructure there.
'No one will win a trade war,' China says after Trump tariff threat
Donald Trump says he would impose the tariffs until China stops the flow of illegal drugs, particularly fentanyl, into the United States.
What has caused Pakistan's deadly clashes between police and supporters of Imran Khan?
Topping the demands of Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party is the release of all its leaders, including Khan, who has been jailed on a series of corruption charges since August 2023.
Myanmar rebel army ready for dialogue with junta, with China's help
China puts pressure on rebels amid the rapid degeneration of the military, which Beijing has long seen as a guarantor of stability.
One woman or girl killed every 10 minutes by intimate partner or family member - UN
The report highlights that "60 per cent of all female homicides" are committed by "people closely related to them".
Malaysia ready to collaborate with South Korea on more substantial matters - PM
Malaysia seeks deeper collaboration with South Korea on digitalization, AI, and advanced learning curve discussions.
Sweden urges Chinese ship to return for undersea cable investigation
Two subsea cables, one linking Finland and Germany and the other connecting Sweden to Lithuania, were damaged in less than 24 hours.