Mon 19 October 2020:
Thousands of anti-government protesters took over key intersections in Bangkok on Sunday, defying a ban on protests for the fourth day with chants of “down with dictatorship” and “reform the monarchy.”
Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, the former junta leader turned prime minister that the protesters want to oust, is concerned about the spreading protests and the government wants to talk, his spokesman said.
Demonstrations have persisted despite the arrest of dozens of protesters and their leaders, the use of water cannon and shutdowns on much of Bangkok’s metro rail system in a bid to bring more than three months of street action to an end.
“Free our friends”, the protesters called out as they stood in the rain, a mass of colourful plastic ponchos and umbrellas around Bangkok’s Victory Monument. Police, who fired water cannon laced with chemicals against protesters who gathered on Friday night, kept a more low-key presence.
Some protesters held up pictures of the movement’s detained leaders. Thai Lawyers for Human Rights said at least 80 people had been arrested since October 13 with 27 still being held. Police have not given an overall number.
Investigate media
Police in Thailand are seeking an investigation of four independent media outlets and a protest group for their coverage of recent protests on suspicion of breaking emergency measures restricting information, according to a document that was published by local media on Monday.
“It appears that there was content that affected state security, peace and order, or the good morals of the people,” the document, dated October 16, quoted police as saying.
Police said they would ask Thailand’s broadcast regulator and digital ministry to investigate the outlets, which include Voice TV, The Reporters and Prachathai “and suspend broadcasting or remove computer information”, the statement said.
The government has ordered to censor @prachatai, @thereportersth, @thestandardth, and @FreeYOUTHth. #saveสื่อเสรี tops Thailand’s Twitter.
Honored to report accurate info about human rights and political development in Thailand, we’ll try our best in continuing to do so. pic.twitter.com/d6uc8PinzF
— Prachatai English (@prachatai_en) October 19, 2020
Police said there would be a briefing on the subject, but made no immediate comment.
In response, Prachathai said it was “honoured to report accurate info on human rights and political development” and would try its best to continue to do so. Thapanee Eidsrichai, founder of The Reporters, said the organisation had yet to receive an official order and the organisation would “continue to do its duty”.
The editorial board of the Thai Enquirer, which was not among those named in the document, voiced its support of a free media.
A spokesman for the prime minister said on Sunday that Prayuth was concerned about the spreading protests and wanted to talk.
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