34 activists detained for planning to commemorate the coup, released

At least 34 people arrested on Friday evening for commemorating the coup were released without charge, on condition that they stop political activities. However, student activists in Khon Kaen face charges and were released on 7,500 baht bail.
 
The first arrests occurred about 6 pm after a group of students gathered at the Bangkok Art and Culture Centre (BACC), Siam Square. With about a hundred police officers and about 20 plainclothes officers deployed in the area, the students sat peacefully for a few minutes before the police arrested them.
 
The arrests angered other protesters and led to a confrontation with the police. At about 8 pm all of the protesters were arrested and taken to Pathumwan Police Station. The total number of the protesters detained was unclear. Prachatai found that at least 34 were taken to the police station.  
 
Most of the 34 were student activists. Three of them are Natchacha Kongudom, a transgender student activist, arrested before for flashing a three-fingered salute, an anti-coup symbol, Rangsiman Rome, a student activist from Thammasat University, and Puthida Chaianan, a pro-democracy activist.
 
About 60 people gathered in front of the police station to pressure the police to release the protesters. At around 3 am on Saturday, they were released on condition. The police however said they may charge some of them later. 
 
At least one protester was assaulted during the confrontation at the BACC. Songtham Kaewpanpruk, a pro-democracy activist, was assaulted and hospitalized at Hua Chiew Hospital. He was punched in the face and kicked in the chest. 
 
Earlier on Friday afternoon, three activists from Resistant Citizen were arrested in Bangkok, but have already been released without charge. 
 
In the northeastern province of Khon Kaen, seven student activists from the Dao Din group based at Khon Kaen University were detained after they held an activity to commemorate the coup on Friday morning. The police charged them with defying a coup order and released them on Saturday morning on 7,500 baht bail each. 
 
 
Photo by LLTD
 
 
 
 
 
 

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