Police arrest protest organiser after she calls for a new rally in Bangkok this afternoon

Police have arrested 2 more key organisers of the pro-democracy rally after one of them read a statement calling for another protest in Bangkok shopping precinct this afternoon. Panussaya Sitthijirawattanakul, a critic of the monarchy and one of the protest organisers, was arrested at a Bangkok hotel just after hosting a Facebook, livestream, “calling on people to join a rally planned for Rathchaprasong Intersection in Bangkok’s central shopping district at 4pm this afternoon.

Rathchaprasong Intersection was the site of the 2015 bombing which killed 20 and injured another 125 people at the Erawan Shrine. Panussaya says the invitation to attend this afternoon’s protest was made in the name of the so-called “Khana Ratsadon 2563” (People’s Party 2020) which organised yesterday’s demonstration and march on Government House that culminated in the protesters taking over areas around the PMs official workplace.

Khana Ratsadon 2563 is a new name to come onto the scene in a long list of organisational names that have been used as a name for the protest movement since August.

During her arrest, a police officer showed her the arrest warrant and formally read out the charges. Panussaya challenged the warrant and tore it up in front of the arresting officer. The clip has since gone viral in a day when the Thai Government is cracking down on any online dissent.

“Isn’t it your duty to protect the people?”

Panussaya Sitthijirawattanakul joins at least 7 others who have already been formally arrested over yesterday’s rallies.

Update of this morning’s events as police break up yesterday and last night’s protest HERE.

SOURCE: Thai PBS World