Protests
Pro-democracy activists to beef up security with professionally trained personnel

Protest leader Parit Chiwarak, aka, “Penguin”, says activists will no longer rely on volunteer security officers, but will instead bring in trained professionals. The Bangkok Post reports that Parit took to Facebook to announce that the People’s Movement has disbanded its team of volunteer security guards.
He says the group will now seek professionally trained personnel, to ensure their safety at future rallies, but did not say where they would come from. Until now, security at protests has been carried out by volunteer teams, including the We Volunteer group, who have often been seen on the frontline, dismantling barricades and other obstacles. The United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship has also provided volunteer security officers, with students and other people also volunteering at rallies.
Parit says the use of professionally trained guards will mean activists are better protected from the authorities, calling the security detail, the “main weapon”. However, he doesn’t rule out the need for volunteer security guards again at some point in the future.
SOURCE: Bangkok Post
Keep in contact with The Thaiger by following our Facebook page.
Never miss out on future posts by following The Thaiger.
Protests
Security guard slaps student for displaying protest sign at Bangkok mall – VIDEO

A security guard at the luxury Iconsiam shopping mall in Bangkok has slapped a student activist after she held up a protest sign at the facility. The confrontation occurred at around 2.30pm yesterday, when the Thammasat University student displayed a sign that read, “You monopolised the vaccine so the Monarchy could take the credit.”
The student, named as 21 year old Benja Apan, was quickly surrounded by at least 7 staff members, with one security guard grabbing the sign before pushing away a camera that was recording the development. A sharp sound is then heard, followed by Benja screaming that the guard has hit her. She proceeds to call for help, while the men continue trying to restrain her.
VIDEO: Matichon TV
According to a Coconuts report, Benja and an unnamed associate appeared shortly after at Pak Khlong San Police Station, saying the security guards from the mall had taken them there. It’s understood the organisation Thai Lawyers for Human Rights have provided Benja with a lawyer. A number of protesters also gathered at the police station in a show of support for the student, while speaking to police about the actions of the security guard accused of hitting her.
A representative of the shopping mall has apologised for the confrontation, saying it’s investigating what happened. It says people should not voice political opinions on its premises.
Thailand has set aside 6 billion baht to produce the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine locally. The manufacturer, Siam Bioscience, is a new pharmaceutical company owned by the palace.
SOURCE: Coconuts
Keep in contact with The Thaiger by following our Facebook page.
Never miss out on future posts by following The Thaiger.
Thailand
Thailand’s PM asks people to avoid political gatherings over concerns for their health

Thailand’s PM is asking people to avoid political gatherings over concerns for their health due to the recent cooler weather. As the country is still not out of the woods with the recent Covid-19 breakout, the cold weather, in the northern half of the country, is adding to PM Prayut Chan-o-cha’s health concerns for Thai people.
Government spokesman Anucha Burapachaisri says the situation still warrants the government’s role to exercise its power under the emergency decree and Communicable Disease Act to help curb the spread of Covid-19.
He says all gatherings should be avoided, but is emphasising political ones and is thanking the “majority who have cooperated.” Now, he says the government is set to introduce more measures to help those affected by the new round of Covid and are preparing new economic stimulus programs.
Anucha says another high pressure system from China will cover northern Thailand starting from today and lasting through January 19. The system would see temperatures drop by 2 to 3 degrees Celsius in the northern and central areas of Thailand with the northeastern area seeing a drop of 4 to 6 degrees. PM Prayut has also asked people to be careful when setting up bonfires to keep warm during the cold spell.
SOURCE: Bangkok Post
Keep in contact with The Thaiger by following our Facebook page.
Never miss out on future posts by following The Thaiger.
Protests
Student arrested in dormitory at night, charged with lèse majesté offences

A student at Thammasat University’s Rangsit Campus has been arrested and charged with violating Thailand’s strict lèse majesté law. Ironically, it was his calls for the law to be abolished that led to Sirichai Natueng, aka, “New”, being charged. The group, Thai Lawyers for Human Rights, has confirmed the student’s arrest on its Twitter page.
After being taken into custody, the pro-democracy activist was driven to Khlong Luang police station, in the central province of Pathum Thani, just outside Bangkok. Other anti-government activists, including Parit Chiwarak, aka, “Penguin”, and Panusaya Sithijirawattanakul (“Rung”) followed, accompanied by representatives from TLHR.
Since the arrest, the hashtags #saveนิวมธ (Save New) and #ยกเลิกม112 (Cancel Section 112) have been trending on Twitter. Section 112 of Thailand’s Criminal Code is the law governing lèse majesté, which carries a penalty of up to 15 years’ imprisonment.
Sirichai, a member of the pro-democracy group United Front of Thammasat and Demonstration, has been charged with 2 lèse majesté offences. He is accused of defacing an image of the Monarchy, as well as the Rangsit campus sign, with graffiti calling for the abolition of the lèse majesté law.
SOURCE: Nation Thailand
Keep in contact with The Thaiger by following our Facebook page.
Never miss out on future posts by following The Thaiger.
- Crime3 days ago
Australian man wanted for allegedly sexually abusing children in Thailand
- Coronavirus (Covid-19)4 days ago
Thailand’s PM says he won’t let Thais become vaccine “guinea pigs”
- Bangkok3 days ago
Police raid Bangkok restaurant, more than 80 people face charges for violating Emergency Decree
- Crime4 days ago
Police say at least 2 people to be arrested in Bangkok bomb attack – UPDATE
- Phuket2 days ago
UPDATE: Confusion over Covid-19 tests for visa extensions
- Coronavirus (Covid-19)2 days ago
Record number of tourism firms quitting Covid-ravaged sector for good
- Air Pollution4 days ago
59 areas see excessive PM 2.5 dust in Bangkok today
- Coronavirus (Covid-19)3 days ago
Disease control measures ease up in Samut Sakhon
Toby Andrews
Saturday, December 12, 2020 at 10:19 am
Good their professionally trained security will counter the professionally trained police in the demonstrations to cause trouble and make the demonstrators look bad.
Jesus Monroe
Saturday, December 12, 2020 at 11:05 am
Couldn’t’ agree more Tobes….
Mark Moran
Monday, December 14, 2020 at 8:47 am
I’m a former soldier that served in Afghanistan and Iraq. They are entitled to there safety. You stick to licking RTP ass. There training is non existent
Issan John
Saturday, December 12, 2020 at 2:19 pm
The idea that his “professionally trained guards” are there to make him “better protected from the authorities” is completely out of order for anyone claiming to lead a peaceful protest.
They should be there to try to keep opposing groups apart and to prevent individuals from getting out of hand, using firearms, throwing petrol bombs, etc, not to make him “better protected from the authorities” or for him to use as his “main weapon”.
Along with some of the other protesters and protest movements, such as RT, I think he’s lost his way and it’s all gone to his head, and they’re in danger of alienating any broad basis of support they may have.
Singharacha
Thursday, December 17, 2020 at 12:44 am
Right. It would really be the world upside down.
In addition : Who would pay for these “professional guards” and where would the money come from?
Ian
Saturday, December 12, 2020 at 5:40 pm
Looks like there’s gonna be ex sas and ninjas on the front line the west is on your side don’t listen to the im alright jack farangs who are retired with nothing to do but critize they are irrelevant but they can’t see it they live in thier wood huts in a village with no grasp of the real world
Issan John
Sunday, December 13, 2020 at 1:18 am
… and on the eighth day God invented punctuation …