Bangkok

19 protest guards arrested for removing barbed wire from public street

Published

Tuesday, December 8, 2020 17:45

PHOTO: Bright TV

19 volunteer guards associated with the pro-democracy protests were arrested last night for allegedly stealing government property after they removed barbed wire that was partially blocking a pedestrian bridge in Bangkok’s Phaya Thai district. The barbed wire may have been left behind by authorities after protests in October.

The guards, known as WeVo, meaning “We Volunteer,” are associated with the pro-democracy movement. A group of around 200 pro-democracy protesters gathered in front of Phaya Thai police station following the arrests chanting “release our friends.”

The guards say they removed the barbed wire after reports from locals saying the wire fences troubled pedestrians who were trying to cross the bridge over the Uruphong intersection. Locals tried contacting the police to have the barbed wire removed before contacting the WeVo guards, according to WeVo guard leader Piyarat “Toto” Chongthep.

“We also made the announcements on our social media channels to seek the owner of the wires but there was no response. Therefore we decided to come forward and collect them.”

Police arrived at the scene as the guards were collecting the barbed wire. Metro Police Bureau deputy commissioner Attawit Saiseub says officers asked the guards to stop and leave the barbed wire along the side of the road, but the guards refused and continued to remove the wire.

19 protest guards arrested for removing barbed wire from public street | News by Thaiger

SOURCE: Pattaya News

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4 Comments

Issan John

Tuesday, December 8, 2020 at 6:16 pm

Asking for trouble by carrying on removing the wire after being told to stop by the police.

Reply
- preesy chepuce
  
  Tuesday, December 8, 2020 at 9:23 pm
  
  Health and safety should come first, why not use ‘orrible goo instead of sharp stuff?
  
  Reply
Fabian

Tuesday, December 8, 2020 at 10:13 pm

That’s the fun part of being a dictator. You can arrest anyone you like for any reason.

Reply
Toby Andrews

Tuesday, December 8, 2020 at 10:27 pm

Removing barb wire is only illegal if the barb wire was at the time legal.
Seems to me if it was there when a riot was not expected, it is not legal, and can be remove legally.

Reply

Caitlin Ashworth

Caitlin Ashworth is a writer from the United States who has lived in Thailand since 2018. She graduated from the University of South Florida St. Petersburg with a bachelor’s degree in journalism and media studies in 2016. She was a reporter for the Daily Hampshire Gazette In Massachusetts. She also interned at the Richmond Times-Dispatch in Virginia and Sarasota Herald-Tribune in Florida.

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