Mysterious Anti-Coup Flyers Scattered on Ratchadamnoen Avenue

BANGKOK — Hundreds of anti-coup flyers were laid along a stretch of Ratchadamnoen Avenue this morning, a historic road in Bangkok that is home to the military junta’s headquarters.

Witnesses say an unidentified individual arrived at the avenue on a motorcycle at 5 am this morning and scattered the leaflets along the road between Jor Por Ror Intersection and Makawan Bridge.

The flyers criticise Thailand’s military junta, known as the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) with brief phrases like, "Evil Coup," "NCPO: National Council for Promotion Of Evil," and "The cross-eyed is mad on power," which is a reference to NCPO leader Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha, who is said to be cross-eyed.

All of the leaflets are signed with "Free Thais," the abbreviated name of an anti-coup organisation formed in exile by several politicians allied to the deposed government. The organisation has not yet publicly claimed responsibility for the flyers. 

After finding the flyers, traffic police sealed off the area and dispatched workers to remove them. The operation took about 20 minutes.

Police say they are studying CCTV footage to identify and locate whoever is responsible for the incident. 

After seizing power on 22 May, the NCPO banned public protests and criticism of the junta and its missions. In recent months, dozens of anti-coup protesters have been arrested and sent to face trials in martial court.

Yesterday, the military court issued its first verdict against an anti-coup protester in Chiang Rai province. The protester was given a one-year suspended jail sentence.