BANGKOK — The military government has urged Thai expats in the United States to refrain from protesting junta chairman Prayuth Chan-ocha’s upcoming visit to the United Nations headquarters in New York City.

Gen. Prayuth, who came to power by staging a coup, is due to attend the UN General Assembly meeting Thursday – 1 Oct. in Manhattan, where anti-coup Thais are expected to greet the general’s visit with a protest, similar to the small rallies which met his trips to Milan and Tokyo last year. A government spokesman today urged protesters to think twice.

“I think this concerns the face of Thailand,” Maj. Gen. Weerachon Sukhonthapatipak said. “Whoever intends to discredit the government, I want to urge them to reconsider their thoughts, because doing so would mean discrediting Thailand as well. I think people who have good intentions for the country and Thai people can see that they shouldn’t do that kind of thing.”

Yesterday a group called Red USA put out a call online for protesters to gather Saturday at a park near the UN headquarters.

"We are inviting Thais to come out and exercise their rights in the Land of the Free,” it said. “Do not wait for anyone else. It is us who will return our country to normalcy again."

Prime Minister Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha samples langsat today at a farming produce exhibition at Government House in Bangkok.

However Weearachon pleaded with those looking to make a statement to think of what it would say about Thailand.

“I think the impact of those actions won’t be just on certain individuals,” he said. “It would be on the entire country … it may affect the country’s face. We will be seen as a society that is still divided.”

When a reporter asked Weerachon whether the government would directly ask anti-coup critics not to stage the protest, the spokesman said, “We won’t, because it’s an issue about individuals rights. But whatever they do, they should refrain from causing frictions or using words that will cause ill feelings.”

Speaking at Government House today, Gen. Prayuth said he is not concerned by prospects of being met by protesters during his trip.

“They will take care of me. Don’t worry. It’s a world-class summit,” Prayuth said, adding “I won’t be distracted. They criticize me every day anyway. Why would I be distracted?”

Nevertheless, the junta chairman, who also serves Prime Minister, echoed the worry a protest against him during the trip may negatively impact Thailand’s image.

“So many countries will attend the meeting. Aren’t they embarrassed? Our country is our country. If you want to pick a fight with me, do it in the country. Don’t pick a fight elsewhere. I’m embarrassed.” he said.

Since coming to power in May 2014, Gen. Prayuth has imposed a ban on protests, political activities and any public challenges to his regime. Some violators of the ban have been sent to stand trial under martial court, where they face up to two years in prison if found guilty by the all-military judges.

Since the coup, Thai activists living abroad have staged small protests when Prayuth visited their countries of residence, such as Milan, Italy in October 2014 and Tokyo, Japan in February 2015.

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BANGKOK — A former leader of the group which organized anti-government protests preceding the 2014 coup is reconsidering her application for an officer position in the Royal Thai Police, a police official said, after her candidacy was criticized as political favoritism.

Chitpas “Tant” Kridakon, 30, is being considered for the position of deputy inspector in the force’s 191 emergency response unit, Royal Thai Police chief Somyot Pumpanmuang confirmed yesterday. Although Chitpas did not attend police academy, he said such applicants can be considered if they possess the “special talents and abilities” needed by relevant agencies.

“As the commander of the Royal Thai Police, let me assure my fellow police officers that I will exercise my power and duty in accordance with the laws to consider [this matter] carefully, and I will uphold the principle of appropriateness, regulations and laws,” Somyot said yesterday.

He insisted police are treating Chitpas’ application like any other.

Chitpas and PCAD leader Suthep Thaugsuban at her graduation ceremony in Bangkok on 17 June, 2014. Photo: Chitpas Kridakon/Facebook.

Chitpas, once a scion of the family which owns Thailand’s largest brewery, was one of the core leaders of the People’s Committee for Absolute Democracy with the King as Head of State, or PCAD, during its campaign to oust the elected government from November 2013 to May 2014. The protest came to an end when the military intervened and staged a coup on 22 May, 2014.

In December 2013, Chitpas told AFP that she believes Thai people lack “true understanding of democracy … especially in the rural areas,” sparking condemnation from the government’s supporters, which consisted mostly of urban and rural poor.

During the weekend, a Facebook page published photos purporting to show some police officers tieing black ribbons to their radios in protest of Chitpas’ application.

According to the “Thai Police Fight Fight!” group on Facebook, officers were opposed to Chitpas’ joining the force because of her history of frequently denouncing the the Royal Thai Police during the anti-government protests she helped lead last year.

Many supporters of the former government also accuse the police of appointing allies of the military junta into its ranks.

Images from a police Facebook group showing black ribbons said to be in protest of hiring Chitpas. Photo: 'Thai Police Fight Fight'/Facebook

“Applying for police job is just an excuse. There’s more to this than that,” said Siriwat Chupamattha, a coordinator of the Redshirt umbrella organization in Payao province, which supported the toppled government. “There’s a hidden agenda.”

But Police Maj. Gen. Panurat Lakboon, commander of the 191 police unit, said he believes Chitpas would be a great contribution to the force because of her English language skills.

“It is nice of Ms. Chitpas to apply for a job with the police, because we need female police officers who are talented in English, in order to prepare for Thailand’s entry to the ASEAN Economic Community,” Panurat told reporters yesterday.

He added that he heard that Chitpas was thinking of withdrawing her application due to the wave of criticism.

“That would be a pity,” he said.

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By Grace Moore

By Grace Moore
Correspondent
BANGKOK — Activists from the New Democracy Movement led hundreds of demonstrators in a march Saturday, challenging the military government’s ban on protests.

Marching from Thammasat University to the Democracy Monument at around 5pm, the crowd of approximately 200 demonstrators chanted and waved signs denouncing thailand's military regime.

“Thai people must take part in the democracy movement,” said organizer and student-activist Rangsiman Rome. “If anything is going to be the enemy of the military regime, it's the democracy we represent."

The protest occurred as Prime Minister Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha prepares to travel to New York, where he is to address the United Nations General Assembly about Thailand’s plans for poverty alleviation, sustainability and the possibility of holding an open election within the next two years.

The protests was led by student activists Rangsiman and Siriwit Serithiwat, along with others including some of the 14 activists arrested in June on charges of sedition and violating the junta’s ban on public assembly.

The protest marked the nine year anniversary of the 2006 coup d'etat, which ousted then-Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. Demonstrators also pointed to the most recent coup, which toppled a pro-Thaksin government in May last year, as a sign of the military hindering democracy in Thailand.

Following the 2014 coup, political participation has been monitored in Thailand and hundreds have been arrested for anti-junta demonstrations, said Rangsiman Rome.

The need for a protest shows that there has been little progress toward democracy in Thailand for nearly a decade, Rome said.

As the march approached Democracy Monument, protestors were met by more than 100 police officers standing shoulder to shoulder, blocking the path. Demonstrators peacefully pushed through the police line and climbed the steps of the monument. Though police monitored the protest, searching bags and asking protestors to remove large banners from the monument, no arrests were made.

Piyarat Chongthep, an activist known for his views against student hazing rituals in Thailand's universities, also spoke at the protest about his desire to see democratic leadership.

“We need to be patient, but we will not stand a dictatorship,” said Chongthep.

Prayuth announced last week that an election could take place in Thailand in July 2017.

For activists such as Serithiwat, two years is too long to wait.

“We will keep trying," said Siriwit. "More and more of us will join this fight, until they give us back the power."

Correction: Due to a reporting error, an earlier version of this story incorrectly stated Prime Minister Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha had already departed for New York.  He leaves Thursday.

Student activist Siriwit Serithiwat addresses the crowd in front of Democracy Monument,  demanding a swift return to democratic rule in Thailand.

A young demonstrator holds a sign during Saturday's march from Thammasat University to Democracy Monument.

Approximately 200 police officers were posted around Democracy Monument to observe the protest. No arrests were made and protestors were allowed inside the monument. Police asked protestors to remove large banners from the monument and searched the bags of people entering the area.

Some demonstrators carried signs during the march, others waved pamphlets, many tweeted and posted updates to Facebook spreading the protest across social media.

The three-finger salute, popularized by the Hunger Games, is often used by those advocating democratic change in Thailand.

Student advocate and leader Rangsiman Rome was among 14 activists arrested 26 June, 2015, for sedition and violating the military junta’s ban on public assembly. He said Saturday's protest was "to show the power of the people in a democracy." The protest held on the ninth anniversary of the 2006 military coup d’etat shows "nothing has changed" Rome said. "Thai people must take part in the democracy movement," he said. "If anything is going to be the enemy of the military regime, it's the democracy we represent."

Student activist Siriwit Serithiwat marches at the head of hundreds of demonstrators Saturday to protest against military rule in Thailand. "We will keep trying," said Serithiwat, addressing the crowds later that evening. "More and more of us will join this fight, until they give us back the power."

Grace Moore is a Bangkok-based photographer and political science and visual journalism graduate of Western Washington University. Her work is available at www.gracelinmoore.com.

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BANGKOK — A pro-democracy group vows to go ahead with a demonstration tomorrow to mark the anniversary of the 2006 coup d’etat despite being warned to call it off by the military junta.

On the eve of the nine-year anniversary of the previous coup; which ousted then-Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra on 19 Sept., 2006; a junta security wing reminded activists of the New Democracy Movement by letter today that the regime will not allow any activity which may affect peace and order.

The group was planning to mark the anniversary with an afternoon panel discussion at Thammasat University followed by a nighttime march to the Democracy Monument.

But the letter from the Armed Forces for Maintaining Peace and Order, obtained by Khaosod reporters, states that it has yet to receive a request from the activists to hold the event, and says the junta will only approve events that take place inside Thammasat’s campus.

The current military junta has banned any kind of protest, public gathering and political activity since it seized power from a pro-Thaksin government in May 2014, except events directly approved by the regime.

Some dissidents who have defed the ban have been arrested and sent to stand trial under a military court, where they face up to two years in prison.

However, Rangsiman Rome, a Thammasat student and leader of the movement, told reporters his group will go ahead with the forum and march tomorrow, despite the junta’s warning.

“We already sent a letter to ask for permission from the NCPO, but we never received any reply,” said Rangsiman, referring to the junta’s formal name, the National Council for Peace and Order.

Speakers at tomorrow’s events include long-time activist Sombat Boonngam-anong, who was among one of the first who protested the 2006 coup nine years ago, and political scientist Puangthong Pawakapan.

Rangsiman and and thirteen other members of the New Democracy Movement are still facing criminal charges for an anti-junta march in June at the Democracy Monument. They were later arrested and held in prison for nearly two weeks before a martial court granted them temporary release.

Turning Point

The 2006 coup is regarded by many experts as a crucial turning point in Thailand’s political crisis. It pit Thaksin, a populist leader popular among poor and rural voters, against the Yellowshirts, an anti-Thaksin coalition of middle-class urbanites and traditional elites.

The Yellowshirts accused Thaksin of corruption, abuse of power and anti-monarchy sentiments. Starting in 2004, Yelowshirt leaders organized street protests aimed to remove Thaksin from power.

Two days before a major demonstration by the Yellowshirts and a counter-rally by Thaksin supporters, the military intervened to seize power in a coup d’etat as he was about to give a speech at the United Nations in New York City.

However, the coup failed to end Thaksin’s influence in Thai politics. His allies and proxies later returned to power by winning elections, with Thaksin as the de facto leader calling the shots from exile. The power struggle between the pro- and anti-Thaksin factions continues to this day.

Many political scientists also viewed the 2006 coup as the event that unwittingly turned Thaksin into a martyr for democratic causes among his supporters.

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