BANGKOK — Police arrested around ten student activists several hours before they planned to protest the May 2014 military coup d'etat on its one-year anniversary.

The activists, who belong to the Young People for Social-Democracy Movement (YPD), were detained by police officers in front of the 14 October Uprising Memorial on Ratchadamnoen Avenue.

Student activists arrived at the 14 October Uprising Memorial to find the entrance barricaded, 22 May 2015.

A statement on the group’s Facebook account said the activists were planning to hold a public forum at the memorial on the state of human rights in post-coup Thailand, followed by a protest at nearby Democracy Monument later in the evening.

However, security officers blocked the entrance to the memorial before the students arrived. Upon seeing police, the activists decided to read a statement in front of the venue, prompting officers to arrest them and bring the group to Chanasongkram Police Station for interrogation. 

The students were interrogated and released without charges at around 2.30 pm. 

The statement, which was also posted on the YPD's Facebook account, denounced the military junta's suppression of freedom over the past twelve months.  

"We cannot build a democratic society if we lack freedom, liberty, rights, justice, and reconciliation," the statement reads. "We believe that peace in society will not be born out of a lack of resistance. Peace in the society will only be born out of equality and justice in terms of power, economics, and politics."

Small anti-coup protests around the country

Although political activities and public challenges to the military remain banned by the junta, activists have planned several public events to mark the first anniversary of the coup today.

Plain-clothed officers arrest Dao Din activists for their anti-coup protest in Khon Kaen, 22 May 2015. [Photo: Dao Din]

This morning, police arrested seven student activists for unfurling an anti-coup banner in front of a Democracy Monument in the northeastern province of Khon Kaen.

The activists belong to Dao Din, a student group that gained national attention after four of its members interrupted Gen. Prayuth during a speech and flashed the forbidden anti-junta "three-finger salute."

In Bangkok, thirty students from Ramkhamhaeng University held a brief rally in front of Parliament to honor the pro-democracy uprising in May 1992, when tens of thousands of demonstrators flooded the streets of Bangkok to demand an elected Prime Minister. 

Students from Ramkhamhaeng University rally in front of Parliament to honor the pro-democracy uprising in May of 1992, 22 May 2015.

Nanthapong Panmat, the leader of today's demonstration, described the charter drafted by the current junta as a departure from the legacy of the 1992 uprising because it opens up a channel for an unelected Prime Minister. 

"The Prime Minister has to be elected by the people," Nanthapong said. Police did not interfere with the demonstators, who dispersed on their own.

A separate anti-coup group called Resistant Citizens is scheduled to appear at the Criminal Court in Bangkok today to file a charge of high treason against junta chairman Prayuth Chan-ocha for overthrowing a democratic government.

Another group of activists is preparing to hold a vigil in front of the Bangkok Arts and Culture Center in downtown Bangkok at 6 pm today. 

BANGKOK — The Thai junta's rubber stamp parliament has approved a 2.72 trillion baht budget for the 2016 fiscal year, awarding the Education, Interior, and Defense Ministries the largest chunks of spending.

The three ministries will receive 520 billion baht, 343 billion baht, and 207 billion baht, respectively. 

The budget reflects the steady rise of spending allotted to the Ministry of Defense over the past decade; the Ministry received 193 billion baht in the last budget, and 184 billion baht the year before.

Gen. Prayuth flashes a rare smile during the parliamentary budget hearing on 21 May 2015.

Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha, who seized power from an elected government exactly twelve months ago and later installed himself as Prime Minister, kicked off the parliamentary session yesterday with a 2 hour speech.  

He described the enormous "pressure" he has faced since seizing control of the country one year ago, but conceded that he had no one to blame but himself. 

"Don't pity me today, because I brought this upon myself," Gen. Prayuth told the junta-appointed National Legislative Assembly (NLA). "I have been burdened with expectations and pressure. I am under a lot of pressure. My family is pressured. But today, I will work to the fullest. Please believe me that I will not seek personal gain for anyone.”

He also asked the public to be patient with his effort to root out corrupt officials.

"If you tell me to remove all the bad people from the system, it cannot be done," Gen. Prayuth said. "There are 400,000 bureaucrats out there. If I were to obey the media, I would have to remove 200,000 of them. And where would I place these people? In order to remove them, I need evidence of wrongdoing first."

The general continued, "The military also has some bullies and drunkards, but slap them around the head a few times and they will come to their senses. Please rest assured that the military is sincere at heart." 

Gen. Prayuth, who is known for his long-winded and unpredictable speeches,  had to pause several times to catch his breath and ask for water. 

At one point, a parliament staff passed a note to Gen. Prayuth informing him that his sign language interpreter could not keep up with the pace of his speech.

"The [interpreter] can't keep up," Gen. Prayuth said after reading the note, "I apologize. I rarely go on live shows."

Gen. Prayuth also veered off his script to suddenly ask the NLA to applaud his performance over the past year. 

"Am I good? If you think I'm good, give me some applause," Gen. Prayuth said. The NLA members dutifully complied. 

The budget plan was unanimously approved by 186 votes, with five abstentions. 

As the session was wrapping up around 7 pm, NLA chairman Pornpetch Wichitcholchai asked the lawmakers to give another round of applause to show their "honor and thanks" to Gen. Prayuth.