PATHUM THANI — A police officer has been charged with premeditated murder for fatally shooting a 30-year-old man at a police station in Pathum Thani province yesterday.

Police say Assaneechaiyapol Charoenwinit was shot in his right rib cage by Police Lance Corporal Paisit Onsongchan at Pratunam Chulalongkorn Police Station at around 4:30am on Sunday morning.

According to the station’s chief, Pol.Col. Korawat Hanpradit, the officer said he was manning his desk and interrogating six suspected drug dealers when Assaneechaiyapol suddenly burst into the police station wielding a knife. 

Assaneechaiyapol reportedly refused to stand down and lunged toward the police officer, leading Pol.Lc. Paisit to fire two warning shots, Pol.Col. Korawat said.

After those shots reportedly failed to stop Assaneechaiyapol, Pol.Lc. Paisit shot at him directly. He later died from the gunshot wound at the hospital.

Pol.Col. Korawat said police are investigating Pol.Lc. Paisit and have charged him with premeditated murder.

"I'd like to express my condolences for relatives of the deceased," Pol.Col. Korawat said. "We will give fairness to both sides." 

Asssaneechaiyapol's father, Jirapong Charoenwinit, said he didn’t believe police’s account of the story, especially after they refused to show him CCTV of the incident. 

He described his son, who recently received a Bachelor's Degree and was preparing to start a Master's, as very well-behaved.

"All I have heard is just words from mouths of the police," he said. "When I demanded to see the CCTV footage, the entire station told me they didn't know how to play the tape. I only want to see the CCTV footage … if my son was indeed at fault, I would not demand anything from the police."

Pol.Col. Korawat said today that police would not release footage of the incident for the moment, "because it is an important piece of evidence. It may affect the investigation." 

BANGKOK — Nearly 100 pro-democracy activists staged a rare rally against the Thai junta today, hours after junta chairman Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha reminded the public that protests are still banned in Thailand under his military regime.

"Don't try to fool me and act like you can do or say anything ‘because we are a democracy,’" Gen. Prayuth said at an anti-corruption event in Bangkok this morning. "Do you misunderstand something? Today, I am the one makes the rules. Previous governments couldn’t do that. But today, I made the rules, and all of you have to follow them." 

The general outlawed public protests and political activities after seizing power from an elected government in May 2014. The few who have attempted to defy the ban – mostly university students – are usually quickly rounded up by police. Some have also been charged and sent to face trial in martial court.

Speaking to the audience this morning, Gen. Prayuth warned that he has the names of people who are preparing protests against his regime, but did not elaborate. 

Hours later, nearly 100 people gathered in the northeastern province of Khon Kaen in solidarity with seven student activists who are facing charges for unfurling an anti-junta banner on the anniversary of the May 2014 coup last month.

The seven Khon Kaen Universty students, from the progressive student activist network Dao Din, were scheduled to report to police at 5 pm today to formally hear their charges, but announced this afternoon that they would not show up as an act of "civil disobedience." They were then joined by dozens of other social justice activists around Khon Kaen’s Democracy Monument, making it one of the largest anti-junta rallies since the May 2014 coup.

Approximately 100 soldiers and police officers were dispatched to contain the demonstration.  Brief scuffles broke out when security officers took away some of the protesters' banners, but no arrests were made.

To symbolize the junta's suspension of democracy, activists wrapped camouflage-patterned cloth around the city’s Democracy Monument, and read a statement on behalf of Dao Din.

The statement called on the junta to repeal its ban on political activities, end "intimidation" and legal action against civilians, organize an election "immediately," and allow local communities to participate more in important issues. 

Later the in the day, the students’ lawyer asked police to postpone their surrender for seven more days. The request was approved.  

The seven Dao Din students, who are facing up to one year in prison, are Chatupat Boonyapatraksa, Apiwat Suntararak, Payu Boonsopon, Panupong Srithananuwat, Suvicha Tipangkorn, Supachai Pukrongploy, and Wasant Satesit.

"If they still do not report themselves to the police in the second meeting, we will arrest them immediately," said Pol.Col. Noppadol Petchsutthi, commander of Mueang Khon Kaen Police Station. 

BANGKOK — Thailand's military government is not concerned with the international community's reaction to a proposal that junta chairman Gen. Prayuth Chan-och stay in power for two more years, a spokesperson said.

"There has been no reaction from foreign [governments], and it is not something that should concern us either," said Maj.Gen. Weerachon Sukhondhapatipak.

He was referring to a measure, put forth by 26 members of the junta-appointed National Reform Council (NRC), that calls for holding a referendum on whether Gen. Prayuth should push back elections for two more years in order to complete his government’s reform projects.

"Sometimes, foreigners have to listen to Thai people's opinions," Maj.Gen. Weerachon said. "If foreigners disagree with some issues that are the desires of Thai people, to whom should we give more importance, fellow Thai people or foreigners?"

The spokesperson said the international community would have no grounds to protest the measure if it was backed by the Thai people in a referendum.

"It would be considered the consensus of the country," he said. 

Under the junta's current "road map" for the return to civilian rule, the next election is scheduled to take place in September 2016 at the earliest. 

After toppling a democratic government in May 2014, Gen. Prayuth appointed the NRC to propose reforms across a variety of sectors – including politics, economy, culture, and media – and assist with the drafting of a new charter. The military government has also used emergency powers to enact other reform measures aimed at solving issues like land encroachment and human trafficking.

Throughout the past year, the Thai junta has had to fend off criticism from democratic nations, such as the United States of America, Australia, and the European Union, who condemned last May’s coup d’etat and have downscaled diplomatic relations with the military regime.

Gen. Prayuth has suggested on several occasions that Western governments do not understand the situation in Thailand. 

Paiboon Nititawan, a NRC member who supports the election delay, told reporters yesterday that the two-year extension has divided the 250-member reform council.

"As far as I have listened, the opinions are now divided along two sides," Paiboon said. "How many people are on each side is not clear." 

Asked whether other government agencies, such as the NRC, should stay in power alongside Gen. Prayuth, Paiboon said it will be up to the junta chairman to decide. 

Paiboon also suggested the issue be decided in the same referendum that the military government has pledged to hold on the new charter.

"Apart from asking the people whether they will accept the new constitution, there should be other questions as a bonus as well. Let's just ask the people once and for all. That is the right thing to do," Paiboon said. 

However, Prapas Pintobtaeng, a political scientist at Chulalongkorn University, denounced the proposed referendum for Prayuth's power extension as "nonsensical." 

"A referendum has to rest on certain principles," Prapas said at an academic seminar yesterday. "Not everything can be put to a referendum. We have already have a procedure on how to elect governments. Referendums must not be used to violate that basic principle of democracy."

He also called on the junta to lift its ban on political activities and free expression before the referendum on the new charter is held.