BANGKOK — Organizers of Thammasat University's annual football parade have snubbed the Thai army's request to cancel the parade because of its political nature.

Per tradition, Thammasat University students kick off their annual football match against Chulalongkorn University with a parade featuring commentary on contemporary politics.

A parade float took a jab at then-Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, who Thai press call the 'Red Crab,' at the annual Chulalongkorn – Thammasat football match on 25 Feb 2012.

According to a report on Isra News, the Second Cavalry Division “requested” that Thammasat cancel this year’s parade, scheduled for 7 February.

Weerachai Pongkaew, a spokesperson of the unit, told Isra that the order was sent in accordance with the junta’s policy to ask all sides for “cooperation” in keeping politics out of the public eye.

"We have dispatched senior [officers] to talk with the organizers," Col. Weerachai told Isra. 

Since staging the coup against the elected government on 22 May 2014, the military junta has outlawed public protests and political activities of any kind. The junta has canceled a number of academic seminars on political issues, including a forum on press freedom last month.

Activists unfurl a banner calling for the release of Somyot Prueksakasemsuk, a magazine editor jailed for allegedly insulting the Thai monarchy, during the Chulalongkorn – Thammasat annual football match on 2 Feb 2013. 

Prinya Thaewanarumitkul, the deputy dean of Thammasat, toldMatichon that he received the military's "request for cooperation," but said the university administration has decided to go ahead with parade as planned.

"The mocking of politics is an activity we hold every year. It is an opportunity for the students to express their opinion," said Prinya. "So we have agreed to let the activity go ahead. However, as for concerns expressed by certain groups, we will consider the details of each activity based on what is appropriate."

Kanathip Kaikaew, the Thammasat student who is organizing card stunts for the event, said he has not personally received any orders from the military, but insisted that the parade and card stunts are friendly activities.

"It adds color to the event and promotes friendship between the two universities," Kanathip said in an interview with Matichon, "The card stunt will proceed as normal. There won't be any self-censorship."

The student in charge of organizing the parade also confirmed toMatichon that the march will proceed as planned.

A parade float that accused the US of "robbing" the Asia-Pacific region with its perceived unfair trade treaties, 2 Feb 2013. 

Maj.Gen. Sansern Kaewkamnerd, a spokesperson of the Thai military government, said he is not aware of the military's request to cancel tomorrow's football parade, but added that the event's organizers should be aware of how their actions may be perceived.

"The activity can be seen in many ways. It is about rights, freedom, and tradition. There's nothing [wrong] with that," Maj.Gen. Sansern said. "However, all contexts have to be considered. The organizers may not think that their activities will damage the country, but some other groups may use them in political ways."

Thammsat University has been regarded as a bastion for progressive movements throughout much of Thailand's political history. However, the university's administration has come under fire in recent years for its perceived collaboration with Thailand’s conservative factions. The current rector, Somkit Lertpaithoon, was recently targeted by Thammasat student activists for his support of the 22 May coup that toppled the elected government, and for joining the junta’s interim parliament. 

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BANGKOK — A senior Chinese minister reportedly praised the May 2014 military coup in Thailand and vowed to strengthen ties between the two countries during his state visit in Bangkok today.

Gen. Chang Wanquan, Minister of the Defense of the People's Republic of China, expressed his "understanding" of the political situation that led to the coup, according to Col. Kongcheep Tantrawanich, a spokesperson for the Thai Ministry of Defense. 

Gen. Chang Wanquan (L) and Thai junta chairman Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha in Bangkok, 6 Feb 2015.

"The Chinese government understands the political situation in Thailand because it has been following very closely," Col. Kongcheep quoted Wanquan as saying. "The Chinese government is aware that Thailand has gone through complicated changes in recent years. He also praised the Thai armed forces for taking control of the situation to restore peace and order, as desired by the people." 

Thailand's military junta says it imposed martial law and toppled an elected government on 22 May 2014 to restore order after the country had been rocked by six months of sporadically violent anti-government street protests.

According to Col. Kongcheep, Wanquan said "the Chinese government respects the Thai government's solution to its domestic problems, and will not interfere."

Wanquan's visit to Bangkok follows the cooling of diplomatic relations between Thailand's post-coup military government and the United States, which has criticized the coup and called for a return to democratic rule. On Thursday, a senior US State Department official told reporters that the US would not fully restore its military alliance with Thailand until the junta cedes power to a democratically elected government, AFP reported. 

Last month, US Assistant Secretary of State Daniel Russel raised the ire of Thai officials by urging the junta to repeal martial law and all restrictions of civil rights. The Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs called the speech “disappointing” and accused Russel of interfering in Thailand’s domestic affairs. The MFA later summoned the US Charge d'Affaires in Bangkok to discuss Russel's remarks. 

In contrast to the US and other western countries, the Chinese Communist regime has never publicly criticized Thailand’s military coup. Three days after the military takeover, The Global Times, a pro-government Chinese daily, published an editorial describing the coup as a result of the "disorder" caused by experiments with Western-style democracy in Thailand.  

"As Western democracy has thrown many small countries into disorder, more and more people began to realize that destructive elements may be activated if China adopts it," the editorial said. "Fortunately, China has the wisdom and capability to seek an independent political path."

According to Col. Kongcheep, Wanquan assured the Thai government that Chinese authorities will support Thailand in various fields, such as exchanging intelligence reports and cracking down on the narcotics trade, human trafficking, and other transnational crimes.

China will also "support Thailand's defense industry" and cooperate economically with the Kingdom, Col. Kongcheep told reporters.

Despite diplomatic tensions, the US is still set to commence its annual Cobra Gold military exercise in Thailand on 9 Februray. 

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BANGKOK — The Thai military has reportedly denied legal counsel to a Redshirt activist who was arrested for spreading a fake royal statement, citing powers granted to the military under martial law.

Police say Krit Bootdeecheen, 25, was "among the first" to share a document on social media that purported to be issued by His Majesty the King on 2 February. The statement claimed that King Bhumibol had appointed a Regent to act on his behalf. Within an hour, the Thai government announced that the document was forged. 

Krit, who has been identified as member of the Redshirt movement, is currently facing charges of lese majeste (insulting the monarchy) and violating Computer Crimes Act, which criminalizes using a computer to spread false information.

Winyat Chartmontri, a lawyer dispatched by Redshirt leaders to assist Krit today, told reporters he was refused entry into the 11th Infantry Regiment headquarters, where Krit has been detained since his arrest yesterday. According to Winyat, military officers claimed they had the right to detain Krit without any access to legal representation for up to seven days under martial law. 

Winyat said he cited a series of other laws in an effort to change the minds of the military officers, including Section 4 of the junta’s interim charter, which proclaims the protection of every citizen’s civil rights, and Section 7/1 of the Thai Criminal Codes, which outlines a suspect's rights to legal assistance while in custody. 

"The officers that met with me told me to forget all those laws, because the country is under martial law at the moment," Winyat said. "So they wouldn't let me meet with the suspect. They said I can only meet him after seven days of detention."

He continued, "I would like to inform all relevant authorities that suspects deserve protection in accordance with human rights principles and the Constitution, even though martial law is in place at the moment."

Since seizing power last May, the Thai military junta has used martial law to ban all political activities, censor the press, detain more than 300 individuals in military camps for several days without charges, and try dissidents in military courts, where appeals are not permitted. The junta has also granted military courts jurisdiction over lese majeste lawsuits and other cases that concern "national security."

Worawut Wichaidith, a spokesperson of the Redshirt organization the United Front of Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD), raised concerns that authorities may be "selectively" prosecuting Redshirt activists in connection with the forged royal document. 

"Do the authorities have an intention to politically bully Redshirts?" Worawut asked. 

Jatupon Prompan, a top UDD leader, compared Krit's treatment to that of a royalist newspaper, ASTV Manager, that published the false statement on its website. 

"Krit is no different than the website of ASTV Manager," Jatuporn said. "But they were treated so differently. Because Krit is a Redshirt, he is detained like a major criminal."

The Redshirt movement is regularly accused of harboring anti-monarchy elements in its ranks. Redshirt leaders have repeatedly denied the allegations, though a number of radical Redshirt activists are known for their criticism of the monarchy. 

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