Red Bowls Distributors May Get Sent to Junta Re-Education 'Course'

One of thousands of red plastic water scoops to be distributed to Redshirts in the north of Thailand in an undated photo.

BANGKOK — Three former MPs allied with former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra may be the first taken in for seven-day, re-education sessions on military bases.

Their qualifications for what the junta euphemistically describes as a “class?” The trio was responsible for distributing red-colored water scoops to Thaksin supporters on behalf of the influential former premiere, junta spokesman Piyapong Klinpan said Monday.

“Officials in the legal section of the National Council for Peace and Order are deliberating whether the politicians in Nan province who handed out red bowls to the people will have to undergo the course,” Col. Piyapong said, using the full name of the junta.

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The course lasts for 168 hours, or seven days, Piyapong said.

On Saturday soldiers raided the homes of former MPs Sirintorn Rammasute, Poonsuk Lohachote and Cholnan Srikaew in Nan province where they confiscated more than 10,000 red bowls, which were supposed to be used later this month in the Songkran water festival.

Each of the bowls bears a printed message and signature of former Prime Minister Thaksin, the de facto leader of the Pheu Thai Party, which led the civilian government until the May 2014 coup.

“Happy Songkran, Thai New Year 2559,” the message says. “Although the situation may be hot, I wish that you, brothers and sisters, will receive coolness from the water in this scoop.”

Meanwhile, police spokesman Dechnarong Sutticharnbancha said police are expanding the investigation to net more people involved in distributing the red bowls.

“Right now, the country wants to see peace and order and moving forward to reform the country,” Gen. Dechnarong was quoted as saying by Thairath on Monday. “If any group of people violates it, we have to prosecute them in accordance with the law.”

 

Related stories:

Thaksin’s Red Bowls Incite Division, Junta Says

10,000 'Red Bowls' Confiscated, Deemed Threat to National Security

Police Confiscate ‘Red Bowls’ From Yingluck Supporters

Woman Charged With Sedition For Posing With Red Bucket

 

Teeranai Charuvastra can be reached at [email protected] and @Teeranai_C.

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