Chaos as anti-government protesters remove police barriers

Supporters of pro-democracy activists remove police barricades in front of Samran Rat police station in Bangkok, as 15 activists arrive to acknowledge charges against them in connection with a rally on July 18. (Photo by Apichart Jinakul)
Supporters of pro-democracy activists remove police barricades in front of Samran Rat police station in Bangkok, as 15 activists arrive to acknowledge charges against them in connection with a rally on July 18. (Photo by Apichart Jinakul)

There was chaos in front of Samran Rat police station in Bangkok on Friday morning as anti-government activists arrived to acknowledge charges stemming from a rally on July 18.

Their supporters removed police barriers and during the ruckus one threw a container of paint that splattered over some officers.

Jatupat "Pai Dao Din" Boonpattarasaksa and 14 other activists were summonsed by police to answer charges against them.

They had stayed overnight at the October 14 Memorial at Khok Wua intersection on Ratchadamnoen Klang Avenue, "Sleeping in camp, not sleeping in prison".

On Friday morning, they walked from the nearby Democracy Monument to Samran Rat police station to answer the summonses.



More than 100 supporters accompanied them, some carrying banners with the message "Down with dictatorship. Long Live Democracy”, in Thai.

The 15 activists face charges of violating the emergency decree and traffic, cleanliness and disease control laws.

Around 9.45am, chaos erupted as supporters confronted police manning barricades set up to prevent outsiders and reporters from entering the station.

Angry supporters removed the barriers. Singer-songwriter Chai-amorn Kaewwiboonpan, known as Ammy of the Bottom Blues band, threw a container of blue paint at police, soaking some of them.


A paint splattered police officer. (Photo: Apichart Jinakul)

Mr Chai-armon said, “This is not a threat. If you (authorities) continue to bully us, I will bully you back with a form of art.’’

The supporters forced their way into the station compound, gathering at the bottom of the front entrance stairs as the activists entered the building to acknowledge the charges.



The commander of the Metropolitan Police Division 6 said later that charges would be laid against demonstrators for removing police barriers.

He also said that after questioning, the 15 activists would be released.

Vocabulary

  • activists (noun): people who take part in activities that are intended to achieve political or social change, especially someone who is a member of an organisation - นักกิจกรรม
  • barricade: a temporary structure built to prevent someone/something from getting past - แผงหรือแนวรั้วกั้น
  • barrier: a bar or gate that stops people, animals or vehicles from entering a place - สิ่งกีดขวางทางผ่าน
  • bully: to use your influence or status to threaten or frighten someone in order to get what you want - รังแก
  • chaos: a situation in which everything is confused and in a mess - การจราจล
  • charge : an official statement accusing someone of committing a crime - ข้อกล่าวหา
  • dictatorship: a government having complete power and which does not rule democratically - เผด็จการ
  • emergency decree (noun): a situation where the government takes on special powers in a dangerous situation and the rights of the people are often limited in some way - ประกาศภาวะฉุกเฉิน  
  • ruckus (n): a situation in which there is a lot of noisy activity, confusion or argument -
  • splatter: (of a liquid) to hit a surface violent and spread over an area - กระเด็น
  • summons (verb): to officially order someone to come to a place - เรียกตัว

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