Activist attacked for ninth time in 15 months

Activist attacked for ninth time in 15 months

Activist Ekkachai Hongkangwan shows the watches he planned to give to Deputy Prime Minister Gen Prawit Wongsuwan at Government House on Jan 11 last year. (Bangkok Post file photo)
Activist Ekkachai Hongkangwan shows the watches he planned to give to Deputy Prime Minister Gen Prawit Wongsuwan at Government House on Jan 11 last year. (Bangkok Post file photo)

An activist has been attacked for the ninth time in 15 months, this time in front of a court in Bangkok.

Ekkachai Hongkangwan was beaten by four men when he arrived at the Criminal Court to hear a case in which he was one of the defendants charged with breaking laws for staging a pro-election rally.

Nuttaa Mahattana, a co-defendant and activist, wrote on Facebook Mr Ekkachai was beaten by four men after he got off a bus. According to her, he filed a complaint with the Phahon Yothin police station.

Mr Ekkachai posted on Facebook at 11.20am doctors recommended him stay overnight at a hospital for observation.

His friend posted on Facebook an x-Ray showed broken bones on the right hand and a broken rib.

According to data compiled by Prachatai news outlet, on Jan 19 last year, he was beaten after he tried to give Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon watches in a symbolic protest against the controversial ownership of luxury watches by the general. 

Four days later, he was attacked at a bus stop.

On Aug 14 last year, two men threw smelly pla ra (fermented fish) sauce on him. A week later, he was beaten in front of his house.

On Jan 19 this year, he was again beaten and was saved by a group of tourists near Khao San Road. On Jan 27, his car parked in front of his house was burned. On March 5 this year, he was hit in the head.

On April 1, his car was again torched, with damage beyond repair this time, after he joined an activity to remove the Election Commission.

Each time, he filed complaints but police have yet to find the perpetrators.

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