Arrest warrants were issued for six activists who took part in a demonstration where students issued a 10-point call for reform of the monarchy last week, police said yesterday, as students called more protests.
The charges against the six were not over the demands made by thousands of people at Thammasat University's Rangsit campus at the protest on Aug 10, but for breaching internal security and measures to stop the spread of Covid-19 as well as for computer crimes, officials said.
The six include Panusaya Sithijirawattankul, 21, the student who read out a manifesto demanding reform of the monarchy. They also include human rights lawyer Arnon Nampa and activist Panupong Jadnok.
Pathum Thani police chief Pol Maj Gen Chayut Marayat said yesterday the Thanyaburi Provincial Court approved the arrest warrants on Friday after police conducted an investigation following complaints registered at Khlong Luang police station.
Pol Lt Gen Amphol Buarabporn, the Provincial Police Region 1 commissioner said: "They can hand themselves in today, or whenever, but shouldn't bring a crowd."
The Ministry of Digital Economy and Society will file a complaint against self-exiled academic Pavin Chachavalpongpun for creating a Facebook group deemed critical of the monarchy, ministry spokesman Putchapong Nodthaisong said. The group, called Royalist Marketplace, has more than one million members.
"We have filed a request to Facebook to delete the entire group, but the platform hasn't been cooperative," Mr Putchapong said. "So the ministry will now use the Computer Crime Act."
Mr Pavin did not respond to a request for comment.
Gen Prayut said young people have the right to protest, but the rallies calling for reform of the monarchy in his view "went too far".