Police have threatened to revoke bail for protest leaders if they violate release conditions.
Pol Maj Gen Piya Tawichai, deputy chief of the Metropolitan Police Bureau (MPB), said yesterday the MPB has discussed preparations to handle an anti-government rally planned for Wednesday in front of the Crown Property Bureau.
“If protest leaders who were previously freed on bail violate their release conditions, police will ask the court to revoke their bail and forbid them from attending any future rallies,’’ Pol Maj Gen Piya said yesterday while anti-government protesters yesterday gathered at Aksa Road in Bangkok’s Thawi Watthana district.
Commenting on whether police will enforce Section 112 of the Criminal Code, or the lese majeste law, against protesters, he said police will make a decision based on their behaviour.
However, Pol Maj Gen Piya said such a decision will be made by senior officers at the MPB, and investigators will ensure fairness to all.
Regarding the anti-government rallies last weekend, Pol Maj Gen Piya said investigators are expected to identify and press charges against more protesters, in addition to the 31 demonstrators who have already been identified.
MPB police are to press charges against 31 demonstrators over last week’s anti-government rallies outside parliament and the police headquarters.
Pol Maj Gen Piya previously said 14 people had been identified as committing offences near parliament in Dusit district on Tuesday, and 17 others during the protest outside the Royal Thai Police Headquarters in Pathumwan district on Wednesday.
They were from both sides, from a royalist group and from the anti-government side and police would start calling them in to acknowledge charges next week, he said. The charges would include attempted murder, causing damage to government property, demonstrating without prior permission, assembling to create disorder, physical assault and violation of cleanliness and land traffic laws.
Pol Maj Gen Piya said three people who were shot during the clashes between rival groups of demonstrators near parliament had been questioned.
Meanwhile, anti-government protesters led by Parit or “Penguin” Chiwarak yesterday gathered at Aksa Road in Bangkok’s Thawi Watthana district.
However, Pol Col Somsak Mongkholkhunaporn, Thammasala police chief, met for talks with protest leaders and asked them to move their rally from Soi Utthayan 13 to Soi Utthanyan 11. But the protest leaders insisted on their original rally site.