PATHUM THANI: Police on Friday temporarily freed 21 pro-democracy activists after formally charging them with defying a ban on public assembly on two occasions in Khlong Luang district last month.
Khlong Luang police interrogated the activists, including key student leaders Parit Chiwarak and Panusaya Sithijirawattanakul, about their role in ignoring the ban on public gatherings imposed following the outbreak of a new wave of coronavirus cases.
They were later allowed to leave the station, to cheers from supporters who were waiting outside to show them support amid tight police security.
All of them denied the charges.
Another activist, Suwanna Tarnlek, did not report as she had a court appearance.
The activists face charges for gathering at the Klong Luang station on Jan 13 to support Sirichai Natueng and again on Jan 15 to support Chayaphol Danothai. The two, who are members of the United Front of Thammasat and Demonstration, faced lese majeste charges, which they denied. Mr Sirichai was charged twice in the space of 24 hours.
Police decided to charge the activists after the Jan 15 protests, which featured two goats wearing red and bearing the number 112, referring to the section of the Criminal Code that covers lese majeste. A red flag bearing the same under was also seen during the rally.
Mr Parit said police planned to seek a court order to detain the accused but then decided to change the plan after they were told it was not a sufficiently serious case.
Dozens of members of the youth-led protest movement are facing numerous charges related to their activities since July last year. Many relate to assembly bans and other violations such as breaches of public cleanliness regulations or unauthorised use of loudspeakers.
However, authorities in November also revived the use of lese majeste after a hiatus of more than two years, as Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said “all laws” would be used against those challenging the established order.
According to Thai Lawyers for Human Rights, a total of 55 people have been charged under Article 112 between Nov 20 and Jan 29.
