Police plan to charge pro-democracy activists who caused chaotic scenes in support of their colleagues on Friday.
Supporters of anti-government activists who arrived at Samran Rat police station to acknowledge charges stemming from a rally on July 18 broke police barriers and one threw a container of paint at officers, saying it was a form of art used to react against bullying authorities.
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.
Singer-songwriter Chaiamorn Kaewwiboonpan, known as Ammy of the Bottom Blues band, was the one who threw a container of blue paint at police.
In a recorded video clip, he was heard saying: "This is not a threat. If you continue to intimidate us, we will intimidate you back in artistic ways."
Anti-governmentprotesters scuffle with police as they try to break barriers and storm inside Samran Rat police station in Bangkok where 15 political activists arrived yesterday to acknowledge charges against them in connection with a rally on July 18. Blue paint in bags and a bucket was thrown at the officers during the ruckus.
Jatupat "Pai Dao Din" Boonpat- tarasaksa and 14 other activists had been summoned by police to answer charges against them and were each bailed on 200,000-baht sureties.
Mr Jatupat said the 15 activists denied all charges. Regarding the chaos in front of Samran Rat police station, he said the protesters had always tried to be polite and apologised for the incident. They would raise funds to compensate police for damage to their uniforms.
Mr Jatupat added that protesters believed the police had many good officers. "If they showed us that they would stand on the people's side, we would protect them," he said.
He said the protesters' fight was with dictatorship, not the police, but officers who sided with the authorities were on the opposing side to them.
Pol Maj Gen Methee Rakphan, commander of Metropolitan Police Division 6, said later that charges would be laid against demonstrators for removing police barriers and investigators would submit their report to public prosecutors on Sept 16.