The pro-democracy group Ratsadon held a rally in Bangkok yesterday, this time with a view to the Thai police and corrupt practices in transportation. The system of officials having to pay bribes to high-ranking figures, allegedly including high-ranking politicians, was highlighted in a debate in Parliament last week.
According to a report by Thai PBS World, activists met at the Ratchaprasong intersection in the capital around 5 p.m. and stayed there for an hour. Most of the speakers, however, were unfamiliar faces, with prominent leaders such as Panasaya Sitthijirawattanakul, also known as “Rung,” and Mike Rayong being particularly absent. Those who turned to the crowd urged “honest” officials to join them in the fight for justice as they criticized the widespread nepotism and corruption allegedly widespread in the police force.
The protesters then marched to the nearby Royal Thai Police headquarters and sat outside in the street while the speeches continued. Once, an activist read a letter that the group said had been written by a police officer and addressed to his colleagues. In it, the officer asks his colleagues to decide whether to serve the people or those in power, and asks them whether they think they have been treated fairly by their superiors or used for political purposes. After the reading, the rally participants received copies of the letter.
The protest broke up peacefully around 8:30 p.m. The organizers said that another rally is planned for today. Activists will be asked to wear black and will gather in front of the criminal court to symbolically mourn the country’s judicial system. The “mourning” will last 112 minutes to protest against Section 112 of the Thai Penal Code, also known as the Lèse Majesté Act. Participants will also demand the release of 4 detained protest leaders, Parit Chiwarak, Anon Nampa, Somyos Prueksakasemsook and Patiwat Saraiyaem.
SOURCE: Thai PBS world
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