Nine individuals discovered themselves under arrest following a brutal conflict outdoors a police station in Bangkok involving regulation enforcement and a group supporting a 15-year-old woman detained for over 40 days on allegations of royal defamation.
The arrestees, comprising seven males and two girls, included Tantawan “Tawan” Tuatulanon and Orawan “Bam” Phuphong. Earlier this 12 months, the two people had engaged in a 52-day hunger strike in a bid to secure the discharge of political prisoners and name for the abolition of Section 112 of the Criminal Code, pertaining to the lese-majeste law.
In the late afternoon, protesters congregated on the Samran Rat police station in Phra Nakhon district. They have been keen to communicate with those in cost after discovering that the station’s officers were contemplating leveling an extra cost of defacing an archaeological site against the incarcerated teenager, known as Thanalop or “Yok.”
Unsuccessful of their endeavor after two hours, demonstrators proceeded to douse and spray purple paint upon the partitions, steps, police vehicles, and a poster that includes an image of nationwide police chief Gen Damrongsak Kittiprapas. A protester went a step additional, smashing a glass door on the station.
In response to the escalating situation, approximately 50 crowd management police have been deployed. Officers armed with riot shields attempted to revive order, but their actions resulted in a standoff, adopted by skirmishes. In the chaos, nine people were apprehended and taken to a few separate police stations.
This incident occurred simply days before a court is scheduled to rule whether Yok will face an additional 15 days of detention.
She was initially arrested on March 28, the same day a 24-year-old male was apprehended for spray-painting a “No 112” message on the Temple of the Emerald Buddha’s wall in Bangkok. He is confronting expenses of vandalizing an archaeological site and lese-majeste.
The police declare they had a warrant for Thanalop’s arrest because of accusations of her insulting the monarchy throughout an October 2022 rally in entrance of Bangkok City Hall, when she was only 14 years previous. At the event, demonstrators called for the freedom of political detainees and an finish to royal defamation cases.
Following her arrest on March 28, Thanalop was detained overnight at Samran Rat station and subsequently appeared in juvenile and household courtroom the following day. She refused to acknowledge the proceedings and turned her back to the judge. As a outcome, she was ordered to remain in detention at the Ban Pranee Juvenile Vocational Training Center for Girls in Nakhon Pathom.
According to the Juvenile and Family Court Procedure Act, a minor have to be released from detention except the prosecutor files costs or requests a postponement within 30 days. In late April, the prosecution requested an extra 15-day detention period for Thanalop, which the court docket granted.
Thai Lawyers for Human Rights (TLHR) clarify that the legislation accommodates up to 4 15-day delays in cases where the offense carries a jail sentence exceeding five years.
Never again convicted of lese-majeste infractions can face jail sentences between three and 15 years. Sentences could be compounded for multiple offenses..