The content in this page ("Quick update on intimidation of "We Want to Vote" movement" by Nuttaa Mahattana) is not produced by Prachatai staff. Prachatai merely provides a platform, and the opinions stated here do not necessarily reflect those of Prachatai.

Quick update on intimidation of "We Want to Vote" movement

While our schedule for the assembly on 21-22 May to mark the 4th anniversary of the coup remains (to start at 5 p.m. on Monday at Thammasart University and 7 a.m. on Tuesday before marching to the government house), there are certain developments that need to be addressed.
1. Over the last few days, the junta has stepped up their harassment towards people whom they guess would join our assembly. They have sent many soldiers and police to follow them closely, visit them frequently and station in front of their house in order to ensure they won't be able to travel to Thammasart today. Cases for these are in countless numbers now. The last one was a 57 years old woman who will help us with managing food supplies. She's followed by soldiers into the night and up to the point she requested to stay overnight at a police station tonight.
2. The police in some province, e.g. Pathumthani, has gone to the next level by requesting Search Warrants from the court in order to threaten people further. They have found nothing in the houses they search, but it did cause distress to those whose right is violated without any sound reason. An ill lady has serious blood pressure after the incident.
3. The worse case this evening was an Enforced Disappearance of a man who used to rent us the sound system. We know (through his wife who was released) now that he is kept in an army camp with the effort to ensure he can't deliver the truck with the sound system crucial to the assembly to us tomorrow.
4. On top of the above, the junta has a strategic Information Operation against us at the moment. They released the news saying there will be a group of armed people joining us and that we will cause major traffic problem on many roads on both days. They also informed the media that we have a plan to invade the government house. All are not true if you could recall my brief about our stand and the detail of the assembly. We intend for the event to be creative and peaceful and to serve as the impactful communication, while other channels are blocked.
That's how things go so far. We leaders are at risk of getting Enforced Disappearance anytime before we reach Thammasart. I will keep you updated if there is any further development. There will be observers from the UN and a network of Human Rights organizations, e.g. HRW, AI, etc. who will watch us closely during the event.

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