Weekly Roundup

Candlelit vigils by ‘white shirts’ spring up across the provinces
 
Students, artists and activist groups held candlelit vigils in Bangkok and other provinces such as Chiang Mai and Phitsanulok in the north, Nakhon Ratchasima, Khon Kaen and Ubon Ratchathani in the northeast, and Nakhon Si Thammarat in the south, to speak out against violence and a possible coup, and to support the February 2 election.
 
Candlelit vigil in front of Bangkok Art and Culture Centre
 
In Bangkok, a few thousand people attended a candlelit vigil in front of the Bangkok Art and Culture Centre on Friday evening, while on Thursday and Friday students at Srinakharinwirot, Silpakorn and Chulalongkorn universities held similar events at their campuses. A few hundred people attended the vigils. 
 
Over the weekend, about 100 people also attended a similar vigil at Thammasat University’s Tha Prachan campus, while students from King Mongkut’s Institute of Technology Ladkrabang and its other two campuses held a candlelit vigil on a cruise on the Chaophraya River, sending a message of support for electoral democracy.  
 
In Chiang Mai, activists and artists held a “Dine 4 Election” event where about 100 people gathered for dinner at a square at Tha Pae Gate, wearing white t-shirts with the slogan “Respect my Vote”
 
Candlelit vigil in Nakhon Ratchasima province, northeast of Thailand. 
 
candlelitvigil in Ubon Ratchathani province, northeast of Thailand. 
 
Students in Silpakorn University held candlelit vigil on Wednesday
 
School cancels Netiwit’s speaking event 
 
Students from the Law Club at a school in northeastern Ubon Ratchathani Province had to cancel a seminar which had invited Netiwit Chotipatpaisal, a student campaigner against obsolete rules in schools, after facing pressure from the school director to cancel the event. 
 
Dechapol Suwanam, the student organizer who is a Mathayom 6 student at Benjamamaharaj School, then decided to hold the event at Mueang Ubon Ratchathani police station, where his father works as a superintendent. About ten students showed up to attend the talk, where previously about 200 students showed an interest in joining the event at the school. 
 
Dechapol said that prior to the event, news about the talk spread widely over social networks, while being picked up by anti-government parents who criticized Netiwit for having a “dangerous mind” and being anti-monarchy. 
 
 
Prominent academics and NGOs speak out against a coup
 
Prominent academics and NGOs set up a “Two Yes and Two No” network, supporting elections and reform according to the democratic system, and opposing coups and violence. The network, which consists of ten organizations, includes academics such as Seksan Prasertkul, former student activist and Somkiat Tangkitpanich, head of the Thailand Development Research Institute, and NGOs such as the Assembly of the Poor and Deep South Watch. 
 
Academics and activists against coup held press conference at Thammasat University on Friday
 
 
Former Thai Communists vow to fight against a coup
 
About 500 former Communist fighters gathered at the People’s Fighters Monument in Amnat Charoen province and called for a fight against a possible coup. The group said if a coup actually takes place, it plans to establish a force to protect democracy, which would recruit people to fight against the rebels in the north and northeastern provinces. 
 
former Communist fighters gathered to stand against coup on Friday in Amnat Charoen province, northeast of Thailand
 
About 500 people attended the gathering at the People's Fighters Monument in Amnat Charoen province
 
 

Since 2007, Prachatai English has been covering underreported issues in Thailand, especially about democratization and human rights, despite the risk and pressure from the law and the authorities. However, with only 2 full-time reporters and increasing annual operating costs, keeping our work going is a challenge. Your support will ensure we stay a professional media source and be able to expand our team to meet the challenges and deliver timely and in-depth reporting.

• Simple steps to support Prachatai English

1. Bank transfer to account “โครงการหนังสือพิมพ์อินเทอร์เน็ต ประชาไท” or “Prachatai Online Newspaper” 091-0-21689-4, Krungthai Bank

2. Or, Transfer money via Paypal, to e-mail address: [email protected], please leave a comment on the transaction as “For Prachatai English”