The military in Chiang Mai arrested an editor for flashing a three-fingered salute in Chiang Mai. The editor was released after being coerced into signing the military-drafted agreement not to engage in political activity again  

 

On Friday at 1.30 pm, two military officers arrested Nitipong Samrankong, a writer and editor of Burakamin Publishing House, at a hospital where he works full-time, after the military found on Facebook a photo of him flashing a three-fingered salute at Thapae Gate, in Chiang Mai city  

Nitipong and two others on Thursday flashed the three-fingered salute and posted a photo of them on Facebook. After the activity, they left the scene without any incident. 

 

After the arrest, the military took him to Kawila Military Camp in Chiang Mai and interrogated him on why he carried out the activity, his personal information, and his political stance. The editor answered that he is not a political activist and never joined any political movement and that he is merely an ordinary citizen who follows political news. 

 

He told Prachatai that he flashed the salute because he was inspired by the courageous act of the Khon Kaen University students and that he felt angry that the students were detained. 

 

The military later asked about the two others in the photo and ordered him to lead about five military officers to the house of one of the two. However, that person was not at home. The military then took him to Chiang Mai Police Station. 

 

At the police station, he signed the agreement. The military also threatened that if he made any political move again, he will be prosecuted in a military court.  He was released late on Friday night.

 

Nitipong said he was scared and is now worried about the repercussions on his work at the hospital.