Five police officers have been demoted because they failed to prevent anti-coup Khon Kaen student activists from humiliating Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, the head of the junta, during his speech in Khon Kaen last week.
According to Matichon, Police Maj Gen Bunlert Jaipradit, chief of Provincial Police Region 4, on Sunday transferred the five police officers from Khon Kaen Police Station to the Region Four Police Operations Centre.
The reason of the transfer is reportedly because the five failed to maintain law and order during Prayut's speech at Khon Kaen Provincial Hall last Wednesday, which allowed five students activists from Dao Din, a student activist group based in Khon Kaen University, to give the three-fingered salute and show t-shirts with the message ‘No coup d’état’.
The five police officers are:
Pol Col Suphakon Khamsingnok
Pol Col Phongrit Khongsirisombat
Pol Lt Col Anusak Sakdawatcharanon
Pol Maj Jiratchatikun Jarasakamonphong
Pol Maj Chatchai Timnikun
According to the Dao Din Facebook page, police officers in and out of uniform were monitoring the house in Khon Kaen, which used to be the group’s base. However, all group members are now in safe places elsewhere.
5 anti-coup activists arrested for 3-fingered salute during junta's leader visit to Khon Kaen