Military and police officers have searched the offices of Pheu Thai party politicians in northern Thailand and confiscated red bowls inscribed with Thai new year greetings from former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.
Matichon Online reported that at 10:30 am on Saturday, 2 April 2016, soldiers from the 15th Cavalry Squadron in the northern province of Nan and police officers searched three offices of former Members of Parliament from the Pheu Thai party in Mueang, Pua, and Wiang Sa districts of the province.
The security officers confiscated red bowls from the three offices and took them to the 38th Military Circle in Nan.
On Wednesday, military officers in the northern province of Chiang Mai summoned two journalists from Thairath News into a military base and questioned the two about a news article about a red bowl, which was published on the Thairath news website on 26 March.
The news article showed a picture of the red bowl which is inscribed with the message “Although the situation is very heated, may all brothers and sisters receive cool bliss from this bowl with love and care. Happy Songkran Day” and Thaksin’s signature.
Earlier, military officers in Chiang Mai arrested Theerawan Charoensuk, 57, for posting on Facebook a picture of herself holding the red bowl with the Songkran message from Thaksin.
The picture of the bowl was posted on her Facebook profile together with images of Thaksin and his sister, Yingluck Shinawatra, with the message “Happy 2016 Songkran Day, this Songkran, I especially miss all my brothers and sisters very much and want to help you solve problems, but before that I would like to send encouragement, love and thoughts.”
The military filed a charge against Theerawan under Article 116 of the Criminal Code, the sedition law, for posting the picture. Yesterday the Military Court of Chiang Mai released her on bail of 100,000 baht, about 2800 USD, pending a military trail. If found guilty, she could face up to seven years in prison.
Military officers at a Pheu Thai party office in Nan Province on 2 April 2016 (courtesy of Matichon)
Prachatai English is an independent, non-profit news outlet committed to covering underreported issues in Thailand, especially about democratization and human rights, despite pressure from the authorities. Your support will ensure that we stay a professional media source and be able to meet the challenges and deliver 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”