Update: Seven activists in total were arrested for commemorating the 84thanniversary of the 1932 Siamese Revolution. Six are student activists from Ramkhamhaeng and Kasetsart University while another is Chanoknan Ruamsap, a youth activist from the New Democracy Movement (NDM). The police accused the seven of violating the junta’s ban on political gatherings and on Saturday will request permission from the Military Court to detain them.
Police officers have detained student activists for commemorating the 84th anniversary of the 1932 Siamese Revolution which brought down the absolute monarchy.
At about 9 am on Friday, 24 June 2016, police officers arrested students from Kasetsart University and other pro-democracy youth activists who gathered at the Lak Si Monument, Bangkok, also called the Monument to Protect the Constitution, to commemorate the 24 June 1932 Revolution which brought down the absolute monarchy.
At press time, the police officers had taken the activists to Bang Khen Police Station.
Earlier on the same day, police officers briefly detained Sirawit Serithiwat, a prominent anti-junta activist, who led a number of people to commemorate the 1932 Revolution at the memorial to the revolution at the Royal Plaza, Bangkok.
At the event, a minor commotion erupted as a man came to the 1932 Revolution Memorial and denounced the revolution, saying that it was an event that caused damage to the Thai monarchy and religious institutions.
The police briefly detained the man, but he and Sirawit were released without charge.
Sirawit Serithiwat (centre) and many others gather at the Royal Plaza, Bangkok, on 24 June 2016 for the 84th Anniversary of the 1932 Revolution (image courtesy of Fahroong Srikhao)
Police detain a student from Kasetsart University commemorating the 1932 Revolution (image courtesy of Anon Nampa)
