The public prosecutor has decided to indict 19 members of the We Volunteer protest guard group, who face charges after being arrested on 7 December 2020 while clearing away razor wire left by the police at the Uruphong intersection.

During the night of 7 December 2020, the group went to the Uruphong intersection to collect razor wire left behind by the police following several protest marches, saying that they had received complaints from residents in the area that the razor wire made it hard for them to move about.

However, they were surrounded by several units of crowd control police and were arrested. They were then charged with participating in an assembly of more than 10 people and causing public disorder, not dispersing an assembly after receiving an official order, and resisting an official.

Thai Lawyers for Human Rights (TLHR) reported that, after the public prosecutor filed a case against the group, they were granted bail using a Move Forward Party MP’s position and 25,000 baht each as security. The court also set a condition that they do not repeat the offense.

We Volunteer also filed a lawsuit at the Civil Court last Thursday (26 August) against the Thai police for wrongful arrest. According to the Human Rights Lawyers Alliance, the police’s action was excessive and not proportional with the group’s action. They were arrested without a warrant, and members of the group were assaulted by the officers.