Thanayut Na Ayutthaya, a rapper known by the stage name Elevenfinger, has been arrested and accused of throwing a small explosive device near the Prime Minister’s residence on Sunday night (10 April).

Thanayut Na Ayutthaya (Picture from TLHR)

According to a Thai Lawyers for Human Rights (TLHR) report, Thanayut was arrested on the evening of 10 April. At around 21.30, police officers went to his house after receiving a report of an explosion. They found Thanayut injured and, upon searching the house, discovered a large number of firecrackers and smoke bombs. Thanayut was charged with illegal possession of explosives and arrested.

Around 5.30 Monday morning (11 April) at the Tha Rua Police Station, he was questioned by Bangsue police officers about a small bomb-throwing incident which occurred the previous evening near the gates of the 1st Infantry Regiment military base, where Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha’s house is located.

The police accused him of being involved in the incident and charged him with carrying weapons in a public place without reasonable cause and causing an explosion. The police allege that Thanayut and several other people left a protest at the Democracy Monument on Sunday and rode motorcycles along Vibhavadi Road. The explosion occurred immediately after they passed the military base.

Thanayut denied the charges and said he would only testify in court. The Bangsue police then confiscated his mobile phone, even though it is not related to the manner for which he was being charged.

Monday afternoon, Tha Rua police officers interrogating him about the firecrackers and smoke bombs found at his residence. Thanayut acknowledged that the smoke bombs were his but denied owning any firecrackers.

During the interrogation, he had a high fever, likely a result of his injuries. He was not taken to a hospital and only received first aid from an emergency medic team.

Later the same day, he was taken to the South Bangkok Criminal Court, and released on bail after posting a 100,000-baht security. 

Thanayut, 20, is a rapper from Khlong Toei, a densely-populated community in the middle of Bangkok. He was one of the subjects of the award-winning documentary School Town King, which tells the story of two Khlong Toei youths who dream of becoming rappers but face daily struggles due to social inequality.  

Prior to his arrest on 10 April, he was already facing a total of 5 charges - 3 for performing at protests in 2020 and 2 for participating in protests at the Din Daeng Intersection in September 2021.

Thanayut’s girlfriend Patima (last name withheld) was also arrested on Monday afternoon. She was initially summoned by the Bangsue police to be questioned as witness in Thanayut’s case. However, when she arrived at the police station, she was also charged with carrying weapons in a public place without reasonable cause and causing an explosion.

Patima was taken to the Ratchadapisek Criminal Court, where police requested that she be temporarily detained. They opposed granting her bail on the grounds that she is facing serious charges, has no full-time employment, and is likely to run away.

The Court approved the request and ordered Patima to be detained from 11 – 22 April. On 12 April, a second bail request was denied for the same reasons. Patima is currently being held at the Central Women’s Correctional Institution.