The Thai government has arrested two more student protest leaders of the latest pro-democracy movement on Wednesday.
Tatthep “Ford” Ruangprapaikitseri, one of the leaders with the Free Youth Movement, was arrested for sedition and other charges related to organizing a rally on July 18.
James Panumas, an LBGTQ activist who is Ford’s partner, was also arrested on similar charges. Both of them could be sentenced anywhere from three to seven years in jail if they are found guilty.
The protest on July 18 was the first major rally of the latest movement against Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ocha’s administration which resulted in a small altercation between the protestors and the police at the Democracy Monument.
Ford and James are now being transferred to Samranrat Police Station where the arrest warrants were issued.
There have now been four protest leaders arrested this week.
The first arrest was of Panupong “Mike Rayong” Jaadnok, a student protest leader from the Rayong Progressive Movement, who was arrested on Monday for sedition and similar charges related to another rally at Thammasat University’s Rangsit campus on August 10.
The second arrest was Anon Numpha, a human rights lawyer and political activist, who was arrested on Tuesday for sedition and other charges related to the Thammasat rally where speakers broached the taboo topic of the monarchy.
Ford and James are the third and fourth to be arrested.
These protest leaders have all been arrested for allegedly organising, making speeches and performing at various democratic rallies since July 18. The latest of which was on August 16; more than 10,000 people attended in protest against Prime Minister Prayut’s administration.
Including Ford and James, there are now 13 university students, activists and musicians who have been arrested on sedition and other charges related for protesting against the prime minister and his government.