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Seeing uniformed police officers surrounding and arresting university students is a common sight in Thailand for over the past two years.
Not only that, plainclothes officers have also been very active over the past six months visiting and harassing activists at their homes.
This is state intimidation plain and simple.
Despite international condemnation and local outcry, the government are still unfairly using vague laws to arrest and prosecute students for speaking their minds.
Prayut and his regime can continue to deny any wrongdoing but the military regime only knows barracks-room tactics.
On Saturday, scores of officers were seen surrounding and arresting a female university student while she was protesting on the Ratchadamnoen Nok Road at the same time a Royal Motorcade was passing.
Thantawan “Tawan” Tuatulanon and her friends were broadcasting live and asking police why farmers, who came out to protest against low crop prices, were moved from their protest site near the road when they are not blocking it.
The police surrounded the young pro-reform activist and told her to turn off her phone before they forcefully arrested her. Tawan later showed the media of the bruises and scratches that she got from the arrest.
The police did not allow her access to her lawyer until 10 pm and detained her for one night and charged her with failing to listen to orders and resisting arrest.
On Sunday, the police filed a lese-majeste and violation of the Computer Crime Act charges against her and then detained her for another night.
The police said she violated Section 112 of the Criminal Code during a protest last week when she conducted a street poll at Siam Paragon to ask pedestrians whether the royal motorcades are creating problems for the people.
He lawyer filed for bail on Monday and she was released with a surety of 100,000 baht, an EM bracelet on one of her ankles, and a condition that she no longer conduct any activity against the royal institution.
And the government still denies that they are doing anything wrong and everything is operating according to international standards.
I guess the standards we are looking to is Russia’s.