Nutchanon Payakaphan and Panupong Jadnok raise banners condemning the government’s handling of the coronavirus on July 15, 2020.
BANGKOK — Police on Thursday said two activists were charged with violating the Emergency Decree after they attempted to raise banners condemning PM Prayut Chan-ocha during his visit to Rayong province.
Police spokesman Kissana Phathanacharoen said two men, identified as Nutchanon Payakaphan and Panupong Jadnok, were arrested Wednesday for failing to comply with police orders. The pair, who said they were there to protest Prayut’s handling of the coronavirus, said they did not do anything wrong.
“I didn’t find my action to resist police functions,” Panupong said. “When I asked why they were taking me, they didn’t say anything. They took me into the car and left me without taking me into custody, so I walked out. How could that be seen as an escape?”
The activist also said he filed a complaint against the officers who arrested him for negligence and assault. Nutchanon and Panupong later submitted a petition to the House Committee on Human rights Thursday afternoon.
In a video of yesterday’s event, both of the activists are seen forcibly removed from the curbside minutes before PM Prayut motorcade arrived.
“Don’t touch me! Tell me first why are you arresting me?” Panupong said as he was being taken away by police. “Are you trying to press me a charge?,”
“No, no. Just go first,” a man who appeared to be a commanding officer replied.
The pair were preparing to greet Prayut with signs which read “The longer you stay, the longer the country is screwed-up” and “Don’t let your guard down, my ass.”
The activists said they were later dropped off far away from the Prime Minister’s visit route. They also showed bruises to reporters, saying they were subject to police violence during the arrest.
“Look at what the officers did to citizens,” Panupong said.
But Col. Kissana said officers were performing their duties under the Disease Control Act since the Prime Minister could be at risk of infection from the protesters.
“Officers were using their power under the Disease Control Act to order two men to disperse as part of the security operation for the PM,” Kissana said. “The PM is a VIP.”
PM Prayut briefly visited Rayong province Wednesday evening to inspect health measures in the wake of a controversy over mishandling of quarantine measures.
No legal action has been taken so far against those responsible for a group of Egyptian airmen, who were allowed to leave their quarantine hotel for a shopping trip in the city during their stop in Thailand. One of the pilots later tested positive for the coronavirus.
On August 9, A man attacked an officer, took his gun, and fled to his house in Plang Yao District, Chachoengsao Province. The officer then tried to persuade him to surrender for more than 6 hours but still failed.
Later at 6:00 pm, Plangyao Police Station decided to send 50 officers from a special operations unit in Chachoengsao Province.
The standoff lasted until 11:00 p.m. and the villain still showed no signs of surrendering.
So, they decided to chain his doors and windows preventing him from escaping until the next day rather than risk any of the officers or even the suspect’s life.
Meanwhile, the Royal Thai Police in Chachoengsao Province started to process a search warrant for the next morning after leaving a couple of police officers to watch the house.
Later, Col. Sonthaya revealed that the perpetrator was named Mr. Anon, 45, at the house in Tha Bunmi Subdistrict, Koh Chan District, Chonburi Province, who went into a drunken methamphetamine rampage and destroyed his neighbor’s ricefields.
Chachoengsao Province
Police tried to intervene but Mr. Anont took a gun from Officer Or Sor and ran away. Mr. Anon’s daughter also reported his unusual behavior saying he was showing signs of aggressive behavior telling officers to exercise caution especially since he had a gun.
Police hope he will surrender after bringing a search warrant after the drugs wear off. To be continued……..
Later, it was reported that the suspect had escaped through the back of his house prior to officers boarding up his doors and windows. Police then conducted a search of the house and did not find the stolen gun. Police are still searching for the armed and dangerous suspect now.
Thai embassies hit by Covid-19: Staff members of Thai embassies in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia have contracted the novel coronavirus, according to the Foreign Ministry. The embassy in Manama reported that a foreign employee suffering mild symptoms tested positive for Covid-19, ministry spokesman Cherdkiat Atthakor said on Sunday.
A policeman in Si Sa Ket province who suffered from mental illness reportedly killed himself on Saturday (August 8) by jumping out of the hospital building. The deceased, Suwaroj Khumthong, 53, was a police officer at Muang Chan Police Station who was admitted to Sisaket Hospital due to his mental condition.
![Car Rental Udon Thani Airport](https://udoninfo-jktpartnersllc.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/CAR-RENTAL-UDON-THANI-AIRPORT-THAILAND.png")
![Car Rental Udon Thani Airport](https://udoninfo-jktpartnersllc.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/CAR-TRUCK-RENTAL-UDON-THANI-AIRPORT.png")
