The government has voiced its outrage at the British ambassador for, er, making a fair point about the government’s double standards.
Envoy Mark Kent wrote a sarcastic Tweet after a group of anti-coup student activists travelling to Rajabhakti Park in Hua Hin, a THB1-billion army project that has been hit by allegations of corruption, were taken off the train and detained in military custody on Monday, reported the Nation.
Under a law brought in by the junta after the coup, public gatherings of more than five people and “anti-coup” activities have been banned.
Most of the 30 students had to sign an agreement promising not to “engage in such activities again,” according to Bangkok Post.
Kent Tweeted: “I had hoped the fact 200 people allowed to demonstrate at the US Embassy, might be relaxation on freedom of assembly”.
Oh, snap.
He was referring to the demo on Nov. 27 where hundreds of protesters told US envoy Glyn Davies to “go home” after he expressed concern over Thailand’s increasing use of defamation laws in stifling public debate.
Strangely enough, no cop appeared then to remind the mob of the public gathering ban.
Incensed at the Brit’s salty words, the Thai government hit back on Tuesday, ominously warning that they would consider summoning him for talks.
Spokesman Werachon Sukondhapatipak said it was “disappointing that the ambassador took a position that has supported a group that has often broken the law and disrespected judicial processes,” according to Bangkok Post.
“This type of behaviour can…encourage ‘lawbreakers’ to further damage the country,” he added.
PM Prayuth Chan-ocha waded in too, saying if officials hadn’t stopped the students, they could have been physically attacked by residents with different views. Of course.
“There were people wanting to attack them, or did you want us to let them go and let them get hurt? If that had happened, you would have blamed the government again,” he said.
Kent’s cool as f**k response?
“I think my tweet is clear enough,” he told Bangkok Post. “I was making an observation. It is of course for the Thai authorities to administer the country as they see fit.”
“I hope they do so in accordance with their international obligations, as the EU has previously stated.”
Photo: The British Foreign & Commonwealth Office
