Protest organizers are asking people to gather this afternoon at every BTS station for what’s likely to be another round of protests.
After a week of nearly daily protests began Oct. 14 at venues across Bangkok, activist group Free Youth issued the call today despite a court order that it cease online operations, a directive confirmed by Putchapong Nodthaisong of the IT ministry.
Via its Telegram channel, which has hit the cap of 200,000 users; Free Youth instructed supporters to gather at every BTS station at 2pm and await a 3pm announcement.
As of 1pm, the BTS operator had yet announced any closures. The Skytrain system, a mainstay of middle-class mobility, has become a potent tool for organizing rallies. Commuters of the sprawling system depend on it, a fact which hasn’t stopped the government from shuttering it in part of full in its unsuccessful attempt to prevent mass rallies.
The government’s also pushed since Monday to muzzle platforms covering the protests.
Broadcaster Voice TV yesterday was ordered by a court to halt all online operations after the authorities said it was guilty of violating the Computer Crime Act and the state of emergency imposed one week ago over the capital. It’s terrestrial broadcasts have become unavailable after providers cut the channel’s programming.
An order to shut down Free Youth’s page, followed by more than 1 million people, will depend on Facebook’s willingness to comply. The page has meanwhile asked followers to subscribe to a backup page.
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