Graffiti artists last night took up the unfinished message of a protester arrested for spray painting protest messages on Bangkok’s Grand Palace.
Hours after a 25-year-old man was tackled by police as he painted graffiti opposing a law used to jail dissidents on the palace’s wall, pro-democracy group Thalugaz carried on the mural’s message elsewhere in Bangkok.
The graffiti replicated the letter “P,” the anarchy symbol, and the crossed-out numerals “112,” as painted by a man arrested by police along with a teen girl who this past October became the youngest person charged under the lese majeste law at 14.
The tweet showed photos of a road sign and utility box sprayed with the same slogans. It included the sentence, “You deleted it, but we can repaint it.”
The numerals “112” are a reference to Section 112 of the Criminal Code, which penalizes any perceived insult or threat to the monarchy with up to 15 years in prison. The law has been used to jail political dissidents, particularly those calling for reforms of the monarchy. It was unclear what “P” was to signify as the artist was tackled while painting it.
Thalugaz, which literally means “breaking through (tear) gas,” consists of young anti-monarchy activists who emerged during protests in Bangkok’s Din Daeng neighborhood. Comprised of working-class residents, it has taken up more aggressive tactics to challenge the authorities. In late 2021, members were involved in frequent protests at which they clashed violently with police.
Thailand is 46 days away from general elections, prior to which some opposition figures are campaigning on their intention to reform or repeal Section 112.
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