After camping out at Thammasat University overnight, pro-democracy protesters were blocked from leaving Thammasat University and marching to Government House this morning as planned.
As of 10:30am, hundreds of protesters from the “We Want Voting” movement, were stuck behind barricades as a large troop of police officers assembled to prevent a march intended to mark the fourth anniversary of the 2014 coup.
A police officer used a loudspeaker to ask protesters to disperse, while protest leader Sirawith Seritiwat urged the group to ignore the police’s messages.
“Folks, please go home. There are so many ways to ask for justice. And the [protest] leaders, please don’t condone this,” a police officer could be heard saying over the speaker.
“I’d like you to follow the laws,” he said.
Sirawith responded via his own speaker: “The world is seeing that we’re a dictatorial country! Aren’t you proud of that?”
“Let them finish talking! When they’re tired, we’ll see what we do. Don’t listen to the cops. Look another way!”
At about 10am, one female protester, who has not been identified, fainted and collapsed, causing momentary chaos as Rangsiman Rome, another protest leader, demanded that police open a path for an ambulance to reach the woman.
มีคนเป็นลมหัวกระแทกพื้นใน #กลุ่มคนอยากเลือกตั้ง แต่พวกเจ้าหน้าที่กลับยืนยันที่จะปิดกั้นถนนทั้งสองด้านไม่สามารถเปิดทางให้รถพยาบาลเข้ามาได้ และใส่ร้ายว่าเป็นการปลุกปั่น?
จิตใจความเป็นคนขั้นพื้นฐานหายไปไหนกันหมด!!?#ข่าวสด#ข่าวจริง pic.twitter.com/Nc6N0Z3wwV
— บ่นไปเรื่อยเปื่อยเฉื่อยแฉะแซะมงแซะมงแซะมงมง (@hengsuaycountry) May 22, 2018
After 10 minutes of intense exchanges between the cops and Rangsiman, the woman was being taken away by paramedics.
Aside from that incident, no one has been injured.
The “We Want Voting” group first gathered yesterday at about 5pm, insisting today’s protest would be peaceful and carried on without weapons.
Police, meanwhile, have kept reminding protesters that all gatherings of five or more people have been banned.
At press time, rain has begun to fall, and protesters had opened their umbrellas. The group’s Facebook page has called for people to leave work today to join the protest.
“#WeWantVoting would like to invite the citizens to take a day off from work for the country. Let’s walk to the Government House together to demand an election.”
ฝนตกบริเวณการชุมนุมของ #กลุ่มคนอยากเลือกตั้ง แต่ทั้งตำรวจและผู้ชุมนุมยังคงประจันหน้ากันต่อไป pic.twitter.com/mWZzfCCxlY
— Am Sasiwan (@amsasiwan) May 22, 2018
