A gathering took place in the Siam shopping district on Monday (16 October) on the 2nd anniversary of the 16 october 2020 crackdown on the protest at Pathumwan intersection. The gathering called for an amnesty for all who face charges for participating in political protests.

Participants in the gathering holding photos of injuries inflicted by the authorities’ use of force to disperse the protests.

On 16 October 2020, crowd control police forcibly dispersed protesters at the Pathumwan Intersection to demand the resignation of Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha using water cannon blasts laced with chemical irritants and stained blue with long-lasting paint. Tear gas was also reportedly used. The police arrested a large number of protesters. Former Prachatai reporter Kitti Pantapak was also arrested.

The 16 October 2020 protest took place following the declaration of the Severe State of Emergency in Bangkok, which banned gatherings of more than five people and allowed state officials to arrest people and detain them for 30 days without informing them of the charges against them. There was also a ban on the publication of information that “could create fear”, affect national security, or damage public morale.

On 15 October 2020, crowd control police also dispersed a protest at Government House and arrested at least 27 people. Despite the Severe State of Emergency and ban on gatherings, thousands of protesters joined the protests at the Ratchaprasong intersection in the evening of 15 October 2020 and at Pathumwan intersection on 16 October 2020.

During Monday’s gathering, photos of injuries inflicted by the authorities’ use of force to disperse the protests were placed on the sidewalk in front of the Siam Square One shopping mall. Participants also held a candlelit vigil for two people killed during the 2020 – 2022 protests: Warit Somnoi, a 15-year-old who was shot on 16 August 2022 following a protest at Din Daeng intersection and who died after 2 months in a coma, and Mana Hongthong, 64, who was shot in the head with a rubber bullet when police dispersed a protest at the Din Daeng intersection on 15 August 2021 and died in March 2022 after being paralyzed by his injuries.

Dr Tossapon Serirak

Former Pheu Thai MP Dr Tossapon Serirak said that he called the gathering because 16 October 2020 was the first day in 2020 that the authorities used force to disperse a pro-democracy protest, and that the use of violence continued, leading to injuries and the death of two people. He further noted that several protesters were permanently disabled, including one who is now paralysed and two who have lost their vision.

Tossapon said that at least 1,860 people face charges for participating in the protests, over 200 of whom are minors, and that around 10 people have been denied bail and held in pre-trial detention. He noted that the charges disrupt these people’s daily lives, as many have to go to numerous court appointments, while those who have to wear a monitoring bracelet on their ankles find it difficult to go to work or study and had developed skin issues from the bracelet.

Tossapon said that these young people are important for the country’s future and for their families, and wanted to propose a solution to allow them to study, go overseas to continue their education, or work normally so they can contribute to the country’s development. He therefore called for the authorities to drop all charges against activists and protesters. He also proposed a bill granting amnesty to all those prosecuted for participating in protests or other forms of political expression.

Tossapon and others who are working on the bill will now visit political party representatives and go to parliament to meet the House Speaker and various house committees to discuss the bill. He hopes to also be able to meet with government representatives to push for the bill to become law.