18 members of the monarchy reform group Thaluwang have been summoned to acknowledge charges after a protest calling for the removal of national artist status from Senator and poet Naowarat Pongpaiboon.

On 8 August 2023, Huai Khwang Police Station issued summonses to 18 activists of Thaluwang group on five charges after they protested at the Ministry of Culture to demand that Senator Naowarat lose his national artist position after he abstained during the prime minister vote.

The Reporters reported that the officials from the Ministry of Culture and Huai Khwang District Office reported the case to the police, seeking legal action on five charges.

The charges include trespassing, property damage, and violating the 2014 National Council for Peace and Order prohibiting the use of fireworks and similar objects without permission, the Public Assembly Act for organizing a public gathering without notification and the Cleanliness and Orderliness Act prohibiting vandalizing of public properties.

On 6 August 2023, the activists, wearing masks and holding signs criticizing the Senate, lit smoke flares, spray-painted the sidewalk in front of the Ministry and splashed coloured liquid on the Ministry’s name sign.

The protestors demanded the Ministry strip Senator Naowarat of his position as a national artist. They said Naowarat is a hypocrite since he had initially pledged to vote for the PM nominated by the majority of the lower house. But he later abstained from voting when Pita Limjaroenrat from Move Forward Party was nominated.