Last night (15 October), members of the ultra-royalist group People’s Centre to Protect the Monarchy attacked a group of activists protesting in front of the Ratchadapisek Criminal Court to demand the release of political prisoners. They also threatened reporters livestreaming the protest and other bystanders.

Activist Mongkhon Thirakot sitting above the Criminal Court sign next to a portrait of King Vajiralongkorn

At around 17.00 on Sunday evening (15 October), activist Mongkhon “Bas” Thirakot climbed onto the Criminal Court sign in protest, after his belongings went missing along with 5,000 baht in cash. Mongkhon has been living on the footpath in front of the court since 28 September, protesting the detention of pro-democracy activists. He said he was later told that city officials took his belongings, and that the police were told he was homeless.

Other activists and bystanders gathered in front of the Court. Police officers also came to negotiate with Mongkhon, asking him to go to the police station, but Mongkhon insisted on speaking to the city official who took his belongings and that the official returns his money.

At around 18.10, members of the People’s Centre to Protect the Monarchy arrived. One of the group members was carrying a metal rod, while another threw a water bottle at Mongkhon and threatened him.

The group also attacked other activists nearby. They ran at Chokdee Rompruk, a musician who has been protesting in front of the court and playing music, forcing him to pack up his belongings. One group member tried to attack him even though he was standing behind a police officer. Chokdee later said one of the men punched him in the face.

A Centre member wearing a hat and scarf with camouflage pattern was carrying a metal rod

The men also threatened reporters and citizen journalists livestreaming the incident. Anon Klinkaew, Centre leader, threatened to attack Prachatai reporter Sarayut Tangprasert, who was livestreaming on his personal Facebook profile page due to a technical issue, if there was any “inaccurate report.” The man holding the metal rod also threatened Sarayut after he reported that the men were armed.

Anon Klinkaew (blue shirt) shouted threats at Prachatai reporter Sarayut Tangprasert

The men also threatened citizen journalist Paradorn Ketphuak, who was also livestreaming the incident. Paradorn told Prachatai that he was livestreaming when the police was speaking to Mongkhon when Centre members arrived. The man wearing a scarf with a camouflage pattern and holding a metal rod threatened to hit him if he continue livestreaming. Paradorn also saw the same man threaten Sarayut, even though he identified himself as a reporter and presented his press ID card.

Paradorn said he saw Mongkhon got off the sign and went into the Court parking lot after things were thrown at him. The group then went to harass Chokdee. Paradorn said a man wearing a blue shirt, who other group members call “Bang,” punched Chokdee and threatened him and other bystanders to get out of the area.

The men came back to the footpath after going to Paholyothin Police Station to report the incident. Group members said on a livestream on the People’s Centre to Protect the Monarchy’s Facebook page that, since the police had not been able to get Mongkhon to come down from the sign, they were taking care of it themselves.

Centre members surrounding Paradorn

Another livestream on the group’s Facebook page showed group members surrounding Paradorn, who was still livestreaming in front of the Court. Paradorn said he was waiting to make sure Mongkhon is safe, and that another citizen journalist left their camera with him, so he was waiting for them to come back for the camera. The men tried to make Paradorn leave. Anon tried to get a reaction out of him by ramming his body into Paradorn, who stood his ground and blocked the men with his arms.

An older man wearing a black face mask then tried to approach Paradorn, but was threatened by Anon and another group member. After someone shouted at them, the group went over to a man in green shirt standing with his motorcycle at the nearby bus stop. Insults were thrown from both sides, while a man in a blue shirt from the Centre tried to get the man to attack him. A voice was heard on the livestream telling the man in blue not to provoke the other person as it will put the group at a disadvantage.

A few minutes later, the man in blue shirt kicked the man in green and punched him. Anon held the man in green down while another man hit him with the metal rod. Meanwhile, the person livestreaming for the Centre turned the camera away. Other group members also pushed Paradorn and prevented him from recording the fight.

The man in blue shirt attacking the bystander standing at the bus stop

Paradorn said this is the third time this year that members of the People’s Centre to Protect the Monarchy harass him while covering a protest in front of the Criminal Court. He has filed a complaint with Paholyothin Police Station twice, but no progress has been made. He said that Chokdee and Mongkhon have filed a complaint against their attackers, and that he has also spoken to other attacked bystanders but is not sure whether they will press charges.

Police officers, court marshals, and court security guards were present during the incident. However, the police did not interfere until group members attacked the man in green. An older man with a face mask also later said that the man who was attacked is his son, who was only observing the incident.