The military on Tuesday reportedly arrested 10 more red-shirts in northern Chiang Mai Province and raided the office of Rak Chiang Mai 51 Radio, a community radio station of the major red-shirt faction in the province. Meanwhile, 11 anti-coup protesters have been conditionally released.
Only a few anti-coup protestors showed up on Tuesday as hundreds of military officers were deployed in the northern city to prevent protests.
At about 2 pm on Tuesday, military officers raided an automobile shop near Payap University, and arrested five red shirts and seized a homemade pistol, three boxes of firecrackers, knives, an axe, and red flags, among other objects, according to Hed Lom News, local news website in Chiang Mai. The names of the detainees have not been released.
Khaosod Online reported that 20 military officers arrested four red-shirt local leaders, including Phoonjai Chaiya, aka “DJ Tom”, on Tuesday.
At approximately 8 pm on Tuesday, about 20 military officers raided a restaurant in Mae Rim district and arrested Piset Naphachaithep, aka “Thai Redrock”, a leading member of the Daeng Seri Lanna (Lanna Liberal Red) group.
11 Chiang Mai Red leaders released, at least seven more detained
11 red-shirt leaders were released on Tuesday. Among them are Pichit Tamool, Sriwan Janpong, Suchira Raksapakdee, aka “Mae Ou,” Sudarat Promkaew and two anchors of Rak Chiang Mai 51 radio. According to Pichit, they were detained at the Seventh Army Regiment Camp (also known as Khun Nen Camp) in Mae Rim District. He said they were released on condition that they stop all political activities. Seven others are still detained at Khun Nen Camp, he added.
Bookstore visited; community radio raided.
About 30 military officers visited the Book Re:public, a bookstore which regularly holds academic seminars on Thai politics, not far from Chiang Mai University, but since the bookstore was closed, the military did not enter it.
Khaosod Online reported that at about 10 am on Tuesday, the military searched Warorot Grand Palace Hotel, which hosts the office of the red-shirt Rak Chiang Mai 51 Radio in order to arrest Chorrawat Wattanapongsirikul, leader of the Rak Chiang Mai 51, who was earlier ordered to report to the coup makers. However, Chorrawat was not at the hotel and is still at large. The military seized computer notebooks, video and still cameras, bullet proof vests and firecrackers. This is the third time that the station was raided after the coup d’état.
Hed Lom News reported that at about 4.40 pm on Tuesday military officers searched the house of Boonsong Teriyapirom, a former Commerce Minister and Pheu Thai MP, on Tung Hotel Road.
Prachatai English is an independent, non-profit news outlet committed to covering underreported issues in Thailand, especially about democratization and human rights, despite pressure from the authorities. Your support will ensure that we stay a professional media source and be able to meet the challenges and deliver in-depth reporting.
• Simple steps to support Prachatai English
1. Bank transfer to account “โครงการหนังสือพิมพ์อินเทอร์เน็ต ประชาไท” or “Prachatai Online Newspaper” 091-0-21689-4, Krungthai Bank
2. Or, Transfer money via Paypal, to e-mail address: [email protected], please leave a comment on the transaction as “For Prachatai English”