Guy Fawkes protesters oppose amnesty for coup makers

 
Seven protesters wearing Guy Fawkes masks gathered in Bangkok’s financial district to show their disapproval of the coup and the new interim charter which grants an amnesty for the coup makers on Thursday evening. 
 
The protesters gathered for photos for only five minutes on the Chong Nonsi BTS Skywalk on Thursday 6.20pm. There were at least two plainclothes police officers observing the activity.
 
The move signals the contrast between the uproar against the amnesty bill proposed by the government of Yingluck Shinawatra last year, and the silence in the face of the junta's grant of an amnesty to themselves earlier this week.
 
The group, calling themselves "Unhappy Thai Citizens Network," held signs in Thai and English reading "Against amnesty bill", "No to amnesty", "Unhappy citizens", among others.
 
The Guy Fawkes mask was formerly used by pro-establishment protestors against former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra to express opposition to the controversial blanket amnesty bill, aimed at whitewashing Thaksin and the leaders of the red-shirt and yellow-shirt camps.
 
One of the protesters, who asked not to be named, said they oppose the amnesty for the coup makers because the coup has led to serious human rights violations. She added that she had opposed the amnesty bill pushed by the Yingluck government, and wanted to insist that granting amnesty to oneself is unacceptable regardless of who does it.
 
"The reaction to the military junta's amnesty is extremely quiet. I think people who opposed the amnesty bill last year should come out and join us in opposing all amnesty laws, and not just the ones proposed by people they don't like," she said.
 
 
 
 

Since 2007, Prachatai English has been covering underreported issues in Thailand, especially about democratization and human rights, despite the risk and pressure from the law and the authorities. However, with only 2 full-time reporters and increasing annual operating costs, keeping our work going is a challenge. Your support will ensure we stay a professional media source and be able to expand our team to meet the challenges and deliver timely and 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”