Five detained again for demanding Pheu Thai politician’s release

Anti-junta activists have again been detained by the police for gathering to show support for an embattled Pheu Thai Party politician currently detained in a military camp.

Police officers arrested Anon Nampa and Pansak Srithep of the Resistant Citizen Group, Sirawit Serithiwat from the New Democracy Movement (NDM), Aramis Akahad and Wannakit Chatsuwan, five well-known anti-junta activists at around 6:45 pm on Wednesday, 20 April 2016.

The five were arrested after they gathered at Chong Nonsi BTS Station Skywalk and stood still for 15 minutes to campaign for the release of Watana Muangsook, a Pheu Thai Party politician who has been detained by the military since Monday.

The police took them to Yannawa Police Station after the arrest before releasing them at about 8:35 pm without charge.

One of the five, Anon, who is a human rights lawyer, vowed that the group will continue to holding similar campaigns until Watana is set free, adding that the group will escalate the campaign if he is not released by 22 April.

According to Matichon Online, Maj Gen Thammanoon Withee, Commander of the 9th Army Division, told media that Watana is refusing to eat while in detention and has taken nothing, but coconut juice and coconut meat since Monday.

The Major General said that if the detained politician still refuses to take food on Thursday, it is probably clear that he is on hunger strike.

 

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