Five members of an anti-Prayut group were temporarily detained for questioning by police this afternoon (Monday), after they rallied at Ao Nang beach, in the southern coastal province of Krabi, to protest the visit of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha.
Those detained held up banners, which read “Krabi people do not want Prayuth”, “Krabi is dying” and “Murderous government”, to greet the prime minister and his cabinet ministers attending a mobile cabinet meeting and who are scheduled to declare the natural tourist attractions at the popular Ao Nang beach open this afternoon.
All five were later escorted to Ao Nang police station for questioning.
It is also reported that, last night, unidentified protesters vandalised several banners, erected in the Muang district to welcome the prime minister and his entourage. In the meantime, many other banners criticizing the prime minister were also put up in the province. The local authorities are removing the critical ones, while the police are pursuing those responsible.
A number of the prime minister’s supporters also showed up this morning to welcome him and his cabinet and to voice their opposition to attempts to amend or repeal the country’s controversial lèse majesté legislation.
The group has been released late this afternoon after about two hours of detention.
