Thailand’s opposition Pheu Thai Party has agreed to send its MPs, or other party members, to student protest sites to ensure safety and order and to pre-empt allegations that the party is behind the protests.
Mr. Somkid Chuakhong, the party’s Ubon Ratchathani MP and chief of the House working committee following up on the student protests, said today (Friday) that the party’s MPs or officials would coordinate with the police, if a rally by students is to take place in any province, to ensure that the event is peaceful and orderly.
He added that, if any of the protest leaders are detained by the police, the MPs or party officials at the site will help to arrange bail.
Asked what would happen if any protesters make public remarks, or do anything that is deemed to be offending the Monarchy during the protests, Mr. Somkid said that the party has no authority to stop anyone from expressing their political view, adding “our responsibility is to ensure safety and order and to report to the House committee.”
Meanwhile, student activists at Chulalongkorn University announced this afternoon that they will go ahead with their plan to hold a protest rally this evening on the university’s campus, in defiance of an order, issued by the university’s administrators, banning the protest.
According to a Facebook post, an unnamed protester said that they are ready to face the consequences.
A statement from the university’s administrators said, however, that the university supports student activities on the condition that they are within the scope of the Constitution and laws, public order and good morals.
