An MP, from the opposition Kao Klai party, raised a three-finger salute in Thailand’s Parliament on Wednesday morning, as she sought permission from House Speaker, Chuan Leekpai, for a discussion about alleged police intimidation of student and other political activists.
Ms. Yanthida Buaphuen of Chanthaburi province cited an incident, which occurred on August 21st at Sriyanusorn School in Chanthaburi, when plainclothes police and a school teacher approached some students, who had raised the three-finger salute, to take their pictures and names.
She claimed the police later called the students’ parents and, after class, their teachers told the student activists that they should not return to the school.
The Kao Klai MP claimed that, on August 23rd and 24th, the same police officers phoned student activists, asking whether they would rally against Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, who was due to visit Chanthaburi on August 25th.
She told House Speaker Chuan and fellow MPs present, that she had been intimidated in the same fashion and called on the Prime Minister, the Education Minister and the Minister of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation, to stop the harassment.
Meanwhile, Kao Klai MP Rangsiman Rome, in his Twitter post, admonished Pheu Thai MPs, saying that working in Parliament is not all about counting the hands of those in Parliament, but should count the hands of people outside as well.
