At least three anti-government protest groups will hold what they call “car mob” protests in Bangkok and the neighbouring province of Ayutthaya this afternoon (Sunday), to demand the ouster of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha.
Nattawut Saikuar, former core member of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) and a leader of one of the protest groups, earlier said that the protests, one led by himself, the second led by political activist Sombat Boonngarm-anong and the third by the “Talu Fah” group, will be peaceful as the groups will avoid sensitive areas, such as Government House and the prime minister’s residence at the First Infantry Regiment of the Royal Guards’ barracks, to avoid confrontation with the police.
Protests on August 10th, 11th and 13th, by the hard core Free Youth movement, the “United Front of Thammasat and Demonstration” and the “Talu Fah” groups were marred by violence, which saw street battles with crowd control police and the torching of police trucks and kiosks at Din Daeng intersection and areas around the Victory Monument.
According to Nattawut, a coordinator of today’s protests, the three groups plan to gather at different locations and will simultaneously start the procession of cars and motorcycles at 3pm.
One group will gather at Ratchaprasong intersection and the convoy will head toward Lumpini Park, turning left onto Rama 4 Road toward Phra Khanong intersection and onto Klongton Road, running along toward Klongton intersection, then turn left to head back to Ratchaprasong intersection.
The second group will converge at the Democracy Monument. The group will cross the Pinklao Bridge, run along Boromratchachonnani Road, make a U-turn in front of the old southern bus terminal into Charan Sanitwong road toward Rama 7 Bridge, making a U-turn under the bridge onto Charan Sanitwong road, cross the Pinklao Bridge and return to the Democracy Monument.
The third group, led by Sombat, will gather in Ayutthaya province before heading for Lat Phrao intersection via the Asia highway and Pahonyothin Road.
The three groups will stop at Ratchaprasong intersection, the Democracy Monument and Lat Phrao intersection until 6pm, when all the vehicles will sound their horns until the end of the broadcast of the national anthem to mark the end of today’s protests. Then they will all disperse.
Meanwhile, Mr. Seksakol Atthawong, vice minister attached to the Prime Minister’s Office, said today that he will lodge a complaint with the Crime Suppression Division police tomorrow seeking the prosecution of Mr. Nattawut for allegedly defying the Emergency Decree, the Communicable Disease Control Act and the Criminal Code.
He will also ask the Anti-Money Laundering Office (AMLO) to investigate the finances of the former UDD leader and his associates.
