Thai students held over anti-junta protest

AFP, BANGKOK: Fourteen Thai students were taken into custody early yesterday after staging an anti-coup rally on charges that could see them jailed for seven years, police said, as the ruling junta escalates its chokehold on dissent.
The pro-democracy campaigners are among the few activists that have dared to publicly challenge Thailand's military rulers, who imposed severe curbs on civil liberties after seizing power from an elected government last year.
Their arrests Friday followed a peaceful protest calling for an end to junta rule at Bangkok's Democracy Monument a day earlier, where spirited speeches and songs were met with claps and cheers from dozens of supporters.
Thailand's generals have banned all political gatherings and criticism of the junta, frequently arresting critics and censoring the media.

 

Thai students held over anti-junta protest

AFP, BANGKOK: Fourteen Thai students were taken into custody early yesterday after staging an anti-coup rally on charges that could see them jailed for seven years, police said, as the ruling junta escalates its chokehold on dissent. The pro-democracy campaigners are among the few activists that have dared to publicly challenge Thailands military rulers, who imposed severe curbs on civil liberties after seizing power from an elected government last year. Their arrests Friday followed a peaceful protest calling for an end to junta rule at Bangkoks Democracy Monument a day earlier, where spirited speeches and songs were met with claps and cheers from dozens of supporters. Thailands generals have banned all political gatherings and criticism of the junta, frequently arresting critics and censoring the media.