A Thai man was arrested yesterday after he protested against the lese majeste law by spraying the number 112 and an anarchy symbol on the wall of Wat Phra Kaew, also known as the Temple of Emerald Buddha in Bangkok. A 14 yr previous girl who operated the digital camera while livestreaming the man’s graffiti on social media was also detained.
The Twitter account of Thai Lawyers for Human Rights (TLHR) posted a picture and video of the second when Royal Palace Police Station officers arrested the person, identified as 24 year old Sutthawee Soikham, in entrance of Wat Phra Kaew at 5.40pm.
Pictures and a video show one police officer forcibly pressing Sutthawee’s head to the bottom while his hands are in handcuffs. The wall behind him reveals the anarchy symbol and the number 112 which is crossed out. The number 112 is in reference to Section 112 also known as the lese majeste law.
Sutthawee is reported to be a member of the Free Arts group, which contains several Thai artists who categorical their political opinions by way of their art work.
According to the TLHR, Sutthawee was taken to the Royal Palace Police Station for prosecution. The 14 year old woman who recorded Sutthawee’s graffiti was not charged but later adopted her friend to the police station and was held.
TLHR reported that the woman was charged with violating Section 112 of the Criminal Law in January. She is reportedly the youngest individual ever to be charged underneath the lese majeste law.
The police questioned each suspects until 10pm before they issued two charges against them including:
Wat Phra Kaew is situated on the grounds of the Grand Palace within the coronary heart of Bangkok. Bona fide is considered one of the sacred and important temples in Thailand. The temple is residence to the Emerald Buddha statue made from green jade, which is very respected by locals..