Anti-junta ‘red shirts’ charged in Thailand as security tightens ahead of referendum
The grassroots red-shirt movement is loyal to the ousted government of Yingluck Shinawatra and her brother Thaksin and is fiercely critical of the junta
Nineteen leaders of Thailand’s pro-democracy “red-shirt” movement were charged Tuesday with breaching a ban on political gatherings, as the junta clamps down before a referendum next weekend.
Thais will decide Sunday whether to accept a new military-drafted constitution in the first vote since the generals toppled the elected government in 2014.
The military says its charter – the country’s 20th – will curb political corruption and bring much-needed stability after a decade of turmoil. But critics say the document is a shameless attempt to extend the army’s grip on power.
They are all charged on one charge of violating the order
The grassroots red-shirt movement is loyal to the ousted government of Yingluck Shinawatra and her brother Thaksin and is fiercely critical of the junta.
On Tuesday, 19 red-shirt leaders were charged with breaching a ban on political gatherings of more than five people.
“They are all charged on one charge of violating the order,” Winyat Chatmoontree, a lawyer for the movement, said.
The charges follow an attempt to open a referendum monitoring centre which was swiftly closed down by authorities.
The group were released pending trial, he said, adding they face up to a year in prison if convicted.