BANGKOK – His offense was syncopated. And it rhymed.
Dechathorn Bamrungmuang, a member of the Thai collective Rap Against Dictatorship, was arrested on Thursday on charges of sedition, human rights lawyers report, part of a mounting collapse by a government apparently allergic to dissent.
A day earlier, authorities seized for the second time a lawyer who had publicly asked for the powers of the Thai monarchy to be revoked. At least six pro-democracy activists were also arrested on Wednesday and Thursday on charges of sedition, a crime that could carry a seven-year prison sentence, the Thai Lawyers for Human Rights organization said. Another rapper was also captured. Even more student activists were served with papers indicating that they could be arrested immediately.
“The United Nations and its governments need to speak out publicly against the growing political oppression in Thailand,” said Brad Adams, Asia’s director at Human Rights Watch, in a statement. “Thai youths are increasingly demanding real progress towards democracy and the rule of law so that they can freely express their visions for the future of the country.”
The legal actions followed weeks of protests by students that culminated on Sunday in the largest street rally in Thailand since a military coup six years ago. Due to a state of emergency imposed for coronavirus control, the protests were technically illegal. But that has not stopped more than 10,000 people from gathering at the Democracy Monument in Bangkok.
On Wednesday, hundreds of students protesting against school rules such as compulsory haircuts and the tradition of promoting themselves to teachers gathered at the Bangkok Ministry of Education to end the regimental strands of Thai society. They raised three fingers in the air, a symbol of resistance drawn from the “Hunger Games” films that were once banned by the junta behind the 2014 coup.
Thailand has held elections for decades, but military mediation has regularly lifted the vote of the people, with a dozen successful coups since absolute monarchy was abolished in 1932. A former army chief who led the last coup, Prayuth Chan-ocha, remains Prime Minister. Three other retired generals hold cabinet positions.
Mr Prayuth has said he is ready to listen to the students. He also joked that he wanted to execute journalists who dared to tell the truth and insulted those who demanded more responsibility over the monarchy.
The junta leaders said protecting the palace was a major reason for their coup, and the current government, which took power last year after elections that independent observers said was flawed, often wraps its policies in a royal cloak. .
King Maha Vajiralongkorn Bodindradebayavarangkun is only present in Thailand for days, living most of the year in Europe. Since his father died in 2016, he has consolidated his authority, and he takes control of royal chests and army units that traditionally add their fireworks to coups.
Thailand is bound by strict laws that criminalize criticism of the monarchy, and could potentially land criminals up to 15 years in prison. In addition to the laws on reading majesty, the government has also imprisoned people for violating sedition and computer crime laws. Hundreds of people have been funneled through so-called attitude-altering campaigns that stem from military connections. Dissidents have also disappeared, with some of their bodies reduced.
The offense of Mr Dechathorn, who carries the rap name Hockhacker, appears to have been a musical achievement at a pro-democracy rally, according to the group of lawyers for rights.
In 2018, Rap Against Dictatorship, the Thai musical collective, drew millions of hits for a widely shared video for a song called “What My Country Has Got.” The song referred to a student massacre and called on the government of Mr. Mr.uth to take responsibility for leading a “country that makes false promises such as loading bullets, making a regime and instructing us to love it.”
Another song, which was released this year, took student interest. The collective received the Vaclav Havel Prize for Creative Dissent in 2019.
Sirin Mungcharoen, a pro-democracy activist from Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok, said she received a police call on Wednesday in connection with a protest in Bangkok on July 18. Ms Sirin said she had attended that student rally but was not an organizer.
“It’s a way to create fear,” said Mrs. Sirin, adding, “I will continue to fight.”
Muktita Suhartono contributed reporting from Phuket, Thailand.
