Pro-democracy protesters begin 250km march to Bangkok

On February 9, the Criminal Court denied bail to Parit and three other Ratsadon pro-democracy leaders – Arnon Nampa, Somyos Prueksakasemsuk and Patiwat “Bank” Saraiyam.

The four are accused of lese majeste law and sedition over their role in an anti-government rally at Thammasat University’s Tha Prachan campus last September.

Parit was also charged for participating in the “Mob Fest” rally on Ratchadamnoen Road on November 14-15.

The marchers are walking from Nakhon Ratchasima’s Thao Suranari Monument to Bangkok’s Democracy Monument – a distance of about 250 kilometres.

Separately, members of a royalist network gathered before Parliament on Tuesday afternoon to submit a petition opposing any change to the lese majeste law (Article 112).

Pansuwan Nakaew, a representative of the group, said it was right that those who defame the monarchy should be punished by the lese majeste law. He added that several countries also had laws to protect their monarchies.

Democrat Party spokesperson Rames Rattanachaweng accepted the letter on behalf of the House speaker, who was busy overseeing the censure debate in Parliament.

The gathering dispersed soon after.