Chon Buri: Pro-democracy activist Sirawith "Ja New" Seritiwat, together with two colleagues, has reported to police on the latest charge of illegal assembly after defying the military's order not to stage an "on-tour" rally on Pattaya beach.
The gathering of about 50 people in front of the seaside Central shopping mall on March 4 was aimed at advocating for a general election, following Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha's repeated postponements of the poll date.
The activity was considered illegal because organisers failed to ask authorities for permission 24 hours in advance, Pattaya police chief Pol Col Aphichai Kropphet said yesterday during his meeting with the three suspects.
Mr Sirawith and two other speakers at the rally -- Wanchaloem Khunsaen and Chidapha Thanahatthachai -- met police after being given two summons to acknowledge a charge of violating the ban on political gatherings imposed by the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO).
The three suspects denied the charges.
Mr Sirawith, a Thammasat University political science graduate, cast doubt over the charge, claiming he did phone Pattaya police the day before to tell them about the rally.
At the event itself, Ms Sirawith was among the speakers urging the government to keep its promise to hold the election, which has been rescheduled for February next year.
Their rally was, however, cut short at the order of police.
The new election date was roughly set after Gen Prayut put back an earlier promise of holding a poll in November this year.
He has made several election postponements since the military announced a roadmap to democracy.
The delays have annoyed anti-coup activists, who have continued to make their voices heard in public despite the political assembly ban.
Mr Sirawith has appeared in other rallies held to call for an election. In late January, he joined a gathering at the Pathumwan intersection in Bangkok and also ended up facing legal action.
The Office of the Attorney General is still considering whether to indict him for that offence, along with eight other rally leaders, for violating the NCPO's order.
In late February, Mr Sirawith appeared at another rally called "People Who Want Elections" at Thammasat University's Tha Phrachan campus.
The Pattaya version was considered its sequel, using a similar name but adding "on-tour" to the title.
