The police on Thursday arrested a student activist from northeastern Khon Kaen University and charged him with lèse majesté. He was accused of taking part in a political play about a fictional monarch, deemed lèse majesté by the police.
On Friday, the court rejected his bail request. He is now detained at Bangkok Remand Prison.
The police arrested Patiwat S., 23, on campus on Thursday at 3 pm. The police accused him of playing a role in the stage play “The Wolf Bride” (เจ้าสาวหมาป่า) which was performed in October 2013 at the Main Auditorium, Thammasat University, Bangkok, to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the 14 October Popular Uprising. The play was organized by fomer members of the now-defunct Prakai Fai Karn Lakorn, part of the left-leaning Prakai Fai group.
Patiwat admitted to police that he played a role in the play but denied the allegation that it defamed the monarchy.
Patiwat played the role of the king's Brahmin advisor.
In early June, the junta’s National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) summoned and detained about ten current and former Prakai Fai members and interrogated them about the play.
Patiwat is now in his fifth year at the Faculty of Fine and Applied Arts, Khon Kaen University. He is also the Secreaty General of the Student Federation of the North East.
On Friday, Pornthip M. was charged with lèse majesté for her involvement with the same play.
Read related news: Another activist charged with lèse majesté over political play
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