The Royal Motorcade case

On October 14, 2020, the People's Party 2020 organized a protest under the name "because we are all people. and the People's Party are not dead”. The group gathered around the Democracy Monument before marched to the Government House

 

During the protest, the protest leaders took turns giving speeches to affirmed their three demands including 1. Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha must resign. 2. The Parliament must convene a special session to consider accepting a draft amendment to the Constitution, where all section is subject foramendment. 3. reform the monarchy to be in line with Democracy.

 

While the protester reached and started to gather in front of the Government House, The Royal Motorcade of the Queen passed into the protest area without advance notice. There were only rows of police officers running beside the royal vehicle to provide protectio. Even the Royal Motorcade went in to protest area without advance notice but it still manage to proceed safely without obstruction, it slow down but not stop. As the Royal Motorcade passing by some protesters showed their 3 fingers salute symbol but there were no reports of throwing objects or report of an attempt to stop or obstruct Royal Motocade.

 

Although there were no major incidents, Prime Minister Prayut cited the royal motorcade as a ground to declared serious state of emergency in Bangkok and forced protesters to disperse in the early morning of 15  October 2020.

 

Subsequently, the Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for three suspects including Ekachai Suranat and Boonkuanun for an offense against the Queen's liberty under section 110 of the Criminal code

 

In the morning of 16 October 2020, Ekachai was arrested on Lad Phrao Road while he was on his way to surrender himself at Dusit Police Station. Boonkuanun went to surrender himself in the same morning. As for Suranat, he was arrested at his residence in the morning of 21 October 2020, despite the fact that he had coordinated with the inquiry officer of  Dusit Police Station to surrender himself.

 

During the inquiry phase, Boonkuanun was released on bail, but Suranat and Ekachai were placed in prison without bail. Ekachai was held in custody on 17 October 2020 while Suranat was held in custody since 22  October 2020. Both of them were released on 2 November 2020, after the Criminal Court dismissed police's remand petition

 

The inquiry officer later summoned two other persons to acknowledge accusation, they were release after reported themselves to the police.

 

On 31 March 2021, the public prosecutor filed the case to the Criminal Court. All defendants pleaded no guilty to the charges and were released on bail in the same day.