Student activist Panusaya “Rung” Sithijirawattanakul has discovered the price for removing decorative plants at Democracy Monument in a police charge.
On Sunday, the Thammasat University student said she was ordered by Samran Rat police station to pay 5.9 million baht in compensation for damage caused by taking out plants placed to decorate the monument.
Ms Sithijirawattanakul said she was also charged with violating the emergency decree and sanitary and disease control acts in relation to the rally at the Bangkok landmark on 13th February.
Ms Sithijirawattanakul and other protest leaders under the People’s Movement banner led the rally to press for the release of four detained activists on 13th February. The protesters removed the plants from the monument to clear the way for the protest.
Panupong Jadnok, also known as Mike Rayong, accused the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration of intentionally placing the trees there to obstruct the rally.
The demonstration ended with a scuffle with police outside the Supreme Court near Sanam Luang after authorities blocked them from going to pay their respects at the Bangkok Pillar Shrine following a march along Ratchadamnoen Avenue from the monument.
Ms Sithijirawattanakul is among about 6 people to be charged in the same incident.
She faces more serious charges, including lese majeste, following a rally on 19th September last year at Sanam Luang.
The Criminal Court will inform her about the prosecution on Monday.
