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Thai democracy activist badly injured in street attack

Second assault by unidentified men this month leaves 'Ja New' with serious head injuries
Thai democracy activist badly injured in street attack

Thai democracy activist Sirawith Seritiwat shows off the bumps and bruises he received from a group of unknown assailants on a Bangkok street on June 2. (Photo from Sirawith Seritiwat’s Facebook)

Published: June 28, 2019 08:53 AM GMT
Updated: June 28, 2019 08:56 AM GMT

Thai democracy campaigner Sirawith Seritiwat was badly hurt after being attacked by unidentified men in Bangkok on June 28.

The 27-year-old activist was attacked by four men with wooden sticks as he was leaving his home in Kannayao district. His attackers fled the scene after bystanders saw the attack and rushed to help Sirawith, also known as “Ja New.”

His friends said he suffered serious head injuries and was taken to Nawamin Hospital, Khaosod English reported.

It is the second attack on Sirawith this month. On the night of June 2, Sirawith was set upon by a group of five men who wore motorcycle helmets and wielded sticks. The attack took place around 10 p.m. in full view of pedestrians on a busy street.

The activist suffered bumps and bruises to his face and head. He showed some of his injuries off on Facebook while he livestreamed himself filing a police report and seeking help at a hospital.

He said that based on the ferocity of the attack, which was stopped only when pedestrians came to his aid, his attackers were out to cause him serious harm and possibly murder him. “I will never forgive them,” he wrote on his Facebook page. “I did not think they would be so vicious.”

Sirawith’s attackers remain unknown and at large. Anti-junta activists suspect they were hired thugs or even plainclothes officers. The military denies this claim and promised to investigate.

The activist announced this month that he is taking a break from political activism to take up postgraduate studies in India for several years.

Sirawith recently called on the 250 appointed lawmakers in the Senate not to endorse former army chief Prayut Chan-o-cha for a second spell as prime minister. However, they did so unanimously.

Observers have widely dismissed Thailand’s March general election as a sham because of numerous irregularities as well as questionable decisions in the junta’s favor by the Election Commission and various courts.

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