Two Thai Anti-Government Figures Arrested for 'Three-Finger Salute' at Queen's Vehicle

[Asia Economy Reporter Suyeon Woo] Two Thai anti-government figures who slowed down the vehicle carrying the queen and made the 'three-finger salute,' a symbol of resistance against the government, were arrested.

According to the Bangkok Post on the 16th (local time), two anti-government activists, Ekachai Hongkangwan and Bunkuenun Paothon, were arrested by the police on the same day on charges of assaulting Queen Suthida.

The two are accused of slowing down the vehicle carrying Queen Suthida and Crown Prince Dipangkorn near the site of an anti-government rally on the afternoon of the 14th. Their making the 'three-finger salute' toward the queen's vehicle was also added as a reason for their arrest.

The 'three-finger salute' is a gesture from a movie that was used as a sign of protest and opposition during the 2014 Thai coup d'?tat. Since then, it has become a symbol of resistance against anti-government forces, dictatorship, and military regimes.

On the afternoon of the 14th, anti-government protest participants are making the 'three-finger salute,' a symbol of resistance, on a main road in downtown Bangkok, Thailand. Photo by Yonhap News.

Less than 12 hours after this incident became known, the Thai government enacted an emergency decree banning political gatherings of five or more people. Although the advance of anti-government protesters to the Prime Minister's Office building was one cause of this emergency measure, foreign media reported that the incident related to the queen's vehicle procession played a larger role.

Article 110 of the Thai Criminal Code prohibits any kind of violence that interferes with the freedom of the king or queen. Violations can result in sentences ranging from a minimum of 16 years imprisonment to life imprisonment.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.