Royalist assaults Thanathorn

Thai Newsroom reports on an attack on Progressive Movement leader Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit at a crowded book fair at the Sirikit International Convention Centre on Sunday. Not all newspapers have reported the attack – for example, as far as we can tell, the Bangkok Post hasn’t mentioned it. We got to wondering why.

But first, the reported details. Thanathorn was attacked by “Kanetpitsanuthep Jakkapopmahadeja [Ganeshpisnuthep Jakphopmahadecha ] alias Kay Roy Larn,” who tried to put Thanathorn in a choke hold and shouting that he had a bomb.

Thanathorn quickly freed himself a bunch of people overpowered Ganeshpisnuthep before police arrived.

As odd as the failure to report, Thai Newsroom does not explain that the attacker is an arch royalist with a very strange background. Perhaps it is Ganeshpisnuthep’s royalism that prevents it being said.

Indeed, the last time PPT posted on this odd royalist, we also discussed media self-censorship. This was in 2019 when Ganeshpisnuthep showed up at the Rajaprasong intersection, clad in a yellow shirt, and in a Mercedes decked out in royal portraits. He carried a large knife and a bag of snakes. Watched by thousands, he was said to have killed some of the snakes and to have cut himself.

Then, newspapers did not report the royal link nor reproduced photos showing that royal decorations on the vehicle.

Even if Ganeshpisnuthep  is mad, his royalism needs to be reported, especially when he’s attacking a person that royalists love to hate.