AFTER FUNDRAISING was kicked off to help pay for bailing of two protest leaders, Mr. Parit Chivarak, or Penguin, and Mr. Anon Nampa, yesterday (Feb. 22) over 10 million baht flooded in over just three hours with images of transfer slips showing that a large number of people had either donated 112 or 1,112 baht, Matichon newspaper said today.
The Criminal Court on Ratchadapisek road had ordered the temporary release of Anon, who faces nine cases at this court, and Penguin, who faces eight cases, with the surety set at 2,079,000 baht.
Mr. Krisdang Nutjarat, an attorney at the Lawyers for Human Rights Centre, had then tweeted that he would have to request people to help meet the bail because the cash in Rasadorn Prasong Fund was not enough.
By 9.33 p.m. yesterday the fund posted the message that it had received over 10 million baht.
112 baht a popular transfer sum
By going through the comments section of the Rasadorn Prasong Fund it was found that a lot of people had posted images of their transfer slip and interestingly the sums 112 baht and 1,112 baht had been frequently transferred.
People also shared stories about the fundraising activity on other web pages including that of United Front of Thammasat and Demonstration where when the donations greatly outstripped the required sum this message was posted, “Thank you all with all my heart.”
Celebrities join the cash transfer parade
Celebrities in various fields also shared stories of their money transfer and among them was Dr. Chanwit Kasetsiri, former president of Thammasat University, who posted a copy of 10,000 baht transfer slip with this message:
“Transfer money, transfer money, bail out Penguin and Anon, and the others for a better future for the nation and Thai people.”
Later, when the amount jumped to 10 million, he post another message as follows:
“May Penguin, Anon and the other heroes be safe, disease-free, and free from evil.
“May only good things come their way to build democracy for the nation and the Thai people.
“Yes, the phenomenon of transferring money on 22.02.2022 helps us see the light and there is hope.”
Mr. Wanchai Tantiwitthayapitak, a well-known author and winner of a Sri Burapa Award, posted an image of a transfer slip for the amount 2,475 baht with this message:
“Help each other till the end,
“let the world know
“the people dominate this land.”
Auctions were also held to raise funds with Dr. Yukti Mukdavijit, a lecturer at the Faculty of Sociology and Anthropology of Thammasat University, putting the hardcover English version of the book “Siam Mapped” signed by Prof. Dr. Thongchai Winichakul, the author, under the hammer at the starting price of 5,000 baht. The auction was to end at 3 pm today.
Assoc.Prof. Dr.Puangthong Pawakapan of Chulalongkorn University also auctioned a hardcover copy of the book Siam Mapped translated into Thai with bidding starting at 11,112 baht and this to end at noon today.
In addition, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tyrell Haberkorn auctioned hand-stamped T-shirts at a starting price of 500 baht with this ending at 2 p.m. today and posted the following message:
“We are producing T-shirts by ourselves (hand-stamped T-shirts) to auction and raise money for the Rasadorn Prasong Fund to support the release of Attorney Anon and Penguin.”
The first T-shirt had by then been completed with this being blue colour and M size with the following message emblazoned on ti:
“No history is mute. No matter how much they own it, break it, and lie about it, human history refuses to shut its mouth. Despite deafness and ignorance, the time that was continues to tick inside the time that is ”
CAPTION:
Top: Hand-stamped T-shirts put up for auction.
First below: A thank you message at Rasadorn Prasong Fund with the Thai message saying, “Heartfelt thank you for people power. The first and last refuge for the people is the people.”
Second below: Image of a copy of the book Siam Mapped.
Home Page: A screen grab image from Rasadorn Prasong Fund web page showing the amount transferred. All photos: Matichon
Also read: Protest leaders granted bail, fundraising underway
Amnesty to continue its work in Thailand despite calls for expulsion
Criminal court grants bail to two protest leaders
Rung’s bail extended, EM bracelet removed
Activist group takes campaign against Section 112 to southern city
