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Published on September 22, 2007

Chotisak, a coordinator of the September 19 Network Against the Coup, told The Nation yesterday that he and his companion had had to call the police in order to end the feud after someone in the audience shouted at them and a slight physical skirmish took place.

Chotisak, 26, and his 23-year-old friend Chitma Penphak filed charges of physical assault and defamation at Pathumwan Police Station against the alleged attacker.

The alleged assailant, 40-year-old Bang Rak resident Nawamin Wittayakul, in turn yesterday threatened to counter-sue on a lese-majeste charge.

Chotisak said some 20 or so fellow movie-goers had also shouted abuse at them and some thrown water bottles before the police arrived to calm things down.

The incident took place at a city-centre cinema at 7pm, where the two were about to watch a Hollywood film. Theatre staff at first tried to end the feud but apparently failed.

"I was shocked. I didn't think it would be this violent," Chotisak told The Nation. "They were

emotionally violent. It's barbaric for this to take place in this day and age."

Chotisak insisted that he had rarely stood up for the Royal anthem in the past, but this was the first time he had got into a scuffle. "I usually don't stand up. Some people have thrown things at me once or twice."

He said the attacker who threw popcorn at them had accused them of being "unpatriotic" and disloyal to the monarchy. The man also allegedly called them "pathetic" and questioned if they were real Thai citizens.

Pravit Rojanaphruk

 The Nation