BANGKOK – Moviegoer Nawit Salawong was arrested Sunday evening at the SF Cinema MBK mall when he failed to physically attack Ratchapin Chancharoen, another moviegoer who was arrested and charged with insulting King Bhumibol Adulyadej by not standing during the king’s anthem.
Ratchapin’s attempt to watch “The Other Boleyn Girl,” a historical drama about England’s King Henry VIII, was interrupted when she remained seated during the anthem, prompting other theatre-goers to confront her, accuse her of being a whore and a Communist, and throw candy and popcorn at her. Nawit, who was sitting three rows behind her, stood for the anthem but declined to attack Ratchapin. When the angry crowd noticed that he was declining to participate, they accused him of being a whore-lover and a Communist sympathizer. Security guards had to separate the groups and restore order.
Both Nawit and Ratchapin were allowed to watch the movie before police arrested both of them. Ratchapin faces up to 15 years in prison for lese majeste, while Nawit faces 8 years in prison for questioning the sanity of a Royalist mob.
