A message I have received, via a series of email forwards, written by Thai historian Thongchai Winichakul:

Hope you get the message re: the planned protest against the coup by a group of 80+ young students on Fri afternoon:

I understand that we, foreigners and Thais who are outside Thailand, may not want to suggest any action in Thailand re: the coup, either because one is a foreigner or one is not there to share the consequences. But now I think we MUST do something to help those young people who is about to risk their safety to protest the coup. Attached and below is a draft letter. The opinion about the coup is very soft and general, since I really do not know what other people think about it. But I hope it safe to say that we all “regret” that it took place.

***The most important message of the letter is to call on Thai authorities NOT TO ARREST OR HARM those protestors.***

I really hope that all of us can agree on this point…… We must try to have this call be known in Thailand by tomorrow before the scheduled protest in the afternoon. Those Thais in the country, I request that you make a similar call to Thai authorities too. I do not know what you think about the coup. But this call should be reasonable even to those who do not oppose the coup. MAKE A NOISE NOW, PLEASE. DON’T LET THE AUTHORITIES HARM THOSE PROTESTERS.

If you agree, please sign the petition on line.