A Thai theater chain has banned "Mockingjay" and the country's military-imposed government detained three students this week for putting up the three-finger salute as seen in the latest installment of the "The Hunger Games" franchise.
The three students were detained at the Thursday opening of "The Hunger Games: Mockingjay — Part 1" in
Thailand, The Associated Press reported.
One of the students, 21-year-old Nachacha Kongudom, was taken away after flashing the three-finger salute in front of a giant billboard for the movie, the AP said.
The "Hunger Games" salute has been used as a symbolic gesture of protest in Thailand after a military coup took power in May.
"The 'Mockingjay' movie reflects what's happening in our society. When people have been suppressed for some time, they would want to resist and fight for their rights," Nachacha said, according to the AP.
Nachacha was held for questioning, and the other two activists were released.
"What's happened today is an obstruction of the rights to express opinions peacefully," Sunai Phasuk, a senior researcher at the New York-based Human Rights Watch, said, according to the AP. "If the government wants to be accepted by other countries . . . it is necessary that they respect these basic rights."
Apex Group theater chain pulled all screenings of "Mockingjay" after student protesters were arrested Wednesday for throwing up the salute during a speech by Prime Minister
Prayut Chan-o-cha, the New York Daily News reported.
The students were taken to the Sri Patcharin military camp in Muang district for an
"attitude adjustment," The Bangkok Post reported.
The students also wore T-shirts with the message "We are against the coup," the newspaper said.
Twitter users had this to say about the Thai theaters banning "Mockingjay" and the salute:
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