Sedition charges against former Pheu Thai official ‘exaggerated’

By The Nation

 

 

Former deputy Pheu Thai spokesperson Sunisa Divakorndamrong on Wednesday acknowledged sedition charges filed against her by the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) following her criticism on Facebook of NCPO leader, Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha.

Sunisa denied the charges, saying her posts were meant to criticise the government and its spending, but she had the constitutional right to scrutinise the government’s performance.

 

She suggested the Prayut government should listen to her advice to improve its performance and resolve problems.

 

She added that the motive behind the charges was political because she was a former deputy Pheu Thai spokesperson and had always criticised the government.

 

Her criticism of Prayut on Facebook has included comments about his handling of the recent suspicious death of a military cadet and how he treated rock star-turned-campaigner Artiwara “Toon” Kongmalai compared with residents in the South who questioned the junta government’s policies.

 

Sunisa’s lawyer Narinpong Jinapak said the sedition charge against her was exaggerated.

 

He also warned police to not be used as a political tool by the government to accuse people, adding that his client would file a countersuit against police over their actions.

 

Narinpong and foreign diplomatic observers joined Sunisa as she arrived at the Police Technology Crime Suppression Division to hear the charges on Wednesday.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/breakingnews/30333846

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2017-12-13

3 minutes ago, webfact said:

Sunisa denied the charges, saying her posts were meant to criticise the government and its spending, but she had the constitutional right to scrutinise the government’s performance.

The only rights you have are the ones that the current govt tells you can have.

 

 

Didn’t Chuan and Ahbisit also criticized the junta government on their policies and got an explanation and a thank you note. 

Foreign diplomatic observers - excellent.

Countersue - superb.

Slowly but surely. Little by little.

The wheels are coming off...

5 hours ago, Bluespunk said:

The only rights you have are the ones that the current govt tells you can have.

 

 

...subject to (retroactive) revocation at any time of their choosing.

I guess there's nothing seditious about staging a Coup is there?

6 hours ago, Eric Loh said:

Didn’t Chuan and Ahbisit also criticized the junta government on their policies and got an explanation and a thank you note. 

What about poor Benny and his watch?

 

A lot of TV posters are next.

16 hours ago, webfact said:

following her criticism on Facebook

Will NCPO also charge any Facebook "likes" to her posting? Maybe that's taking absurdity of the charge too far even for the junta. Although Prayut recently said that anyone who "liked" Facebook postings that mock him will be charged.

 

16 hours ago, webfact said:

his client would file a countersuit against police over their actions

It's NCPO that filed charges that police will investigate. But who is willing to sue the NCPO?

If someone did they'd probably also be counter-sued for ... DEFAMATION.

 

Imagine how the NCPO might react when election campaigns begin and it has either created its own political party and/or coalition with existing parties. Any opposition candidate remarks that criticizes the junta government gets charged for sedition and banned immediately pending an investigation.