Suthep and 8 others formally indicted for “Bangkok Shutdown” anti-government protests

[webfact]

Suthep and 8 others formally indicted for “Bangkok Shutdown” anti-government protests 

By Thai PBS

 

 

The Office of the Attorney-General on Wednesday (Jan 24) formally charged nine core leaders of the People’s Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) for the so-called “Bangkok Shutdown” protests against the Yingluck Shinawatra government in 2014.

 

The charges against the nine former leaders who included Suthep Thaugsuban ranged from  insurrection, illegal assembly and obstructing elections. Mr Suthep and the eight others PDRC leading members appeared at the OAG this morning for acknowledgement of the charges in connection with the 2013-14 street demonstrations to pressure the resignation of Ms Yingluck.

 

Mr Suthep said before acknowledging the charges that he was ready to fight the case in accordance with justice procedure and would never flee the country.

 

Full story:  http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/suthep-8-others-formally-indicted-bangkok-shutdown-anti-government-protests/

 

-- © Copyright Thai PBS 2018-01-24

[Eligius]

And of course Suthep is going to be found guilty and will spend years and years in jail - of course ...!

Edited January 24, 2018 by metisdead
Over size font re-set to normal.

[toughlove]

And people wonder why the junta keeps having coups.

[Ricardo]

1 hour ago, Eligius said:

And of course Suthep is going to be found guilty and will spend years and years in jail - of course ...!

 

I wonder whether the plan is to go with tradition, and have him escorted to the border by a policeman, if he looks in-danger of being convicted ?

[seminomadic]

Good news. Put a muzzle on this PoS, please.

 

Remember that face, contorted and sinewy in self-righteous indignation, all those "THAKSIN PIT" punctuated speeches?

 

Look at that face now. Have a good look at his face in that picture above. That's the countenance of a true PoS. Can't hide it. Does it not tweak your punch reflex?

[AGareth2]

not guilty

[AGareth2]

43 minutes ago, webfact said:

Mr Suthep said before acknowledging the charges that he was ready to fight the case in accordance with justice procedure and would never flee the country.

 

where did I hear that before?

[toughlove]

where did I hear that before?

He is already in the boot of a car at the border

[webfact]

Thailand charges nine in anti-government protests dating to 2013

 

BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thailand on Wednesday charged nine leaders of anti-government protests in 2013 and 2014 with inciting insurrection and sedition in an attempt to oust Yingluck Shinawatra, who was prime minister at the time.

 

The People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) and its supporters took to the streets for seven months, aiming to rid Thailand of the influence of Yingluck, and her billionaire brother, ousted former premier Thaksin Shinawatra, who had massive support among the rural poor in the north and northeast.

 

Their governments were overthrown in 2014 and 2006 coups respectively.

 

Nine protest leaders, including Suthep Taugsuban, face eight charges over their roles in the bloody street protests, including insurrection, sedition, and obstructing a 2014 general election, said Prayut Bejraguna, a deputy spokesman for the office of the attorney-general.

 

Suthep and one other protest leader also face an additional terrorism charge, Prayut added.

 

The men and their lawyer could not be contacted during the court session.

 

The nine men pleaded not guilty to the charges against them, said a court official who attended the proceedings, but asked not to be identified, as he was not authorised to speak to the media.

 

Prayut said Thailand's attorney-general planned to file charges against 34 other PDRC leaders who did not show up in court on Wednesday.

 

Tension has festered in Thailand since the 2006 coup removed Thaksin. Thailand is divided broadly between those backing Thaksin and Yingluck, whose government was ousted in 2014, and the elite in the capital, Bangkok.

 

Thaksin is credited by some as being the first Thai prime minister to tap into the potential of the rural electorate. But his enemies accuse him of corruption, which he denies.

 

Thaksin and Yingluck live abroad. Yingluck fled Thailand last August, ahead of a verdict in a negligence trial that eventually found her guilty and handed down a five-year jail term. Thaksin fled to avoid a 2008 jail term for corruption.

 

(Reporting by Suphanida Thakral and Aukkarapon Niyomyat; Writing by Patpicha Tanakasempipat; Editing by Clarence Fernandez)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2018-01-24

[JAG]

45 minutes ago, seminomadic said:

Good news. Put a muzzle on this PoS, please.

 

Remember that face, contorted and sinewy in self-righteous indignation, all those "THAKSIN PIT" punctuated speeches?

 

Look at that face now. Have a good look at his face in that picture above. That's the countenance of a true PoS. Can't hide it. Does it not tweak your punch reflex?

I don't like him either...

[Chang_paarp]

There might actually be an election imminent.

[Bluespunk]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

The nine men pleaded not guilty to the charges against them, said a court official who attended the proceedings, but asked not to be identified, as he was not authorised to speak to the media.

 

Says it all really.

[Eric Loh]

What caught my attention was that few supporters turn out. Could mean that most of the Shutdown protestors were bused and paid and very little support from the Bangkokians (not that it’s news). Could also mean that most supporters now have realized that they have been fooled by the wily old fox and have now turned their backs. His political ambition looks like over. 

[Bob12345]

3 hours ago, Ricardo said:

 

I wonder whether the plan is to go with tradition, and have him escorted to the border by a policeman, if he looks in-danger of being convicted ?

We will never know as he organized those protests together with a certain person who now heads the country, is accountable to nobody, controls the army, controls the courts, and has an article 44 trump card to pull out whenever he wants to.

 

The chance of suthep spending time in jail is about zero.

[heybruce]

It took four years of intense detective work, but they finally identified the ringleader of the mob!

Edited January 24, 2018 by heybruce

[metisdead]

A post containing a disallowed reference to the PM has been removed. 

[Bob12345]

Smart move to put him on trail now when they control the country with an iron fist. Once cleared of all charges it will be much more difficult to get a re-trail when the courts are not in his favor anymore some time in the far future. Maybe even push it all the way to the supreme court?

[Bob12345]

Will be interesting to see if the prosecutor dares to ask the obvious questions "when did you start planning the protests?" (answer: several years before it taking place) and "who did you conspire to start the protests with?" (answer: as i said before in an interview after the coup... ).

[coulson]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

Mr Suthep said before acknowledging the charges that he was ready to fight the case in accordance with justice procedure and would never flee the country

He won't have to, he's on the right side of the fence.

[jayboy]

4 hours ago, AGareth2 said:

where did I hear that before?

You heard it from Abhisit when he was charged with presiding over the murder of civilian protestors.

 

Easy enough for him to say ,as with Suthep now, when the chances of spending time in jail were nil.

 

 

[hobz]

excuse my ignorance... but the timing is weird.. seems like a distraction / redirect from the corruption accusations against the P'$..

[Dario]

36 minutes ago, Bob12345 said:

We will never know as he organized those protests together with a certain person who now heads the country, is accountable to nobody, controls the army, controls the courts, and has an article 44 trump card to pull out whenever he wants to.

 

The chance of suthep spending time in jail is about zero.

I heard that he and that certain person want to start a new political party together. 

[Siripon]

33 minutes ago, Bob12345 said:

Smart move to put him on trail now when they control the country with an iron fist. Once cleared of all charges it will be much more difficult to get a re-trail when the courts are not in his favor anymore some time in the far future. Maybe even push it all the way to the supreme court?

His case won't finish for several years, it may take ten years in all. There's the Lower Court, the Appeals Court and finally The Supreme Court. And all that time Suthep and his entourage will be out on bail.

[Eric Loh]

Maybe he flap his gum too excessively with his boasting of his association with Prayut in staging the coup. Time to rein him in and keep him quiet. Like Sondhi’s near death incident.

[wvavin]

Military coup is legal? Ummm.....let me think...yes, only in Thailand.

[Sir Dude]

About time this little toad faced the same charges as everyone else involved in this mess....took long enough. As much a divisive figure as any of them on the other side and should get the same treatment if they (those in power) are even going to try to keep half a fig leaf of fairness in the public eye....long shot though, haha.

[Raymonddiaz]

5 hours ago, Eligius said:

And of course Suthep is going to be found guilty and will spend years and years in jail - of course ...!

it's just a game. Even if they are found guilty they will never spend 1 night in jail. They were told to do that and the boss can make the coup....

[moto77]

Don't be silly. He's not going anywhere; he helped put Prayut in power. You think Prayut is going to watch Suthep go to jail? Not bloody likely. I wouldn't be surprised if Suthep requested the trial himself. 

This is a show trial in which all parties involved already know the outcome: Not guilty. Why would they have a show trial? So he can't be tried again for the same thing later under another government, of course. (Assuming we see another government in our lifetime.)

Edited January 24, 2018 by moto77

[Bundooman]

5 hours ago, seminomadic said:

Good news. Put a muzzle on this PoS, please.

 

Remember that face, contorted and sinewy in self-righteous indignation, all those "THAKSIN PIT" punctuated speeches?

 

Look at that face now. Have a good look at his face in that picture above. That's the countenance of a true PoS. Can't hide it. Does it not tweak your punch reflex?

No, not really. No more than yours would - actually......

[Becker]

5 hours ago, toughlove said:

And people wonder why the junta keeps having coups.
 

Which people would that be?