Pheu Thai warns it will counter-sue junta if its leaders are charged over public statement

[rooster59]

Pheu Thai warns it will counter-sue junta if its leaders are charged over public statement

By THE NATION

 

 

THE PHEU Thai Party yesterday threatened to counter-sue the junta after it faced charges over a public statement the party made ahead of the fourth anniversary of the 2014 coup.

 

Chusak Sirinil, who heads Pheu Thai’s team of legal advisers, said he would wait for the formal charges to be pressed by police after legal officials from the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) on Thursday filed a complaint against key party figures.

 

“If we find the charges are too severe, we will exercise our legal right to take legal action against them in order to protect our rights,” he said.

 

The politician said that as representatives of the people, the former ruling party had the duty to protect the country’s and the public’s interests.

“Whether it has been elected or not, the government is accountable to the people. It can be criticised for bad work and damage done to the country,” he added. Chusak is one of eight senior Pheu Thai figures named in a complaint the NCPO officers filed with the Crime Suppression Division on Thursday night.

 

The others named are caretaker party leader Wirode Pao-in, caretaker secretary-general Phumtham Wechayachai, Watana Muangsook, Chaturon Chaisang, Noppadon Pattama, Chaikasem Nitisiri, and Kittiratt Na-Ranong. Police investigators have summoned the eight Pheu Thai politicians, as well as administrators of the party’s website, to acknowledge the charges against them by next Tuesday, deputy national police chief Pol General Sriwara Ransibhramanakul, said yesterday. 

 

They are accused of violating the junta ban on political gatherings of five or more people, inciting civil commotion or sedition, and entering false information into a computer system.

 

Phumtham yesterday said the Pheu Thai figures involved simply exercised their constitutional rights and liberties in criticising the government.

 

On Thursday, Pheu Thai held a press conference under police surveillance at the party’s headquarters. Three key Pheu Thai figures read a five-page statement accusing the junta of failing to achieve key promises made when staging the coup, including reconciliation, fighting corruption, protecting rights and democracy, and improving the economy.

 

“The past four years under the NCPO will take the country into a dark and dangerous future ... It is the duty of all Thai people to return to a constitutional monarchy and not allow the absolute regime to destroy democracy any further,” the Pheu Thai statement said. NCPO spokesman Maj-General Piyapong Klinphan yesterday maintained that the police complaint was not meant as persecution or bias.

 

“The NCPO has tried to keep peace and order in the country. We need to take legal action when there is provocation for public commotion or violation of the NCPO’s orders,” he said. “We won’t tolerate violation of law. We have to maintain peace.”

 

The spokesman said that Pheu Thai leaders had ignored a warning by police officers present at its headquarters that the NCPO ban on political activities had not yet been lifted. “They refused to cancel the press conference, so the NCPO had to take legal action accordingly,” he added.

 

Deputy Premier and Defence Minister General Prawit Wongsuwan yesterday was asked by a reporter if the NCPO’s legal action would lead to the dissolution of Pheu Thai.

 

Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam said he did not think the NCPO’s legal action would lead to the party’s dissolution.

 

However, he said, it was possible the Pheu Thai figures involved could be deprived of electoral rights – and barred from contesting future elections – if they were found guilty.

 

“This could be a problem for them,” said Wissanu.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/politics/30345779

 

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-05-19

[coulson]

May 19th, the fire is stoked for the anniversary.

 

I wonder will the Junta video on what it has achieved in 4 years contain a section on mass criticism.

[YetAnother]

7 minutes ago, rooster59 said:

They are accused of violating the junta ban on political gatherings of five or more people,

believe there were only 3 of them; this govt cannot even interpret it's own idiotic, forced-on-us, unnecessary laws ?

[a977]

Memo to "He who thinks he should be obeyed"    Old saying if you cannot stand the heat in the kitchen then get out

[baboon]

40 minutes ago, rooster59 said:

NCPO spokesman Maj-General Piyapong Klinphan yesterday maintained that the police complaint was not meant as persecution or bias.

As always, it isn't so much the lies as the fact they really seem to expect you to believe them which is the real insult...

[Anak Nakal]

Court no support PT, ever.

Waste of time and money.

[TKDfella]

Won't do any good if the people don't back them up.

[phil2407]

Deputy Premier and Defence Minister General Prawit Wongsuwan yesterday was asked by a reporter if the NCPO’s legal action would lead to the dissolution of Pheu Thai.

But I can’t find an answer!!! Maybe he just said “not on my watch, let all the minions answer that” 

[uffe123]

Who are they kidding? General Prayuth will round them all up and send them for a attitude adjustment.

[Srikcir]

13 hours ago, rooster59 said:

Three key Pheu Thai figures read a five-page statement accusing the junta of failing to achieve key promises made when staging the coup, including reconciliation, fighting corruption, protecting rights and democracy, and improving the economy.

 

13 hours ago, rooster59 said:

“They refused to cancel the press conference, so the NCPO had to take legal action accordingly,”

May 2017:

“There has been very little progress on reforms. In fact, I see some regression in certain areas, such as reforming the media,” - Abhisit meets presss

Abhisit said that without widespread acceptance and public participation, such orders [issued by the NCPO] would not achieve the intended goals.

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/news/national/30315884

May 2018:

"reforms in general have not really progressed beyond the planning stage since the junta came to power in 2014." - Bowornsak Uwanno, chairman of the junta-appointed Law Reform Committee

"The issues that affect people seem to be too slow,” Wanchai said. “It’s too slow. People want to see something that will be completed in one or two years, and nothing has been achieved as desired.” - Wanchai Sornsiri, a spokesman for junta-appointed Political Reform Committee

http://www.khaosodenglish.com/featured/2018/05/14/junta-appointees-concede-national-reforms-have-little-to-show/

So now PTP voices virtually the same criticisms and it faces threats from the NCPO - aka political persecution.

[sjaak327]

14 hours ago, rooster59 said:

“We won’t tolerate violation of law. We have to maintain peace.”

555555555555555

 

Too bad four years ago the NCPO  choose to violate the law that prohibits taking power through  a coup. 

 

Technically speaking, the law supposedly being broken by PT is not valid, as it was drafted by criminals with no mandate whatsoever.

 

Time for these criminals to be removed by any means necessary, the Thai people want their country back.

[rosst]

This is a calculated and deliberate challenge to the Authorities and the response will be interesting. 

Even the legal challenge and constitutional argument will test the Junta who will be the loser if it runs its course. 

[KiwiKiwi]

35 minutes ago, rosst said:

This is a calculated and deliberate challenge to the Authorities and the response will be interesting. 

Even the legal challenge and constitutional argument will test the Junta who will be the loser if it runs its course. 

 

With any luck...

[sjaak327]

 
With any luck...

Slim chance, as the NCPO has the justice system in their pockets, and are technically above the law in any case.

Good to see someone trying to make a stand

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