Pro-election activists are released on bail

By THE NATION

 

 

FIFTEEN ACTIVISTS were granted bail yesterday shortly after the Criminal Court ordered their 12-day detention following charges stemming from their participation in Tuesday’s pro-election assembly.

The activists were released on Bt100,000 bail each with the condition that they must not take part in political gatherings that |will “break laws and put society at risk”.

 

Police had opposed bail, arguing that many of the activists had been charged and released several times for involvement in political assemblies.

 

“They have become defiant and are not afraid of the country’s laws,” interrogating police officers wrote in the detention request to the court. “Their actions also caused damage to the country’s economy and tourism.”

 

The activists had been in police custody since Tuesday evening, when they led a 500-strong peaceful march to Government House to demand the junta government hold elections this year.

 

The attempt ended unsuccessfully, as the key activists were blocked from reaching their destination and turned themselves in to the police.

 

The assembly, held on the fourth anniversary of the junta’s coup, was supposed to be a grand event. The activists have been holding rallies since January demanding an election this year.

 

The 15 activists were accused of violating the junta ban on the political gathering of five or more people and committing sedition under the Criminal Code’s Article 116, chaotic assembly of 10 or more people under Article 216, as well as violating the public assembly and land traffic laws.

 

The group included noted student-turned full-time activists Rangsiman Rome, Sirawit Serithiwat, Chonthicha Jaengrew, lawyer Anon Nampa, educator Nuttaa Mahattana and activist Ekachai Hongkangwan.

 

The detention of the activists has caught the attention of political observers and rights networks and movements, who either demanded the junta immediately release them, or paid them visits.

 

Co-founder of Future Forward Party Thanathorn Juangroong-ruangkit visited five activists detained at Phya Thai Police Station on Tuesday while yesterday, red-shirt key figure Nattawut Saikua and his colleagues also went to the Criminal Court to cheer up the arriving activists.

At least 14 networks, from university student networks to international organisations, also called for the junta government to stop prosecuting people for merely engaging in political assembly.

 

“Detaining and charging peaceful protesters makes a mockery of the promise that authorities will lift political restrictions within the next month,” said Katherine Gerson, Amnesty International’s campaigner on Southeast Asia.

 

“The National Council for Peace and Order must stop misusing the criminal justice system as a tool to suppress dissent and to harass human rights defenders, activists and political opponents,” Gerson added.

 

At least 68 people were approached by authorities from May 17-22 when the attempt to march to Government House took place, according to Thai Lawyers for Human Rights (TLHR).

 

“The actual number of harassed people could go up to hundreds as many were unreported,” the TLHR said.

 

“Some people were tracked by officers all day long. Some were asked to be photographed or called by phone almost every couple of hours to ensure that they would not join the assembly in Bangkok,” they said.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/politics/30346211

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-05-25

 

"...“They have become defiant and are not afraid of the country’s laws,” interrogating police officers wrote in the detention request to the court..."

 

I think the interrogating police officers have gotten that correct and good for them; the laws being used against them are both unfair and unreasonable. It is not sedition to call for an election.

 

Now, it is the responsibility of other members of Thai society and the political classes to step up and support them; they have demonstrated that the moral high-ground is with the opposition.

 

The question, as always, is will they? Is there a desire to act for Democracy in Thailand? Is there a desire to fight for Thai freedoms? Is there a desire to fight for a return to a Democratic path? Is there a desire to return to civilian rule? Is there a desire on the part of the many to speak up?

 

Is there?

 

Edited May 24, 20188 yr by Samui Bodoh
Lack of coffee

Restrictions and fines imposed by junta puppets no doubt ! Definetly not in line with democracy maybe bringing a little Happiness back to the People by not jailing them

1 hour ago, webfact said:

“Their actions also caused damage to the country’s economy and tourism.”

 

Which "their" are they talking about here.... As far as I can tell, there are certain actions causing damage to the country, but it's definitely not the peaceful protests..

1 hour ago, webfact said:

with the condition that they must not take part in political gatherings that |will “break laws and put society at risk”.

what is 'put society at risk ' ? who defines it ? generalized BS that means Nothing

1 hour ago, webfact said:

“Detaining and charging peaceful protesters makes a mockery of the promise that authorities will lift political restrictions within the next month,”

That’s exactly it. Are we supposed to believe that this time next month, etc, speaking out and political gathering will be okay? I understand things can be gradual, but there’s no way it’s suddenly going to be alllwed over night. 

3 hours ago, webfact said:

“They have become defiant and are not afraid of the country’s laws,” interrogating police officers wrote in the detention request to the court. “

That's the job of the police, naturally. Petty jealousy there.

 

Edited May 25, 20188 yr by bluesofa

3 hours ago, webfact said:

Their actions also caused damage to the country’s economy and tourism.”

If this was a statement on TV, you could expect a challenge of source or "post a link". Good to know that an expat forum takes statements of "fact" more seriously than the RTP.

3 hours ago, webfact said:

“Their actions also caused damage to the country’s economy and tourism.”

a statement by the same police that kidnaps tourists on arrival for ransom money, the same police that doesn't enforce road laws, and so on ad infinitum... Let's compare whose actions and inactions causes more damage to the country.

4 hours ago, webfact said:

“Their actions also caused damage to the country’s economy and tourism.”

Complete nonsense.

Good on th court for allowing them bail.

The police wanted to kept locked up because that is what little p told them he wanted.

Little p is sh+++ing his pants because people are starting to oppose him and his cronies.

I will stop/crush them, well that is his thinking, but the populous are now stirring.

14 minutes ago, colinneil said:

Good on th court for allowing them bail.

The police wanted to kept locked up because that is what little p told them he wanted.

Little p is sh+++ing his pants because people are starting to oppose him and his cronies.

I will stop/crush them, well that is his thinking, but the populous are now stirring.

Someone heard that noise and is upset and fearful of the military ambition.

Ps better watch out as the walls are caving in and the courts are responding. 

Good!

Next protest?