The Criminal Court ordered the acquittal today of 67 members of the now defunct political pressure group known as the People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD), after finding them not guilty on multiple charges related to the seizure of Don Mueang airport, from November 24 until December 3, 2008, in an attempt to force the resignation of then Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat.

 

The charges included terrorism, incitement of public unrest, illegal seizure of an airport, intimidation of officials, assault, resisting arrest and tampering with satellite communications equipment.

 

After the reading of the verdict, one of the 67 co-defendants, Panthep Puapongpan, dean of Rangsit University’s Institute of Integrative Medicine and Anti-Aging, hailed it as one of the most significant for several years, as it recognises the right and liberty of people to stage peaceful protests and that the PAD protests were beneficial to the people as a whole.

 

Regarding the siege of the airport, the court ruled that there was no prosecution evidence to prove that any of the 67 defendants had undertaken activities disrupting the operations of the airport or that aeronautical communications had been disrupted.

 

The court said that the PAD’s protests were a result of the government’s attempts to amend the Constitution, to exonerate the Palang Prachachon party, which had been charged with election fraud, and to strip the Assets Examination Committee of its power to investigate the alleged corruption of Thaksin regime.

 

Full story: Thai PBS 2024-03-30

 

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Yaaaay! A win for the good guys...

4 hours ago, webfact said:

hailed it as one of the most significant for several years, as it recognises the right and liberty of people to stage peaceful protests and that the PAD protests were beneficial to the people as a whole.

After the fact and 16 years later....

All protesters are equal but some are more equal than others.

Well it's always a good thing when protesters get acquitted after being charged with rather petty and ridiculous crimes, but 16 years later, what is that all about? 

Should have thrown the book at them. All PAD members and protesters should have been prosecuted. I was stuck at the airport, and ended up having to sleep on the floor for one night and then spent over  a week stuck in Thailand. My employer also didn't pay me for the time lost. Where's my compensation?

On 3/30/2024 at 1:56 AM, webfact said:

Regarding the siege of the airport, the court ruled that there was no prosecution evidence to prove that any of the 67 defendants had undertaken activities disrupting the operations of the airport or that aeronautical communications had been disrupted.

 

Just... wow! 

maybe deja vu... but wasnt this in the news a few months back?

1 hour ago, rickudon said:

Should have thrown the book at them. All PAD members and protesters should have been prosecuted. I was stuck at the airport, and ended up having to sleep on the floor for one night and then spent over  a week stuck in Thailand. My employer also didn't pay me for the time lost. Where's my compensation?

 

Indeed. 

 

I was on one of the last flights out, and was stuck in Phnom Penh for several days, until I decided to overland it back.

 

Lucky that I did, as the airports were closed for about three weeks iirc. 

3 hours ago, rickudon said:

Should have thrown the book at them. All PAD members and protesters should have been prosecuted. I was stuck at the airport, and ended up having to sleep on the floor for one night and then spent over  a week stuck in Thailand. My employer also didn't pay me for the time lost. Where's my compensation?

Ohhh so sad.

On 3/30/2024 at 10:37 AM, hotchilli said:

After the fact and 16 years later....

can't rush these things, it takes time to collect the necessary evidence and come to realise that peaceful protest are or should be allowed. 

All I can say is Thank You TAT for putting me up in The Hard Rock Hotel for five days.
When I eventually returned to work my boss and collegues thought I was stranded on the airport floor and I was offered time off to recover.