Australian Man Arrested Over Thai Protests

[Ulysses G.]

Can't understand the fuss.

These people threw their hats into the ring and joined in the campaign whole heartedly and certainly were exhorting onlookers and bystanders to participate in what was by then regarded as an illegal demonstration with a violent agenda said agenda was aimed at property and indeed people as subsequent actions proved beyond any shadow of doubt..

One must presume they were actually responsible for their actions and were motivated by a sense of belief in the cause ?

That being the case the two foreign participants must have been aware of the consequences of their actions. those who call the piper must also pay the piper.

I personally have no sympathy for the characters involved, they played the game, whether or not they considered the consequences we do not know, now the situation is that ''reality bites.''

I agree with everything that you say, but one of them seems to be certifiably insane (Sometimes I wonder if he has somehow gotten access to the Internet and is posting here on Thai Visa under a bunch of different names). Should he be in prison or a mental health facility?

Edited June 24, 2010 by Ulysses G.

[TAWP]

Yes, prison will not help anyone that is mentally not healthy.

And mental care in Thailand seem to be 'let the family take care of them until they stab someone'. :S

[gotlost]

just your typical dumb arse tourist who thinks they are still back home.

[neverdie]

August? Wow, hope the time spent waiting for a trial counts against the penalty they get...

Time usually spent in custody whilst awaiting hearings, trials and sentencing is normally considered at the time of sentencing. Could take 2 years for this to play out & if he got 2 years at the end of it, then he would virtually walk @ that moment, give or take a few days and a little matter of deportation.

[harrry]

I agree with everything that you say, but one of them seems to be certifiably insane (Sometimes I wonder if he has somehow gotten access to the Internet and is posting here on Thai Visa under a bunch of different names). Should he be in prison or a mental health facility? 

 

Regarding mental illness the mental health facility however if this behavior was either drug induced or under the influence of drugs prison is the right place for his acts. Possession may be handled with treatment but the person is responsible for the acts he does under the influence of drugs and prison is the place for this,.

[jdinasia]

Can't understand the fuss.

These people threw their hats into the ring and joined in the campaign whole heartedly and certainly were exhorting onlookers and bystanders to participate in what was by then regarded as an illegal demonstration with a violent agenda said agenda was aimed at property and indeed people as subsequent actions proved beyond any shadow of doubt..

One must presume they were actually responsible for their actions and were motivated by a sense of belief in the cause ?

That being the case the two foreign participants must have been aware of the consequences of their actions. those who call the piper must also pay the piper.

I personally have no sympathy for the characters involved, they played the game, whether or not they considered the consequences we do not know, now the situation is that ''reality bites.''

I agree with everything that you say, but one of them seems to be certifiably insane (Sometimes I wonder if he has somehow gotten access to the Internet and is posting here on Thai Visa under a bunch of different names). Should he be in prison or a mental health facility?

Probably the guy is not mentally healthy .... but apparently he knew the difference between right and wrong. That is typically what they measure any defence of diminished capacity on ... and yeah ... it's been awhile for this thread

[rgs2001uk]

Yes, prison will not help anyone that is mentally not healthy.

And mental care in Thailand seem to be 'let the family take care of them until they stab someone'. :S

Mental care in Thailand could be viewed by some as, let the family take care of them until they plough their merc into a bunch on innocents at a bus stop.

Yes prison wont help anyone that is mentally not healthy provided they have the correct surname.

[march]

Australian in Thailand may plead guilty

July 9, 2010

AAP

An Australian behind bars in Thailand over alleged breaches of emergency laws during the recent Bangkok riots could be freed if he pleads guilty, lawyers say.

Conor David Purcell, a 30-year-old West Australian, is in jail pending further court hearings involving charges of infringing emergency power laws by addressing Bangkok rallies during anti-government protests earlier this year.

The red shirt protests, allegedly backed by former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and his supporters, resulted in almost 90 deaths with hundreds more injured during violent clashes in April and May.

Arson attacks after the army broke up a rally on May 19 led to demonstrators setting fire to at least 30 buildings.

Purcell and a 49-year-old Briton, Jeff Savage, were both charged over their alleged involvement in anti-government protests.

Savage pleaded guilty, but Purcell has continued to deny breaching any emergency laws.

Following Savage's confession, a Thai judge on Thursday sentenced him to 45 days jail.

story continues: news.theage.com.au

Edited July 9, 2010 by webfact
reduced to 'fair use' //Admin

[ThaksinKharma]

Aussie protester may change plea

The lawyer of an Australian man says his client is ready to plead guilty in a Thai court to breaching emergency power laws during protests earlier this year.

Conor David Purcell, from Western Australia, has been behind bars in Thailand since late May.

The 30-year-old had initially pleaded not guilty to the charges, imposed after he addressed anti-government rallies in central Bangkok in April and May. Purcell's lawyer, Siriporn Muangsrinun, met with him in jail on Monday, and recommended he change his plea to guilty, in the hope it will lead to his early release.

She said Purcell "agreed with my counsel". But the documents are still to be prepared for the court.

"This is the best way for him," Siriporn told AAP. "I will do the case Wednesday or Thursday this week. I will ask the judge to have a trial. "About the detail, it will be up to the judge. The decision will go to the court."

Purcell was arrested in late May at his Bangkok apartment and charged with breaching visa regulations. He was later charged under the emergency power laws and could face a jail sentence of up to two years if convicted.

The anti-government or red shirt protests supporting former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra had occupied key government and commercial areas of Bangkok from mid-March. Thaksin lives in exile in the face of a two-year jail term for corruption.

After several weeks the rallies became more violent, especially following the rejection by key protest leaders of a government-sponsored reconciliation plan in early May.

Irish-born Purcell, a former Australian military reservist with a university arts degree, addressed the anti-government protests from late April. He appeared on stage with key red shirt leader Weng Tojirakan. Weng is one of several top red shirt leaders being held to face charges related to the protests.

Along with Purcell, Briton Jeff Savage, 49, was arrested after threatening to set fire to buildings in Bangkok in a YouTube video posting. After the military forced the rally to disperse on May 19, up to 30 buildings were set alight in the city. Savage pleaded guilty to the charges and a Thai court last week sentenced him 45 days in jail based on time already served.

The judge recommended Savage be deported and he was flown out of the country within 48 hours of the court verdict.

The Sydney Morning Herald

http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-world/aussie-protester-may-change-plea-20100713-109c9.html