Thai Court Jails 84 Yellow Shirt Protesters

[webfact]

Thai court jails 84 'Yellow Shirt' protesters

BANGKOK, December 30, 2010 (AFP) - A Thai court Thursday jailed 84 supporters of the "Yellow Shirt" royalist movement for storming a television station in 2008 in protest at a government allied with former premier Thaksin Shinawatra.

They were handed prison sentences of between six months and two-and-a-half years by Bangkok's Criminal Court, mostly for illegal assembly and trespassing.

The August 2008 incident at the National Broadcasting Service of Thailand state television station was one in series that year involving the Yellow Shirts, formally known as the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD).

The demonstrations peaked with the seizure of two Bangkok airports in late November and early December 2008, leaving more than 300,000 travellers stranded in Thailand for a week or more and causing crippling economic damage.

The Yellows, who claim allegiance to the throne, are powerful players in Thailand's colour-coded politics.

They are backed by the Bangkok-based elite and are the arch-rivals of the mostly poor and working class "Red Shirts", who have held their own series of mass protests, notably in April and May this year in the heart of the capital.

Many of the Red Shirts' leaders are in jail facing terrorism charges for their roles in the Bangkok demonstrations, which left more than 90 people dead in a series of street clashes between armed troops and protesters.

The Reds, who are mostly loyal to Thaksin, have complained of "double standards" in the Thai judiciary's treatment of the two movements. In August this year police charged dozens of Yellow Shirts over the airport seizure.

-- (c) Copyright AFP 2010-12-30

[pedro01]

Single standards ????

[ExpatKrasang]

To Little, but never to late! Justice should always be equal!

[bailly]

about time!

[Buchholz]

To Little, but never to late! Justice should always be equal!

about time!

It might just mean that movement on even older violence than the OP against the Red Shirts may actually occur...

Hearing Set for 2007 Red-shirt Protest Case

The Criminal Court has scheduled October 5 for a hearing against red-shirt leaders in the case of the July 2007 protest at the house of the Privy council president.

Three red-shirt leaders, namely Nutthawut Saikua, Weng Tojirakarn, and Wiputhalaeng Patthanaphumthai, were taken from the Bangkok Remand Prison to the Criminal Court for a hearing into their alleged roles in the chaos at the residence of Privy Council President General Prem Tinsulanonda in July 2007.

Another red-shirt leader, Veera Musikapong, was earlier charged in the same case.

The first hearing for the prosecution witnesses has been scheduled for October 5. The court will first hear 25 of 58 witnesses to be presented.

TAN - August 23, 2010

http://www.thailandoutlook.tv/tan/ViewData.aspx?DataID=1033815

Heck, it might even mean that Potjaman might actually have to begin serving her prison sentence handed down two and half years ago. But then, perhaps not. If these yellow shirt protesters can avoid prison as long as she has, then that would be equal justice, right?

[yellow1red1]

heck

maybe even Sondhi will get put where he belongs,, in same jail cell with Thaksin

[so sawy Sondhi]

To Little, but never to late! Justice should always be equal!

It might just mean that movement on even older violence than the OP against the Red Shirts may actually occur...

Heck, it might even mean that Potjaman might actually have to begin serving her prison sentence handed down two and half years ago. But then, perhaps not. If these yellow shirt protesters can avoid prison as long as she has, then that would be equal justice, right?

[Prapoj]

This prove that the yellow is loosing popularity. This could be the beginning of the end for them.

[Ricardo]

This prove that the yellow is loosing popularity. This could be the beginning of the end for them.

I find it odd, that someone might think that a court judges or passes sentence, based upon the popularity of the accused, rather than the law. Surely all that was supposed to have ended, after Thaksin's asset-declaration case, back in 2001 ?

[dumpling]

All for appearance sake .The posturings of a good chess game, we lose a few pawns (common yellow shirt supporters) to hold onto to the important pieces(red shirt leaders).

I wait to see what happens when we reach stalemate as I do not believe either side has the right moves to make check.

[Siam Simon]

This prove that the yellow is loosing popularity. This could be the beginning of the end for them.

I find it odd, that someone might think that a court judges or passes sentence, based upon the popularity of the accused, rather than the law. Surely all that was supposed to have ended, after Thaksin's asset-declaration case, back in 2001 ?

To paraphrase jdinasia: That 'maybe' not the case .

[webfact]

PAD

82 PAD members given jail for raid on NBT station

By The Nation

The court yesterday handed 82 members of the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) who invaded the state-run National Broadcasting Services of Thailand (NBT) station in August 2008 to jail sentences of up to two and a half years.

Three minors who also joined the seizure of NBT, making the total number 85, were given two-year suspended sentences.

The 85 people, all of whom have been released temporarily on bail, invaded NBT in hopes of airing anti-government information on the state-run channel in a bid to overthrow the government. Hours later, the move failed because of technical difficulties.

The group, led by the so-called Sri Vijaya Warriors allegedly under the command of PAD leader Sondhi Limthongkul, were found guilty of undermining law and order, assault, and trespassing on government property. Some organic drugs similar to marijuana were also found on two of the defendants.

The sentences vary depending of whether a member of the group carried weapons or drugs or committed assaulted. Defendants No 39 and 80 were fined Bt1,000 in addition of another penalty for possessing drugs. Two defendants confessed and had their sentences halved. Most of the offenders were given sentences of one and a half years, however.

All the defendants are expected to fight in the Appeal Court, and will apply for bail.

In a related development, another incident having to do with a political trespass, this one into Parliament, was also taken up by the court, with examination of evidence and witnesses scheduled for February 28. The alleged trespass led by former senator Jon Ungparkorn and 10 other activists on December 12, 2007, resulted in hundreds of others disrupting the House while it was in session.

Another notable member of the group was allegedly media-reform activist Supinya Klangnarong. All defendants in the second case have declared themselves not guilty.

-- The Nation 2010-12-31

[Ricardo]

This prove that the yellow is loosing popularity. This could be the beginning of the end for them.

I find it odd, that someone might think that a court judges or passes sentence, based upon the popularity of the accused, rather than the law. Surely all that was supposed to have ended, after Thaksin's asset-declaration case, back in 2001 ?

To paraphrase jdinasia: That 'maybe' not the case .

Indeed, but it's where one hopes they might get to, eventually !

[Buchholz]

Heck, it might even mean that Potjaman might actually have to begin serving her prison sentence handed down two and half years ago. But then, perhaps not. If these yellow shirt protesters can avoid prison as long as she has, then that would be equal justice, right?

The 85 people, all of whom have been released temporarily on bail

All the defendants are expected to fight in the Appeal Court,

In the interest of avoiding double standards and in pursuit of equal justice, that should cover them to remain free until at least July 2013.