Thai court jails 13 'Red Shirts' for arson

BANGKOK, October 27, 2011 (AFP) - A Thai court on Thursday sentenced 13 "Red Shirt" supporters of fugitive ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra to 20 years each in prison for setting fire to a provincial hall during political unrest last year.

The court in northeast Mukdahan made its ruling based on photos showing the accused standing near or throwing burning tyres at the local government building in the province in May 2010, their lawyer Anon Numpa told AFP.

Sixteen other suspects were acquitted for lack of evidence.

Anon said he would appeal against the convictions and would ask for the 13 to be released in the meantime.

"We have applied for bail for all of them," he said, adding that a ruling on the request was expected on Friday.

But Anon also said he considered the sentence was "moderate" considering that arson charges can carry the death penalty.

The Red Shirts held two months of protests in Bangkok last year that sparked a military crackdown which left more than 90 people dead, mostly civilians.

The violence also spread outside the capital, mostly to the Red Shirts' stronghold in the northeast, including Mukdahan.

The Red Shirts were campaigning for early elections, accusing the then-government of being an unelected elite, because it came to power after a court ruling ousted allies of Thaksin, who lives overseas to avoid a jail term imposed in his absence for corruption.

Thaksin's sister Yingluck Shinawatra is now prime minister after his party staged a comeback with a major victory in a general election in July.

-- (c) Copyright AFP 2011-10-27

I trust most people will think justice has been done.

I trust most people will think justice has been done.

It's certainly a good start.

I trust most people will think justice has been done.

I hope so

"Anon said he would appeal against the convictions and would ask for the 13 to be released in the meantime.

"We have applied for bail for all of them," he said, adding that a ruling on the request was expected on Friday."

Yep. They'll be there. Front row, centre!!

"ruling based on photos showing the accused standing near"

that's not an accusation, rightly so to be appealed

Edited October 27, 201114 yr by londonthai

20 years is a bit harsh.

And it would be interesting to see who can actually throw a burnig tyre at the building.

Edited October 27, 201114 yr by maiphedmaiaroi

"Anon said he would appeal against the convictions and would ask for the 13 to be released in the meantime.

"We have applied for bail for all of them," he said, adding that a ruling on the request was expected on Friday."

Yep. They'll be there. Front row, centre!!

Will Red Shirt Leader who are also Pheu Thai Party MP's be offering their parliamentary status as guarantees for the bail as they have done in the past for other Red Shirt members up for bail?

20 years is a bit harsh.

Less harsh than the death penalty.

A Thai court on Thursday sentenced 13 "Red Shirt" supporters of fugitive ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra to 20 years each in prison

Hopefully now that will free up some space on the court's docket for the Red Shirt's 2007 riot

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Edited October 27, 201114 yr by Buchholz

"ruling based on photos showing the accused standing near"

that's not an accusation, rightly so to be appealed

Mustn't overlook that that was their defense lawyer stating how his clients were convicted.

Sometimes defense lawyers are a bit liberal with their views about their clients actions... especially following a conviction.

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Edited October 27, 201114 yr by Buchholz

The violence also spread outside the capital, mostly to the Red Shirts' stronghold in the northeast, including Mukdahan.

Were Nattawut and Arisman convicted as well for their well documented ordering that the provincial halls be razed?

Were Nattawut and Arisman convicted as well for their well documented ordering that the provincial halls be razed?

Not yet.

Natthawut is also a still-waiting defendant in the aforementioned Red Shirt's 2007 riot.

"ruling based on photos showing the accused standing near"

that's not an accusation, rightly so to be appealed

Please change your user name eh.

I trust most people will think justice has been done.

It's certainly a good start.

Well the anti red shirt expats will still be complaining and claiming thaksin interfered because they did not get the death sentence. 20 yrs for arson good punishment in Australia you would have got a couple of free movie passes and told to behave. Lucky to get 3 months for murder in Aust these days.

They convicted the guys with flat tires how about the ring leaders, OOOOOOOOOOOOthats right immunity

I am these people did not do it by themselves. They alsoshould send the people who ordered them to do to jail

<br />

<br />I trust most people will think justice has been done.<br />

<br />It's certainly a good start.<br />

<br /><br /><br />

sonds like a great move towards reconcilliation!!!! When are the yellow shirt terrorists going to go to jail?

I trust most people will think justice has been done.

It's certainly a good start.

sonds like a great move towards reconcilliation!!!! When are the yellow shirt terrorists going to go to jail?

Yep. Reconciliation. Let criminals go free. I'm sure you'd love it if the "yellow shirt terrorists" court cases were dropped.

Of course, there are 2007 court cases still outstanding against a few red shirts. Maybe the yellow shirts will go to jail once those court cases are finally sorted out.

At least the "yellow shirt terrorists" didn't burn anything down. They didn't really do anything that was very "terrorist". They certainly did some criminal things, particularly at government house. But terrorist? That would make all the red shirts that sat at Ratchaprasong terrorists. But, really, only the red shirts shooting grenades at bystanders and those shooting at the army should be classed as terrorists.

Edited October 27, 201114 yr by whybother

Well the anti red shirt expats will still be complaining and claiming thaksin interfered because they did not get the death sentence.

<snip>

There doesn't seem to be any "anti red shirt expats" around with that opinion.

<br />

<br />I trust most people will think justice has been done.<br />

<br />It's certainly a good start.<br />

<br /><br /><br />

sonds like a great move towards reconcilliation!!!! When are the yellow shirt terrorists going to go to jail?

I think they are waiting for the Red Shirt's 2007 riot case to get processed first.

.

I am these people did not do it by themselves. They alsoshould send the people who ordered them to do to jail

Does that include anyone who has stood on a stage and made a speech in support of any coloured shirt that ended in someone breaking a law? Strewth, there isn't space in any prison system.

20 years so be it, appeal, do 5. Problem is that in reality means do 19. Fair enough. At least the system seems to be slowly getting into gear.

20 years is a bit harsh.

Less harsh than the death penalty.

.

Death penatly for arson via photograph evidence of people "throwing" burning tyres. Now that would be very harsh..

Sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet!!

The court in northeast Mukdahan made its ruling based on photos showing the accused standing near or throwing burning tyres at the local government building in the province in May 2010, their lawyer Anon Numpa told AFP.

20 years for standing near a building that was on fire? Sh*t im not going to watch any more fires in Pattaya.

20 years is a bit harsh.

Less harsh than the death penalty.

Death penatly for arson via photograph evidence of people "throwing" burning tyres. Now that would be very harsh..

See Post # 9 for the source of the "evidence".

btw, the Red Shirts put burning tires inside the provincial hall, not only outside. Even YouTube videos show more evidence than what the convicted arsonists' lawyer is saying there is.

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Edited October 27, 201114 yr by Buchholz

"Anon said he would appeal against the convictions and would ask for the 13 to be released in the meantime.

"We have applied for bail for all of them," he said, adding that a ruling on the request was expected on Friday."

Yep. They'll be there. Front row, centre!!

Will Red Shirt Leader who are also Pheu Thai Party MP's be offering their parliamentary status as guarantees for the bail as they have done in the past for other Red Shirt members up for bail?

Yep, sure enough.

A Red Shirt Leader, Nisit Sinthuprai, has now said that 7 Pheu Thai Party MP's will use their parliamentary status as collateral to seek bail for all 13 convicted arsonists.

.

Well the anti red shirt expats will still be complaining and claiming thaksin interfered because they did not get the death sentence.

<snip>

There doesn't seem to be any "anti red shirt expats" around with that opinion.

well here is one the whole lot of these rabid animals should be put down and dont worry for your mates they will do no more than 1 month if that that I 100% guarantee All show while your master continues his plans for total 100% control

Link to Video News of the convicted arsonists leaving court for prison in a police truck:

with accompanying article in Thai:

Kom Chad Luek newspaper

http://www.komchadluek.net/detail/20111027/113154/%E0%B8%84%E0%B8%B8%E0%B8%8120%E0%B8%9B%E0%B8%B5%E0%B9%80%E0%B8%AA%E0%B8%B7%E0%B9%89%E0%B8%AD%E0%B9%81%E0%B8%94%E0%B8%87%E0%B9%80%E0%B8%9C%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%A8%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%A5%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%81%E0%B8%A5%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%87.html

"Anon said he would appeal against the convictions and would ask for the 13 to be released in the meantime.

"We have applied for bail for all of them," he said, adding that a ruling on the request was expected on Friday."

Yep. They'll be there. Front row, centre!!

Will Red Shirt Leader who are also Pheu Thai Party MP's be offering their parliamentary status as guarantees for the bail as they have done in the past for other Red Shirt members up for bail?

Yep, sure enough.

A Red Shirt Leader, Nisit Sinthuprai, has now said that 7 Pheu Thai Party MP's will use their parliamentary status as collateral to seek bail for all 13 convicted arsonists.

How often can an MP use his/her parliamentary status as collateral? Is that a one off, or as often as they please? Still even one off 260 Pheu Thai MPs go a long way to get criminals and arsonist (temporarily) out of jail.

Edited October 27, 201114 yr by rubl

"Anon said he would appeal against the convictions and would ask for the 13 to be released in the meantime.

"We have applied for bail for all of them," he said, adding that a ruling on the request was expected on Friday."

Yep. They'll be there. Front row, centre!!

Will Red Shirt Leader who are also Pheu Thai Party MP's be offering their parliamentary status as guarantees for the bail as they have done in the past for other Red Shirt members up for bail?

Yep, sure enough.

A Red Shirt Leader, Nisit Sinthuprai, has now said that 7 Pheu Thai Party MP's will use their parliamentary status as collateral to seek bail for all 13 convicted arsonists.

How often can an MP use his/her parliamentary status as collateral? Is that a one off, or as often as they please? Still even one off 260 Pheu Thai MPs go a long way to get criminals and arsonist (temporarily) out of jail.

Good question. Don't know the definitive answer, but six Pheu Thai Party MP's are already using their parliamentary position as collateral for bail to the Red Shirts that burned down the other Provincial Hall in Khon Kaen and nine Pheu Thai Party MP's are using theirs for bail for the Red Shirts that burned down still another Provincial Hall in Udon Thani.

Perhaps a clue can be found that there 7 MP's seeking bail for 13 convicted arsonists in Mukdahan... so maybe there's something like a 2 for 1 deal.

.