Red-Shirt Leaders Demand Transfer Of Political Prisoners

[webfact]

POLITICAL PRISONERS

Transfers to Lak Si demanded

Photo : Pramote Putthaisong

Red-shirt leaders yesterday demanded the transfer of 72 political detainees to the newly renovated Lak Si holding facility while calling on the government to expedite the rehabilitation for the dead and wounded from last year's political uprising.

The rehabilitation could be in the form of financial compensation or compensation for the loss of reputation and opportunities, said Thida Thawornseth, acting chairwoman of the red-shirt movement.

She and her deputy Somwang Asrasi told a news conference that a survey by the group had found 72 inmates who deserved to be moved to the rehabilitated detention centre.

Although the 72 are not all red shirts or joiners of political protests, they are being detained because of their political opinions, so they are eligible to be transferred on a voluntary basis, Thida said.

The inmates should be shifted to Lak Si prison before the year-end, she said.

However, the renovation and facilities are not yet ready.

-- The Nation 2011-12-22

[OzMick]

Rehabilitating the dead - that will be interesting!

re·ha·bil·i·tate/ˌrē(h)əˈbiləˌtāt/

Verb:

• Restore (someone) to health or normal life by training and therapy after imprisonment, addiction, or illness.
  

[FOODLOVER]

Rehabilitating the dead - that will be interesting!

re·ha·bil·i·tate/ˌrē(h)əˈbiləˌtāt/

Verb:

• Restore (someone) to health or normal life by training and therapy after imprisonment, addiction, or illness.
  

Dr. Frankenstein, i presume.

[janverbeem]

The inmates should be shifted to Lak Si prison before the year-end, she said.

However, the renovation and facilities are not yet ready

Says all about the credibility of their demands, doesn't it.

Edited December 21, 2011 by janverbeem

[Buchholz]

Although the 72 are not all red shirts or joiners of political protests

What's the breakdown in who they are? Are any of the imprisoned 84 yellow shirts included?

[whybother]

If they're not red shirts or not joiners of political protests, how are their alleged crimes "political"?

[Buchholz]

The inmates should be shifted to Lak Si prison before the year-end, she said.

However, the renovation and facilities are not yet ready

Says all about the credibility of their demands, doesn't it.

The renovation will simply take time. The athletic club on the 4th floor is installing an indoor running track.

*details of the new "detention facility" in the other thread*

(sorry new format is cumbersome to navigate and provide links)

[animatic]

Makes it easier to protest at just one site.

And more importantly it specifically labels ANYONE moved there as suddenly a 'Political Prisoner'.

In effect by moving them there, the red lawyers, can argue this MEANS they are political prisoners of conscious, and not simply people charged with crimes, who may or may not be Red Supporters, which is their status now.

And not that they are simply being called that by red leaders, but a government acknowledged change in status, to be used in the grand political debate and in court.

Edited December 22, 2011 by animatic

[Moruya]

This is a change of stance. Putting the mechanics of rehabilitating the dead with money to one side, I thought the prosecution of the people who fired the guns was the only accepted outcome.

Maybe they now realise that identifying the gunmen is nigh impossible. Maybe Chalerm unearthing policemen as the Black Shirts put them off. Maybe they realised that the Red Shirts were as guilty as hell too. Or maybe it was just money talks.

[tragickingdom]

Maybe they can sent them to Burma. The Burmese are releasing their political prisoners and Thailand is dealing with the absurd number of cases brought by the Abhisit government in lese majeste and other cases that affects freedom of speech. One prison will never be enough. Abhisit must be having wet dreams about a Thai style Guantanamo which he and Prayuth are going to fill after the next coup.

[whybother]

Maybe they can sent them to Burma. The Burmese are releasing their political prisoners and Thailand is dealing with the absurd number of cases brought by the Abhisit government in lese majeste and other cases that affects freedom of speech. One prison will never be enough. Abhisit must be having wet dreams about a Thai style Guantanamo which he and Prayuth are going to fill after the next coup.

It seems that with all their complaints, the PTP aren't changing anything. 400 million baht to be spent on "monitoring the internet". No change to Article 112. Old men sentenced to 20 years jail for "sending SMSs".

[Tanaka]

Thugs and terrorists "demand"? The journalists should be ashamed even to write about the morons.

[wxyz]

Ryan Gaerity: "I've come here to create a new country for you called chaos, and a new government called anarchy."

"Blown Away" (1994)

Edited December 22, 2011 by wxyz

[wxyz]

Terrorism is the tactic of demanding the impossible, and demanding it at gunpoint.

Christopher Hitchens

[valerian]

Although the 72 are not all red shirts or joiners of political protests

What's the breakdown in who they are? Are any of the imprisoned 84 yellow shirts included?

Interesting.. are there really 84 yellow shirts imprisoned? Where's information available about those?

[valerian]

Maybe they can sent them to Burma. The Burmese are releasing their political prisoners and Thailand is dealing with the absurd number of cases brought by the Abhisit government in lese majeste and other cases that affects freedom of speech. One prison will never be enough. Abhisit must be having wet dreams about a Thai style Guantanamo which he and Prayuth are going to fill after the next coup.

What an absolutely wonderful way to boast ones imprudence that comment was.

[phiphidon]

Maybe they can sent them to Burma. The Burmese are releasing their political prisoners and Thailand is dealing with the absurd number of cases brought by the Abhisit government in lese majeste and other cases that affects freedom of speech. One prison will never be enough. Abhisit must be having wet dreams about a Thai style Guantanamo which he and Prayuth are going to fill after the next coup.

It seems that with all their complaints, the PTP aren't changing anything. 400 million baht to be spent on "monitoring the internet". No change to Article 112. Old men sentenced to 20 years jail for "sending SMSs".

Abhsits secretary didn't need to photograph the texts he received and inform the authorities. Knowing full well the conviction rate of Les Majeste cases, he knew that that the likeliehood of the person going away for a very long time was extremely high, which should have been troubling for him once the identity of the person involved was known. Which makes it all the more heinous that he hasn't expressed one iota of regret since. Incidentally the Les Majeste term of imprisonment is "only" 15 years. This guy got 20 years under Article 112 and the Junta introduced Computer Crimes act - Yea for Democracy, as the Anti government cheerleaders are (too) fond of saying.

Edited December 23, 2011 by phiphidon

[rixalex]

Although the 72 are not all red shirts or joiners of political protests

What's the breakdown in who they are? Are any of the imprisoned 84 yellow shirts included?

Interesting.. are there really 84 yellow shirts imprisoned? Where's information available about those?

Can't give you a link because of the source, but simply google "84 yellow shirts get jail".

[sparebox2]

Maybe they can sent them to Burma. The Burmese are releasing their political prisoners and Thailand is dealing with the absurd number of cases brought by the Abhisit government in lese majeste and other cases that affects freedom of speech. One prison will never be enough. Abhisit must be having wet dreams about a Thai style Guantanamo which he and Prayuth are going to fill after the next coup.

It seems that with all their complaints, the PTP aren't changing anything. 400 million baht to be spent on "monitoring the internet". No change to Article 112. Old men sentenced to 20 years jail for "sending SMSs".

Abhsits secretary didn't need to photograph the texts he received and inform the authorities. Knowing full well the conviction rate of Les Majeste cases, he knew that that the likeliehood of the person going away for a very long time was extremely high, which should have been troubling for him once the identity of the person involved was known. Which makes it all the more heinous that he hasn't expressed one iota of regret since. Incidentally the Les Majeste term of imprisonment is "only" 15 years. This guy got 20 years under Article 112 and the Junta introduced Computer Crimes act - Yea for Democracy, as the Anti government cheerleaders are (too) fond of saying.

Those SMS use very bad language, the sender deserves to go to jail.

[OzMick]

Maybe they can sent them to Burma. The Burmese are releasing their political prisoners and Thailand is dealing with the absurd number of cases brought by the Abhisit government in lese majeste and other cases that affects freedom of speech. One prison will never be enough. Abhisit must be having wet dreams about a Thai style Guantanamo which he and Prayuth are going to fill after the next coup.

It seems that with all their complaints, the PTP aren't changing anything. 400 million baht to be spent on "monitoring the internet". No change to Article 112. Old men sentenced to 20 years jail for "sending SMSs".

Abhsits secretary didn't need to photograph the texts he received and inform the authorities. Knowing full well the conviction rate of Les Majeste cases, he knew that that the likeliehood of the person going away for a very long time was extremely high, which should have been troubling for him once the identity of the person involved was known. Which makes it all the more heinous that he hasn't expressed one iota of regret since. Incidentally the Les Majeste term of imprisonment is "only" 15 years. This guy got 20 years under Article 112 and the Junta introduced Computer Crimes act - Yea for Democracy, as the Anti government cheerleaders are (too) fond of saying.

"Regarding the ongoing debate on the pros and cons of amending Article 112 of the Penal Code, which is related to lese majeste, Chalerm said he believed this government was "smart enough to not amend the clause".

From the people who will fight to your death for democracy.

[phiphidon]

Maybe they can sent them to Burma. The Burmese are releasing their political prisoners and Thailand is dealing with the absurd number of cases brought by the Abhisit government in lese majeste and other cases that affects freedom of speech. One prison will never be enough. Abhisit must be having wet dreams about a Thai style Guantanamo which he and Prayuth are going to fill after the next coup.

It seems that with all their complaints, the PTP aren't changing anything. 400 million baht to be spent on "monitoring the internet". No change to Article 112. Old men sentenced to 20 years jail for "sending SMSs".

Abhsits secretary didn't need to photograph the texts he received and inform the authorities. Knowing full well the conviction rate of Les Majeste cases, he knew that that the likeliehood of the person going away for a very long time was extremely high, which should have been troubling for him once the identity of the person involved was known. Which makes it all the more heinous that he hasn't expressed one iota of regret since. Incidentally the Les Majeste term of imprisonment is "only" 15 years. This guy got 20 years under Article 112 and the Junta introduced Computer Crimes act - Yea for Democracy, as the Anti government cheerleaders are (too) fond of saying.

Those SMS use very bad language, the sender deserves to go to jail.

You seem very well informed - how is that?

[valerian]

Although the 72 are not all red shirts or joiners of political protests

What's the breakdown in who they are? Are any of the imprisoned 84 yellow shirts included?

Interesting.. are there really 84 yellow shirts imprisoned? Where's information available about those?

Can't give you a link because of the source, but simply google "84 yellow shirts get jail".

Ok. Thx, but it seems they were sentenced a year back. It would be interesting to know how many there are that are imprisoned now.

[Siam Simon]

Ok. Thx, but it seems they were sentenced a year back. It would be interesting to know how many there are that are imprisoned now.

silence

[rixalex]

Ok. Thx, but it seems they were sentenced a year back. It would be interesting to know how many there are that are imprisoned now.

silence

Between half past two and four in the morning, as it was for those of us in the Thai time zone, it does tend to get a little quiet.

As you yourself obviously weren't sleeping, nothing was there to stop you from answering the question, or attempting to.

Myself, i don't know how many are still imprisoned. As i understand it, they were sentenced around Christmas of 2010 for terms ranging from 9 months to two and a half years. That would suggest a good number have done their time and been released. Perhaps you know better Simon? You usually do seem to.

[hanuman1]

Maybe they can sent them to Burma. The Burmese are releasing their political prisoners and Thailand is dealing with the absurd number of cases brought by the Abhisit government in lese majeste and other cases that affects freedom of speech. One prison will never be enough. Abhisit must be having wet dreams about a Thai style Guantanamo which he and Prayuth are going to fill after the next coup.

It seems that with all their complaints, the PTP aren't changing anything. 400 million baht to be spent on "monitoring the internet". No change to Article 112. Old men sentenced to 20 years jail for "sending SMSs".

Abhsits secretary didn't need to photograph the texts he received and inform the authorities. Knowing full well the conviction rate of Les Majeste cases, he knew that that the likeliehood of the person going away for a very long time was extremely high, which should have been troubling for him once the identity of the person involved was known. Which makes it all the more heinous that he hasn't expressed one iota of regret since. Incidentally the Les Majeste term of imprisonment is "only" 15 years. This guy got 20 years under Article 112 and the Junta introduced Computer Crimes act - Yea for Democracy, as the Anti government cheerleaders are (too) fond of saying.

"Regarding the ongoing debate on the pros and cons of amending Article 112 of the Penal Code, which is related to lese majeste, Chalerm said he believed this government was "smart enough to not amend the clause".

From the people who will fight to your death for democracy.

Being the peace-loving arbiter of political frictions that you are on these pages, I'm surprised you wouldn't welcome Chalerm's softly-softly approach on this issue.

Do you think that amending the clause would not lead to a certain amount of strife from, say, the army, who are the proclaimed protectors of the royals' dignity and quite possibly the driving force behind the government's inertia on the issue of LM?

It seems pretty straightforward to me. Change the clause and get the army's backs up. Who would want them to do that, apart from one-trick-pony government bashers?

[ballpoint]

... It seems pretty straightforward to me. Change the clause and get the army's backs up. Who would want them to do that, apart from one-trick-pony government bashers?

And what's wrong with bashing a one-trick-pony government?

[Macmundi]

A few hundred years back, people like the red shirts or yellow shirts, who push their thoughts so far as to make other people's lives miserable, are pinned on a stake and BURNED! thats the medieval way. The chinese just chop their heads off. Don't the reds know no limit? Perhaps the ones protesting now should also be in the slammer.

[whybother]

Being the peace-loving arbiter of political frictions that you are on these pages, I'm surprised you wouldn't welcome Chalerm's softly-softly approach on this issue.

Do you think that amending the clause would not lead to a certain amount of strife from, say, the army, who are the proclaimed protectors of the royals' dignity and quite possibly the driving force behind the government's inertia on the issue of LM?

It seems pretty straightforward to me. Change the clause and get the army's backs up. Who would want them to do that, apart from one-trick-pony government bashers?

Given how much they complained about the use of Article 112 prior to the election, it's surprising Chalerm isn't using his "We said we would change it, so we're going to change it" lines. In this case it's "We complained about it a lot, but now we're going to spend lots of money to keep doing it".

[phiphidon]

Being the peace-loving arbiter of political frictions that you are on these pages, I'm surprised you wouldn't welcome Chalerm's softly-softly approach on this issue.

Do you think that amending the clause would not lead to a certain amount of strife from, say, the army, who are the proclaimed protectors of the royals' dignity and quite possibly the driving force behind the government's inertia on the issue of LM?

It seems pretty straightforward to me. Change the clause and get the army's backs up. Who would want them to do that, apart from one-trick-pony government bashers?

Given how much they complained about the use of Article 112 prior to the election, it's surprising Chalerm isn't using his "We said we would change it, so we're going to change it" lines. In this case it's "We complained about it a lot, but now we're going to spend lots of money to keep doing it".

The present government may not be acting on ammending or scrapping Article 112 at the moment but at least they're not using it as a way to silence the opposition as we have seen to often in the past.

[lannarebirth]

Being the peace-loving arbiter of political frictions that you are on these pages, I'm surprised you wouldn't welcome Chalerm's softly-softly approach on this issue.

Do you think that amending the clause would not lead to a certain amount of strife from, say, the army, who are the proclaimed protectors of the royals' dignity and quite possibly the driving force behind the government's inertia on the issue of LM?

It seems pretty straightforward to me. Change the clause and get the army's backs up. Who would want them to do that, apart from one-trick-pony government bashers?

Given how much they complained about the use of Article 112 prior to the election, it's surprising Chalerm isn't using his "We said we would change it, so we're going to change it" lines. In this case it's "We complained about it a lot, but now we're going to spend lots of money to keep doing it".

This is a situation where a Venn diagram might be instructive.