DSI Chief Defends Dropping Of Lese Majeste Charges Against Jatuporn

[webfact]

DSI chief defends dropping of lese majeste charges against Jatuporn

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Department of Special Investigation will not reply to criticism by a senior Democrat about the dropping of lese majeste charges against Pheu Thai MP Jatuporn Promphan, DSI director-general Tarit Pengdith said yesterday.

"Democrat Suthep Thaugsuban was once the DSI's political overseer, so I will not talk back to my former boss," he said.

Tarit said although he respected Suthep, the DSI had drawn the conclusion on the Jatuporn case based on evidence collected from an investigation.

Suthep, who used to supervise the DSI when he was deputy prime minister in the previous government, questioned why Tarit appeared to have shifted his stance following the change of government.

Tarit conceded he had earlier suspected Jatuporn of offending the monarchy but changed his opinion after studying the investigative outcome.

He went on to say that the Office of the Attorney General would have the final say on whether to prosecute Jatuporn.

In a separate development, Pheu Thai MP Kokaew Pikulthong called on red shirts to take part in a rally on Saturday as a gesture to demand the government speed up legal proceedings for red suspects accused of breaking the law during political unrest in mid-2010.

Kokaew said the rally was not meant to drive a wedge between the government and the red shirts but to raise awareness of the plight of suspects trapped in various stages of legal proceedings.

Commenting on the enforcement of the lese majeste law, he said he wanted to see Suthep sue Tarit for a lapse of duty in not prosecuting Jatuporn.

"In his defence, Tarit is expected to reveal how Suthep had been involved in issuing suspicious orders aimed to crack down on the red shirts.".

He said the so-called conspiracy to topple the monarchy was a fabrication to justify killing, and caused trumped-up charges, scolding and torching of red shirts.

He urged red-shirt suspects charged with insulting royals to step up efforts to draw attention to the courts on how they were "framed". The lese majeste law was invoked as a political tool to suppress the red shirts, he alleged.

Only the judiciary could resolve the issues, such as bail review and trumped-up charges, because the government and the legislative branch had no mandate to intervene in the judicial process.

Meanwhile, the mother of a victim killed in the 2010 bloodshed at Wat Pathum has demanded a firm date and clear guidelines for the payment of compensation by the PM's Office.

Phayao Akhad yesterday filed a complaint, saying the authorities failed to pay compensation for her dead daughter Kamolket on May 15, as promised.

"I am very disappointed because the authorities keep shifting the date for compensation payments," she said.

Phayao said she wanted to bring up the lack of a clear deadline to the attention of PM's Office secretary-general Tongthong Chandransu, who is in charge of compensating victims of political violence.

She voiced scepticism that the authorities could meet the new deadline of May 24.

She also called on the authorities to clarify the guidelines for payment because many families of people killed were still in the dark on two crucial issues - whether they were entitled to compensation and, if so, when would they get their money.

-- The Nation 2012-05-17

[OzMick]

Pheu Thai MP Kokaew said "Only the judiciary could resolve the issues, such as bail review and trumped-up charges, because the government and the legislative branch had no mandate to intervene in the judicial process."

Of course that doesn't apply to Jatuporn, or even Yingluck because......................................

Out of the mouths of babes and idiots.

[whybother]

In a separate development, Pheu Thai MP Kokaew Pikulthong called on red shirts to take part in a rally on Saturday as a gesture to demand the government speed up legal proceedings for red suspects accused of breaking the law during political unrest in mid-2010.

A Pheu Thai MP asking people to protest against his own government!

[Jawnie]

This makes it all pretty obvious that Article 112 does nothing but cause problems. The law and its enforcement have nothing to do with protecting or bettering anything and it is only about hateful politics.

[whybother]

This makes it all pretty obvious that Article 112 does nothing but cause problems. The law and its enforcement have nothing to do with protecting or bettering anything and it is only about hateful politics.

With that, it's quite amazing that the current government have spent an extra 400 million baht on combing the internet to look for LM content.

[Buchholz]

He went on to say that the Office of the Attorney General would have the final say on whether to prosecute Jatuporn.

The Office, of which, quite conveniently, falls under under the supervision

of this guy...

fellow party member of the accused...

Justice Minister

Pheu Thai Party MP

Police General

Pracha Promnog

Edited May 17, 2012 by Buchholz

[metisdead]

A post bringing HM the King into the discussion has been removed:

2) Not to express disrespect of the King of Thailand or anyone else in the Thai royal family, whether living or deceased, nor to criticize the monarchy as an institution. Speculation, comments and discussion of either a political or personal nature are not allowed when discussing HM The King or the Royal family. Discussion of the lese majeste law or lese majeste cases is permitted on the forum, providing no comment or speculation is made referencing the royal family. To breach this rule will result in immediate ban.

[Buchholz]

He went on to say that the Office of the Attorney General would have the final say on whether to prosecute Jatuporn.

The Office, of which, quite conveniently, falls under under the supervision

of this guy...

fellow party member of the accused...

Justice Minister

Pheu Thai Party MP

Police General

Pracha Promnog

In this morning's other paper, Tarit is saying the prosecutors aren't pursuing the case and have dropped the charges.

.

[Moruya]

I must admit that I thought the language the muppet used was in contravention of the law

[ianf]

Yes it was in contravention of the law, but that is not part of the game plan. He on High, who lives in Dubai, decreed otherwise.

[ramrod711]

The law should apply to everyone, can anyone in Thailand now say what Jatuporn said...........NO! If it wasn't so sad it would be laughable.

[OzMick]

This makes it all pretty obvious that Article 112 does nothing but cause problems. The law and its enforcement have nothing to do with protecting or bettering anything and it is only about hateful politics.

A government has the choice of upholding the law or changing it. This government has chosen to do neither (so far, and in selected cases).

How exactly a POLICE officer gets to rule that a court sworn lie was not perjury boggles the mind. And the trend continues.

[rubl]

Does this mean only dropping the case against k. Jataporn deserved defending? What about the two or three others who were charged at the same time and all regarding remarks made during a rally on April 10th, 2011? Are those charges dropped as well? It seems lots were accused, but only three charged. Now the DSI recommend towards the court involved to drop charges (against k. Jatuporn), only?

Somewhat confused

[JohnAllan]

Tarit says he based his decision on evidence collected from the investigation. Funny! I thought these cases proceeded to trial without the need for bothersome evidence.

Kokaew talks of torching the redshirts. They were set on fire? I don't recollect that. Only SOMEONE instigating arson. Are we talking of the same thing?

And true to form: the cost of the many unfortunate and tragic deaths [the identity of those responsible still - no matter what is claimed, or by whom - not satisfactorily solved] is now being seen in Baht signs.

[JohnAllan]

A post bringing HM the King into the discussion has been removed:

2) Not to express disrespect of the King of Thailand or anyone else in the Thai royal family, whether living or deceased, nor to criticize the monarchy as an institution. Speculation, comments and discussion of either a political or personal nature are not allowed when discussing HM The King or the Royal family. Discussion of the lese majeste law or lese majeste cases is permitted on the forum, providing no comment or speculation is made referencing the royal family. To breach this rule will result in immediate ban.

The very problem with the Lese Majeste law is exactly who decides what is, and what is not, disrespect. And the criteria they use.

[anterian]

If a law is openly abused and perverted for personal or political reasons, then it clearly needs to be abolished or drastically modified.

[phiphidon]

Does this mean only dropping the case against k. Jataporn deserved defending? What about the two or three others who were charged at the same time and all regarding remarks made during a rally on April 10th, 2011? Are those charges dropped as well? It seems lots were accused, but only three charged. Now the DSI recommend towards the court involved to drop charges (against k. Jatuporn), only?

Somewhat confused

There were 19 cases of LM brought on that day by an army aide ordered to by Prayuth. The DSI in conjunction with prosecutors passed the cases to the AG with the recommendation that the charges be dropped. Apparently there are three ways on from there. The AG doesn't send the cases to court, the AG ignores the DSI recommendations and sends the cases to court or he asks for more investigation into the cases.

Edited May 17, 2012 by phiphidon

[rubl]

Does this mean only dropping the case against k. Jataporn deserved defending? What about the two or three others who were charged at the same time and all regarding remarks made during a rally on April 10th, 2011? Are those charges dropped as well? It seems lots were accused, but only three charged. Now the DSI recommend towards the court involved to drop charges (against k. Jatuporn), only?

Somewhat confused

There were 19 cases of LM brought on that day by an army aide ordered to by Prayuth. The DSI in conjunction with prosecutors passed the cases to the AG with the recommendation that the charges be dropped. Apparently there are three ways on from there. The AG doesn't send the cases to court, the AG ignores the DSI recommendations and sends the cases to court or he asks for more investigation into the cases.

There we go again ...

The original OP on LM charges dropped 'only' mentions k. Jatuporn

"The Department of Special Investigation has found no cause to invoke the lese majeste law against Pheu Thai MP Jatuporn Promphan, DSI director-general Tarit Pengdith said yesterday."

2011-04-14

"Pheu Thai Party MP Jatuporn Promphan, a core red leader, said he would lodge a complaint with Samran Rat Police Station on Sunday against General Prayuth Chan-ochar for falsely claiming lese majeste by three red leaders."

2011-04-16

"Thailand’s Department of Special Investigation (DSI) have said that at least 18 leaders of the anti-government United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) have made ‘inappropriate remarks’ about the monarchy at their recent Red Shirt rally."

2011-04-17

"United Front for Democracy against dictatorship (UDD) leaders Jatuporn Prompan, Suporn Attawong and Wichien Kaokam, met with the deputy metropolitan police commander, Pol Maj Gen Amnuay Nimmano, today (Sunday) to clarify details of the lese majeste charges filed earlier by the army chief."

http://thailandtimes.asia/thailand-news/redshirt-leaders-to-fight-lese-majeste-charges/

2011-04-18 from local guest reporter NN

"On Sunday, 17 April 2011, Red Shirts went to Samranrat Police Station, around the corner from Lan Kon Mueang, to accompany their leaders to file a counter case against Army Chief Prayud Chana-ocha, who filed there a lese majeste case against several Red Shirt leaders for their speeches on their Democracy Monument stage on 10 April. I arrived just before lunch."

http://asiapacific.anu.edu.au/newmandala/2011/04/18/nostitz-reports-on-a-bangkok-stand-off/

So it seems that after a lot of blabla ONLY three UDD leaders were actually charged and (at least) one has DSI recommending that charges be dropped. The 'royally bestowed bullets' were just a misunderstanding, Gen. Chavalit can come back now

[TheCure]

If you know anything about Thailand, you will know that DSI is a political police,abiding by the orders of the current pigs at the trough .

[phiphidon]

Does this mean only dropping the case against k. Jataporn deserved defending? What about the two or three others who were charged at the same time and all regarding remarks made during a rally on April 10th, 2011? Are those charges dropped as well? It seems lots were accused, but only three charged. Now the DSI recommend towards the court involved to drop charges (against k. Jatuporn), only?

Somewhat confused

There were 19 cases of LM brought on that day by an army aide ordered to by Prayuth. The DSI in conjunction with prosecutors passed the cases to the AG with the recommendation that the charges be dropped. Apparently there are three ways on from there. The AG doesn't send the cases to court, the AG ignores the DSI recommendations and sends the cases to court or he asks for more investigation into the cases.

There we go again ...

The original OP on LM charges dropped 'only' mentions k. Jatuporn

"The Department of Special Investigation has found no cause to invoke the lese majeste law against Pheu Thai MP Jatuporn Promphan, DSI director-general Tarit Pengdith said yesterday."

http://www.thaivisa....d/#entry5290326

2011-04-14

"Pheu Thai Party MP Jatuporn Promphan, a core red leader, said he would lodge a complaint with Samran Rat Police Station on Sunday against General Prayuth Chan-ochar for falsely claiming lese majeste by three red leaders."

http://www.thaivisa....t/#entry4355045

2011-04-16

"Thailand’s Department of Special Investigation (DSI) have said that at least 18 leaders of the anti-government United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) have made ‘inappropriate remarks’ about the monarchy at their recent Red Shirt rally."

2011-04-17

"United Front for Democracy against dictatorship (UDD) leaders Jatuporn Prompan, Suporn Attawong and Wichien Kaokam, met with the deputy metropolitan police commander, Pol Maj Gen Amnuay Nimmano, today (Sunday) to clarify details of the lese majeste charges filed earlier by the army chief."

http://thailandtimes...ajeste-charges/

2011-04-18 from local guest reporter NN

"On Sunday, 17 April 2011, Red Shirts went to Samranrat Police Station, around the corner from Lan Kon Mueang, to accompany their leaders to file a counter case against Army Chief Prayud Chana-ocha, who filed there a lese majeste case against several Red Shirt leaders for their speeches on their Democracy Monument stage on 10 April. I arrived just before lunch."

http://asiapacific.a...gkok-stand-off/

So it seems that after a lot of blabla ONLY three UDD leaders were actually charged and (at least) one has DSI recommending that charges be dropped. The 'royally bestowed bullets' were just a misunderstanding, Gen. Chavalit can come back now

I state again, There are 19 UDD leaders charged. Your sources, 1 - Nation, 2 - Nation, 3 - "DSI chief Tharit Pengdit earlier said at least 18 UDD leaders made inappropriate remarks about the monarchy, as well as saying things on stage that could be deemed to be instigating people to violate laws." 4- That article is about a counter charge a few of the UDD leaders were making about Prayuth.

Just google Bangkok Post and get the full story

[GentlemanJim]

it would be an interesting exercise to do another 'declaration of assets' for a few people now

[TheCure]

The law should apply to everyone, can anyone in Thailand now say what Jatuporn said...........NO! If it wasn't so sad it would be laughable.

There has never been a rule of law in this country. If you have lived here long enough, you should know that .

[rubl]

I state again, There are 19 UDD leaders charged. Your sources, 1 - Nation, 2 - Nation, 3 - "DSI chief Tharit Pengdit earlier said at least 18 UDD leaders made inappropriate remarks about the monarchy, as well as saying things on stage that could be deemed to be instigating people to violate laws." 4- That article is about a counter charge a few of the UDD leaders were making about Prayuth.

Just google Bangkok Post and get the full story

My excuses, seems I forgot to add the link for #3

http://thailandtimes...ajeste-charges/

edit: add Posted 2012-05-11 14:52:27 phiphidon:

"It's not just Jatuporns case that is being dropped, that was just The Nations selected take on it. 19 UDD Members were charged at the same time."

http://www.thaivisa....25#entry5291668

edit2: add: Posted 2012-05-12 22:40:56 phiphidon

"Look, if you wish to ignore my links and try to make out I'm wrong why don't you just read the other papers take on the situation - they verify the 19 UDD leaders charged and even go as far as to say that the DSI have recommended the charges be dropped for all of them. Now it's down to the prosecutors."

Whether leader or members, the articles quoted by phiphidon and myself only indicate an intention to file charges against lots of UDD, but list THREE ponly as being charged and now ONLY dropped regarding k. Jatuporn.

Will check the other newspaper which links are not to be forwarded here as by forum rules and BP policy

edit3: add: might as well google a bit, heavy rain again in BKK at the moment

Edited May 17, 2012 by rubl

[rubl]

I state again, There are 19 UDD leaders charged. Your sources, 1 - Nation, 2 - Nation, 3 - "DSI chief Tharit Pengdit earlier said at least 18 UDD leaders made inappropriate remarks about the monarchy, as well as saying things on stage that could be deemed to be instigating people to violate laws." 4- That article is about a counter charge a few of the UDD leaders were making about Prayuth.

Just google Bangkok Post and get the full story

The NewMandela article has a response which list 18 Thai names as being listed on thai-news. Haven't found it yet. Have found 2011-04-20 "DSI summons 18 UDD suspects over lèse majesté charge"

http://thainews.prd.go.th/en/news.php?id=255404200001

Also 2011-07-06 "Lese majeste indictment for 19 red shirts postponed a month"

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/home/Lese-majeste-indictment-for-19-red-shirts-postpone-30159631.html

Since then silence it would seem. So if you could please PM me the BP link you were using as reference I'd be grateful

[animatic]

Face it, there is no autonomy of functioning under the political appointee of the day for any justice functions prior to the courts. Budgets and jobs can be slashed with the stroke of a pen, face permanently lost, and careers decimated. Best to play ball and take your cut.

Which goes a long way to explain the culture of coups here. The various justice branches can't reset the small stuff, because the over-lords over-rule, so the army resets it all in a bigger and often more random ending way.

Sure would be better to make functional justice and rule of law

make 'coups unnecessary as a reset switch'

when one side goes way, way too far.

Edited May 17, 2012 by animatic

[BigJohnnyBKK]

> The law should apply to everyone, can anyone in Thailand now say what Jatuporn said...........NO! If it wasn't so sad it would be laughable.

> This makes it all pretty obvious that Article 112 does nothing but cause problems. The law and its enforcement have nothing to do with protecting or bettering anything and it is only about hateful politics.

> The very problem with the Lese Majeste law is exactly who decides what is, and what is not, disrespect. And the criteria they use.

> If a law is openly abused and perverted for personal or political reasons, then it clearly needs to be abolished or drastically modified.

But that can be said for any law in Thailand, including the constitution. The fundamental truth is that written laws and principles are just not considered important here, everything runs on realpolitik, he with the guns and gold writes the rules.

I'd go so far as to say the purpose of the "system" of laws here is to ensure that absolutely anyone at anytime can be accurately labelled a criminal and deprived of their property and freedom at the whim of TPTB. The fundamental purpose of Thailand's police, military and other government institutions is to personally advance the interests, increase the wealth and power of those that hold office, in exchange for their support in maintaining the status quo wrt the much more fundamental powers of those outside the government who truly control the country.

Different in scale and scope from what's become of some of our own countries back home but not in that last bit of fundamentals unfortunately.

Sure would be better to make functional justice and rule of law

make 'coups unnecessary as a reset switch'

when one side goes way, way too far.

And would be nice if it wasn't so hot here too, just as likely to change within the lifetime of anyone reading this. . .

[OzMick]

> The law should apply to everyone, can anyone in Thailand now say what Jatuporn said...........NO! If it wasn't so sad it would be laughable.

> This makes it all pretty obvious that Article 112 does nothing but cause problems. The law and its enforcement have nothing to do with protecting or bettering anything and it is only about hateful politics.

> The very problem with the Lese Majeste law is exactly who decides what is, and what is not, disrespect. And the criteria they use.

> If a law is openly abused and perverted for personal or political reasons, then it clearly needs to be abolished or drastically modified.

But that can be said for any law in Thailand, including the constitution. The fundamental truth is that written laws and principles are just not considered important here, everything runs on realpolitik, he with the guns and gold writes the rules.

I'd go so far as to say the purpose of the "system" of laws here is to ensure that absolutely anyone at anytime can be accurately labelled a criminal and deprived of their property and freedom at the whim of TPTB. The fundamental purpose of Thailand's police, military and other government institutions is to personally advance the interests, increase the wealth and power of those that hold office, in exchange for their support in maintaining the status quo wrt the much more fundamental powers of those outside the government who truly control the country.

Different in scale and scope from what's become of some of our own countries back home but not in that last bit of fundamentals unfortunately.

Sure would be better to make functional justice and rule of law

make 'coups unnecessary as a reset switch'

when one side goes way, way too far.

And would be nice if it wasn't so hot here too, just as likely to change within the lifetime of anyone reading this. . .

You miss the point. Laws may be made for political gain. But why are high profile cases, be they lese majeste or anything else, being decided by police and political cronies rather than an independent judicial system? Isn't this one of the bases of democracy? You know, separation of powers and all that <deleted>.