POLITICS

Court staff seek protection for Jatuporn case briefing

The Nation

Cancel press conference to avoid provoking further red-shirt action

BANGKOK: -- The Office of the Constitution Court yesterday cancelled its planned press conference to clarify its petition seeking revocation of red-shirt leader Jatuporn Promphan's bail for fear the move would provoke his supporters, a source said.

Before the decision to cancel the press conference, court officials called a meeting, according to the source, who said they also discussed Jatuporn's attack on the court during his address at a red-shirt gathering on Sunday.

"It was agreed that a press conference would only provoke the red shirts further. Also, the petition has already entered the Criminal Court's proceedings," the source said.

Spokesman for the Constitution Court Somrit Chaiwong said that as the Criminal Court had accepted its petition seeking revocation of Jatuporn's bail, the Constitution Court had decided to refrain from acting in a way that could be viewed as attempting to interfere with the Criminal Court's authority.

The Constitution Court yesterday also issued the same explanation in cancelling its press conference. It said that the Constitution Court would not give any further comments on the matter now that the Criminal Court had summoned Jatuporn for testimony on July 23.

The press conference had been scheduled for yesterday after Jatuporn threatened to file a police complaint against the Constitution Court for allegedly fabricating a statement against him in seeking bail revocation. Jatuporn was granted bail in a criminal case stemming from 2010's unrest and riots.

The spokesman said yesterday that a request for police protection had been made by the court for Jatuporn's planned visit today to seek the court's explanation. "We are concerned he may bring his [red-shirt] supporters," the spokesman said. He added, however, that the judges were not worried.

The Constitution Court's chief spokesman, Pimon Thammapitakpong, said that Jatuporn had not made any formal request to the court. "I don't think there will be any confusion and the court does not feel any pressure about this," he said.

Jatuporn yesterday denied he had threatened any Constitution Court judge, as had been alleged. "I want to ask the Constitution Court president Wasant Soypisut if he was really threatened," he said.

The red-shirt leader reiterated that the Constitution Court had no authority to seek his bail revocation and that only the public prosecutors could take such action.

Jatuporn also threatened to stage a hunger strike and march from the Democracy Monument to his appointed jail if his bail was revoked.

Opposition leader Abhisit Vejjajiva, commenting on Jatuporn's threat to lead his supporters on a protest at the Constitution Court, yesterday criticised any attempt to deny the court's authority and to involve it in a dispute. He said this was a tactic used by government politicians and red shirts aimed at pressuring judges in their ruling on cases.

-- The Nation 2012-06-26

Courts in fear of thugs - very democratic.

Reported elsewhere that on Sunday a group "Naew Na Santi Vithee" or "Front For Peaceful Means" had a banner portraying 100 people who apparently don't suffer from "RED Thought" and whose works should be boycotted. I was half anticipating a good old book burning, until I realised that books and red shirts don't often keep company.

I believe there is a very small paperback titled "Heroic acts of our Red Shirt Leaders" which can be inverted, flipped and read from the back as "Thaksin's Philanthropy".

When you have Government that is full of thugs that scream rabidly for violence and arson and who hand out the names and phone numbers of judges so that the judges can be threatened, intimidated and abused then you have the lowest form of government in the world.

Yingluck had her chance to get rid of this scum - she didn't take it.

Now she and the rest of her party should be tarred with the same brush.

PTP - government by mob

Courts in fear of thugs - very democratic.

Reported elsewhere that on Sunday a group "Naew Na Santi Vithee" or "Front For Peaceful Means" had a banner portraying 100 people who apparently don't suffer from "RED Thought" and whose works should be boycotted. I was half anticipating a good old book burning, until I realised that books and red shirts don't often keep company.

I believe there is a very small paperback titled "Heroic acts of our Red Shirt Leaders" which can be inverted, flipped and read from the back as "Thaksin's Philanthropy".

They could equally read Mein Kampf

Does anyone know the details of the current bail conditions on Jatuporn. The only thing I can find is from June 2011:

"The court instead issued additional bail conditions which prohibit Mr Jatuporn from taking part in a gathering or an activity involving five or more people that may obstruct investigators or damage their case or court procedures, and from disseminating information to a person, a group of people or the public in a way that may cause similar damage. He is allowed to speak issues relating to the charges only as an MP during a parliamentary meeting."

"Jatuporn yesterday denied he had threatened any Constitution Court judge, as had been alleged. "I want to ask the Constitution Court president Wasant Soypisut if he was really threatened," he said."

Is he calling the Judge a liar?

"Jatuporn also threatened to stage a hunger strike and march from the Democracy Monument to his appointed jail if his bail was revoked."

Maybe he doesn't realise that if his bail is revoked he will in an establishment such as Klong Prem or Bang Kwang

Thais are impressed by braggarts and boisterous blusterers. Look at how Chuwit became a powerful and influential politician. He staged the physical destruction of an entire city block in downtown Bkk, then threatened authorities who tried to rein him in. Look at how Thaksin maintains his power: he bankrolls and incites rioters who wind up killing dozens and burning down large buildings. Jatuporn knows this, so in his quest for ever more political power and prestige, he's threatening to use a mob to browbeat people in power, who might get in his way. As expected, many Thai voters will be impressed.

Court can just rule, no need to explain.

It is a waste of time.

No one can question the court ruling anyway.

Mob rule as always

Difficult to fabricate a statement of any sort against Jatuporn, whose rampant mouth needs no assistance in getting its owner into trouble.

Thais are impressed by braggarts and boisterous blusterers. Look at how Chuwit became a powerful and influential politician. He staged the physical destruction of an entire city block in downtown Bkk, then threatened authorities who tried to rein him in. Look at how Thaksin maintains his power: he bankrolls and incites rioters who wind up killing dozens and burning down large buildings. Jatuporn knows this, so in his quest for ever more political power and prestige, he's threatening to use a mob to browbeat people in power, who might get in his way. As expected, many Thai voters will be impressed.

Fortunately, many are intelligent enough to see right through this particular windbag. And Chuwit didn't stage the destruction of a city block, but a market - unless I missed something.

Thais are impressed by braggarts and boisterous blusterers. Look at how Chuwit became a powerful and influential politician. He staged the physical destruction of an entire city block in downtown Bkk, then threatened authorities who tried to rein him in. Look at how Thaksin maintains his power: he bankrolls and incites rioters who wind up killing dozens and burning down large buildings. Jatuporn knows this, so in his quest for ever more political power and prestige, he's threatening to use a mob to browbeat people in power, who might get in his way. As expected, many Thai voters will be impressed.

Fortunately, many are intelligent enough to see right through this particular windbag. And Chuwit didn't stage the destruction of a city block, but a market - unless I missed something.

The market was comprised of dozens (maybe hundreds) of vendors - who did business on a city block-sized parcel. His hired thugs destroyed stalls and destroyed merchandise. Within a few months, he was a celebrated politician.

Huh Thais! What to say! when votes can be bought for a mere Bt 200, when a 60year old Australian Travel agentt can be killed for a mere Bt 300, when a traffic cop will turn away for a mere Bt 100, when a teenager sells his or her virginity for a mere Bt 300., when copy DVD can be bought on the streets for a mere Bt 60, when you can even get copy "True" boxes and services for a platinum package at a mere Bt 200 per month, when the majority of the country is controlled by a minority Thai Chinese,...........the lists goes on.......are they really ready for democracy??????????Can this country be saved???????? Is there a future for thailand?????????

Myammar, here I come but .........

Huh Thais! What to say! when votes can be bought for a mere Bt 200, when a 60year old Australian Travel agentt can be killed for a mere Bt 300, when a traffic cop will turn away for a mere Bt 100, when a teenager sells his or her virginity for a mere Bt 300., when copy DVD can be bought on the streets for a mere Bt 60, when you can even get copy "True" boxes and services for a platinum package at a mere Bt 200 per month, when the majority of the country is controlled by a minority Thai Chinese,...........the lists goes on.......are they really ready for democracy??????????Can this country be saved???????? Is there a future for thailand?????????

Myammar, here I come but .........

If you're expecting to walk into a mature democracy where everything is perfect, good luck.