NCPO reminds pro-death penalty demonstrators of ban on public gatherings

[webfact]

Junta Reminds Pro-Death Penalty Demonstrators of Ban On Public Gatherings
By Khaosod English


Wreaths placed during the funeral of a 13-year-old girl who was raped and murdered on a night train over the weekend.

BANGKOK — Thailand's military junta has warned those advocating for the execution of rapists not to violate the ban on public gatherings.

The National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) issued the warning after famous Thai actress Panadda Wongpoodee and a dozen of students staged a small demonstration at a train station in Nakhon Si Thammarat province to voice their support for punishing convicted rapists with the death penalty.

Plans for another rally at Siam Paragon shopping mall in Bangkok this Saturday have also been circulated on social media. Convicted rapists currently face 5-20 years in prison.

The outrage follows the rape and murder of a 13-year-old girl on a night train over the weekend. Police say a state railway employee confessed to sexually assaulting the victim in a sleeping car and throwing her out of the window afterwards. The suspect, Wanchai Saengkhao, is facing charges of premeditated murder, sexual assault, and drug abuse.

"These demonstrations are held under martial law," Col. Winthai Suwaree, a spokesperson of the NCPO, said today. "All types of demonstrations, whether about political or other issues, violate martial law."

The NCPO has harshly enforced its ban on public gatherings against protesters who participate in any kind of anti-coup demonstrations, including flashing the three-finger salute or eating sandwiches. However, the NCPO has not made a single arrest of anyone participating in a pro-coup or pro-army rally. Those who violate the NCPO's ban on protests may face a trial in military court and up to two years in prison.

Col. Winthai suggested that instead of demonstrating or organising rallies, those who would like to change the punishment for rape crimes should submit proposals to NCPO chairman Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha.

"[The NCPO] is a functioning agency. That is the most appropriate channel at this moment," Col. Winthai added, though he refused to comment on whether the NCPO agrees with the pro-death penalty campaign.

Today, contestants of the 2014 Miss Grand Thailand beauty pageant did in fact submit a proposal to the NCPO in favor of revising the criminal code to include execution as a punishment for rape.

The proposal also requested increased security across the country with at least two security personnel guarding “risk” areas, an information campaign teaching women about self-defense methods, and new NCPO policies to deter criminals.

“Miss Grand Thailand 2014 greatly hopes to see a revision in the law for the increased safety of women so that offenders will not get off scot-free in our society or receive too light a sentence,” said Miss Grand Thailand Director Nawat Isarnkraisiln, who accompanied the pageant contestants today.

Source: http://en.khaosod.co.th/detail.php?newsid=1404992548&typecate=06&section=


-- Khaosod English 2014-07-11

[Kimagure]

Well, they could just add a few "Death to the Great Satan America" signs, and hold their rally in front of the US embassy. That way it would be perfectly legal.

[tx22cb]

At least the NCPO are showing consistency.

But if some busybody tries to organise a public rally to show support for the NCPO, would the NCPO ban it?

[lostsoul49]

They could allow the death penalty easily and scrap the stupid 5 year minimum, is the 5 years for the kids of the rich and the 20 years for the kids of the poor?

How about raising the minimum to 10 years, and the maximum to death (for extreme cases).

No need for a protest then.

[taony]

At least the NCPO are showing consistency.

But if some busybody tries to organise a public rally to show support for the NCPO, would the NCPO ban it?

Doubt it. Wasn't there a small protest against the US Embassy that was deemed legal by them?

[ukrules]

Considering the sentence for murder is almost always some term in prison having a death sentence put it in place for rape would seem to be way over the top and only encourage rapists to murder their victims in a misguided attempt to prevent the victim from giving evidence. Due to forensic tests there will likely be DNA evidence left over anyway.

Now the recent rape / murder case is very different as it's already eligible for the death sentence due to the inevitable murder charge the suspect is going to be facing alongside the rape charge.

So the guy who raped and murdered the girl on the train is already facing the death penalty, however we all know that cooperating with investigators and pleading guilty gets the sentence halved.

We should not lose focus though, this is Thailand and despite the murders and rapes that happen the most serious crime is posessing drugs and the crime of which we can not speak, anything else is of much less importance.

They found a young woman stuffed inside an old style water storage tank a few miles away from me (Hua Hin) a couple of weeks ago. Her boyfriend is on the run right now.

[rickirs]

"All types of demonstrations, whether about political or other issues, violate martial law." (my bold type)

I have to give NCPO credit for leaving little room for freedom of expression except apparently for anything that expresses happiness with the junta, Thai society, the Crown, Buddha, or dissatisfaction with foreign government policies. But "All types of demonstrations" opens a whole world of interpretation as to what will be tolerated. Therein lies the conflict between "civil law and order" and "martial law. " The former is enscounced by a constitution, organic laws, and the civil and criminal courts. The latter operates on a set of personal directives based on perceptions and biases of the rule maker, however well-intentioned. So it will be very interesting to see how the junta will revive and sustain democracy in Tailand beyond mere labels.