Four Thais charged in military court over anti-coup protest: activists

[webfact]

Four Thais charged in military court over anti-coup protest: activists
AFP

BANGKOK: -- Four Thai men were charged over an anti-coup protest in a military court in Bangkok Monday, activists said, as dozens of students rallied outside in defiance of martial law in the junta-ruled nation.

Around 40 students chanted slogans in support of the accused outside the court in the capital's historic heart to protest against the use of military courts to try civilians.

Thailand has seen a rapid erosion of civil liberties since the army seized power last May with the army banning political gatherings of more than five people, censoring the media and arresting and detaining opponents of junta rule.

The four men, including one student, were each charged with breaching the ban on gatherings during a peaceful demonstration in Bangkok last month, said Anon Nampa, one of the accused who also works for the Thai Lawyers for Human Rights.

They face up to one year in jail and a 20,000 baht ($600) fine if convicted, he added.

"We have each been charged under the law against the gathering of more than five people -- now we have been released," said Anon. The four must next report to the court on 27 March.

Pro-democracy student activists rallied outside the court to support the accused after mobilising at Bangkok's liberal Thammasat University, holding placards saying "Civilians must not be tried in a military court" and "No more dictatorship in Thailand".

"This is harming our human rights. We don't want people to be tried in a military court," economics student Sukrid Peansuwan, 21, told AFP at the campus rally.

A university lecturer who did not want to be named said she was supporting the students as "Thailand has come too far to go back to tyranny".

"Seeking democracy and justice is not a crime," she told AFP.

The four anti-coup protesters were arrested, and later released on bail, after a Valentine's Day protest in central Bangkok where activists handed out roses and copies of George Orwell's anti-authoritarian novel "1984".

Amnesty International condemned the charges in a statement released Monday, saying they should never have been levelled.

"They should not be placed in front of a military court, where they will not face a fair trial, and they should be permitted to freely express their opinions and protest peacefully," said Rupert Abbott, Amnesty's Research Director for Southeast Asia and the Pacific.

May's military coup was the latest twist in Thailand's decade-long political crisis, which broadly pits a Bangkok-based middle class and royalist elite -- backed by parts of the military and judiciary -- against urban working-class voters and farmers from the country's north.

The junta says it will hold fresh elections in early 2016 once reforms to tackle corruption and curb the power of political parties are codified in a new constitution.

But the draft charter has already raised deep concerns in the kingdom and critics doubt whether it will bridge Thailand's deep political divisions.


-- (c) Copyright AFP 2015-03-17

[webfact]

Martial Court Frees Anti-Coup Activists on Bail
By Khaosod English


The four defendants outside the military court in Bangkok on 15 March 2015.

BANGKOK — Four anti-coup activists charged with violating the junta's ban on protests were granted release on bail by a military court in Bangkok.

The four defendants were charged with defying the ban after they organized a pro-democracy rally in downtown Bangkok last month. They have also been charged with violating the Computer Crime Act, which criminalizes spreading any information that could threaten "national security" on the Internet and is punishable by up to five years in prison.

The four defendants include Arnon Nampha, 30, a human rights lawyer; Pansak Srithep, 48, an activist whose teenage son was killed in the 2010 crackdown on Redshirt protesters; Siriwit Serithiwat, 24, a fourth-year political science student at Thammasat University; and Wannakiat Chusuwan, 36, a taxi driver.

The four men helped found the anti-coup group "Resistant Citizens," which has organized non-violent resistance against the military junta that seized power from an elected government last May.

Police escorted the activists to the military court at around 2 pm today.

While the court debated whether to grant the four men release on bail, a group of university students rallied outside to show their support for the defendants. The group passed around a loudspeaker, condemning the junta’s practice of trying civilians in martial courts, where military officers serve as judges and appeals are not permitted.

Full story: http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.php?newsid=1426510972&typecate=06&section=


-- Khaosod English 2015-03-17

[chooka]

Keep poking the bear and it is going to rip your bloody head off and shove it up your rear end.

[trogers]

Better to seek Nirvana. Democracy and Justice have never existed in the world, despite what politicians had claimed.

[yellowboat]

Wonder what Mr.. Mark Abhisit thinks of all this. Seems he has done very little to bridge the divide. Does he visit Isaan or Chiang Mia Campuses ? Tis a shame to be so well educated and yet get very little done.

[HappyinNE]

With things like this it is amazing that the Gen is complaining about his PR people not getting his good story out.

[heybruce]

"The four anti-coup protesters were arrested, and later released on bail, after a Valentine's Day protest in central Bangkok where activists handed out roses and copies of George Orwell's anti-authoritarian novel "1984"."

I'm waiting for the junta enthusiasts to explain why the above is a crime.

Oh wait, it's a crime because PM/General/Not a D-word Prayuth says it is. How could I forget?

[yellowboat]

With things like this it is amazing that the Gen is complaining about his PR people not getting his good story out.

The good general is astonished his good intentions go unrecognized. Sadly, he thinks rounding up protesters is doing the country a favor. He is either brainwashed in believing the elitist doctrine or he follows it without question.

[than]

"The four anti-coup protesters were arrested, and later released on bail, after a Valentine's Day protest in central Bangkok where activists handed out roses and copies of George Orwell's anti-authoritarian novel "1984"."

I'm waiting for the junta enthusiasts to explain why the above is a crime.

Oh wait, it's a crime because PM/General/Not a D-word Prayuth says it is. How could I forget?

They violated martial laaw who ban politacl rally........

[philw]

What is notable is that after making an appeal to help find bail funds ( should they be required ), Arnom raised over 700,000 baht via his facebook page in one day.( Sunday )

The great majority of donations being far below 1,000 baht.

That says something.

[heybruce]

"The four anti-coup protesters were arrested, and later released on bail, after a Valentine's Day protest in central Bangkok where activists handed out roses and copies of George Orwell's anti-authoritarian novel "1984"."

I'm waiting for the junta enthusiasts to explain why the above is a crime.

Oh wait, it's a crime because PM/General/Not a D-word Prayuth says it is. How could I forget?

They violated martial laaw who ban politacl rally........

I said the same thing when I posted:

"Oh wait, it's a crime because PM/General/Not a D-word Prayuth says it is."

[halloween]

What is notable is that after making an appeal to help find bail funds ( should they be required ), Arnom raised over 700,000 baht via his facebook page in one day.( Sunday )

The great majority of donations being far below 1,000 baht.

That says something.

That says something....................fools and their money are soon parted?

[yellowboat]

What is notable is that after making an appeal to help find bail funds ( should they be required ), Arnom raised over 700,000 baht via his facebook page in one day.( Sunday )

The great majority of donations being far below 1,000 baht.

That says something.

That says something....................fools and their money are soon parted?

No, you are mistaken. it means over 700 people care deeply about freedom of speech and assembly.

[metisdead]

An inflammatory and offensive post has been removed as well as the replies.