We will try to cut use of military courts: Prayut

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We will try to cut use of military courts: Prayut
THE NATION


Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha shows a donut

Outcry over civilians facing tribunals; use of martial law being relaxed, PM says

BANGKOK: -- IN reaction to growing opposition, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said yesterday he would try to reduce the use of military courts for trials involving civilians held under martial law - if it does not affect national security.

The PM said the enforcement of martial law was also being relaxed and ordinary laws increasingly being used to deal with situations.

As for the arrested volunteer nurse Nattha Meewangpla, Prayut said she has been handed over to the police after she was found linked to the hand-grenade attack on Criminal Court.

Prayut added he has not been banned from visiting the United States and that a remark he made earlier was a joke. He said he would attend the UN General Assembly in New York in September.

His remarks came amid growing calls for an end of martial law and use of the military court for trials involving civilians.

Human Rights Watch said yesterday that charges against peaceful critics of the military government of General Prayut should be immediately dropped and civilians not tried in military court.

"The Thai military junta should immediately stop arresting and prosecuting peaceful critics and end the trial of civilians in military courts. Every arbitrary arrest shows Thailand descending deeper into dictatorial rule," said Brad Adams, Asia director at Human Rights Watch.

Human Rights Watch cited charges laid on Monday against four members of Resistant Citizens who face the military court for peacefully protesting against the coup last month. They were accused of violating the ban on political activity and holding a public gathering of more than five people. The four were holding a mock election and calling for martial law to be revoked. If found guilty they could be jailed for up to a year and fined up to Bt20,000.

Human rights lawyer Anon Nampa, one of the four, faces an extra charge under the Computer Crimes Act for criticising the military on Facebook in five posts that could see him sentenced to up to 25 years in jail and have to pay a fine of Bt500,000.

HRW said that hundreds of people, most of them political |dissents, have been sent to trials in military courts since the coup.

"The rolling crackdown on civil and political rights in Thailand continues without let-up," Adams said. "Promises to respect human rights and restore democracy are constantly contradicted by the junta's actions."

In a related development, the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva has received complaints about the use of military tribunals against civilians.

In another related development, First Army Region Commander Lt-General Kampanart Ruddit defended the use of military courts, saying only those who violated the orders Nos 3 and 38 of the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) face military court.

Kampanart said he understands the university students who demand an end to the use of military courts on civilians and added that they would not be invited to ensure they have a "proper understanding".

Deputy PM and Defence Minister General Prawit Wongsuwan said the government would judge the country's situation on whether martial law should be lifted. He was responding to National Legislative Assembly (NLA) president Pornpetch Wichit-cholchai's suggestion that the government lift martial law in August.

Prawit insisted that the government would not act beyond the scope of law following calls for the government not to try cases against civilians in military courts.

Pornpetch said at a seminar panel that trying lese majeste cases in military courts helped reduce the number of cases. He said although protecting the monarchy was not political, the institution was highly valued by Thai people. The National Council for Peace and Order wanted to use strong medicine to curb lese majeste crimes either on social media or in general.

He said if the situation subsided, he believed the NCPO should use less "strong medicine". He thought the NLA may propose less severe action against offenders if the drafting of the new charter is almost ready in June or August. "I want to balance the power of the state and human rights. This balance can be changed depending on the situation,'' he said.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/We-will-try-to-cut-use-of-military-courts-Prayut-30256232.html

-- The Nation 2015-03-18

[zaphod reborn]

Why is there a growing call for the end of martial law? Prayuth's government is telling us, "They (the people observing officials monitoring CCTV images) added that they wanted the government to continue using martial law since it made them feel safer in their daily lives." Are we not being told the truth?

[Tokay]

Whatever happened to the tourist courts?

[NongKhaiKid]

There's a chance this will be treated as off topic because it's comment about the PM and despite being in the report.

So he was joking when he said he was banned from the US but doesn't he realise that he's the only one who gets his ' jokes ' and if they have to be explained they're not jokes.

He really needs to engage his brain before opening his mouth.

[Commerce]

"Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha shows a donut"

Sure does; and very often!

[Thaddeus]

Crocodile Dundee.

"Call that a doughnut''

[oneday]

"...he would try to reduce the use of military courts..."

Don't try, just DO!

[The Deerhunter]

Whatever happened to the tourist courts?

That's called Sharia law for the first 25 years, then it is intended to become national law.

[lvr181]

"try" is the operative word here. Only time will tell. Or is the PM announcing this for the happiness of Thai peoples and the country's allies?

[Srikcir]

Martial law is like a light bulb. It's either on or off. There is no in-between with martial law. If Prayut wants to curb martial law, rescind it.

The military has control of the police and DSI to keep the DOMESTIC peace. There is no EXTERNAL THREAT to Thailand's national security, especially now with Thailand's security agreements with China and Russia. So why martial law?

Prayut realizes he must have martial law to MAKE people do his bidding, to use martial law devices to cower and intimidate people, to quickly suppress ANY opposition to the coup, its clone organizations, and its self-contrived laws and charters. Don't expect with the passage of a new charter that martial law will be lifted any time soon, especially if the new charter is not approved by Thais in a referendum.

Ofetn Prayut often states, "I WILL DECIDE." How can that be against the will of 60 million people? It's not his shining personality, good looks or campaign promises - it's the 120,000 paramilitary, armor, navy, and airforce controlled by the NCPO that backs up his claim of soverneignty over the Thai people.

[mango66]

Humbug !

peaceful civilians !!!!

If you protest in Europe without permit, you are jailed by police !

But in Thailand the same offence is distorting human rights by HR organisations !

Thais dont like the military court !! Why ??

In civil court you always get the chance to bribe you out !!!

[yellowboat]

The iron fist which wields the rubber stamp says "We will try to cut use of military courts"

[NeilSA1]

Martial law is like a light bulb. It's either on or off. There is no in-between with martial law. If Prayut wants to curb martial law, rescind it.

The military has control of the police and DSI to keep the DOMESTIC peace. There is no EXTERNAL THREAT to Thailand's national security, especially now with Thailand's security agreements with China and Russia. So why martial law?

Prayut realizes he must have martial law to MAKE people do his bidding, to use martial law devices to cower and intimidate people, to quickly suppress ANY opposition to the coup, its clone organizations, and its self-contrived laws and charters. Don't expect with the passage of a new charter that martial law will be lifted any time soon, especially if the new charter is not approved by Thais in a referendum.

Ofetn Prayut often states, "I WILL DECIDE." How can that be against the will of 60 million people? It's not his shining personality, good looks or campaign promises - it's the 120,000 paramilitary, armor, navy, and airforce controlled by the NCPO that backs up his claim of soverneignty over the Thai people.

Similarly, a lady is either pregnant or not. Yet the actual pregnancy conditions experienced by the lady can either be considered good or very bad (or in between)

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

Whatever happened to the tourist courts?

I believe you have to be a farang arrested for snapping an underboob photo in order to gain access to that august institution....

[englishoak]

The cracks are widening.

[muntergok]

What a Donut.

I hear more and more European Countries are banning him from entry.

I hope to get to see him so I can pat his little head.

[Thai at Heart]

There's a chance this will be treated as off topic because it's comment about the PM and despite being in the report.

So he was joking when he said he was banned from the US but doesn't he realise that he's the only one who gets his ' jokes ' and if they have to be explained they're not jokes.

He really needs to engage his brain before opening his mouth.

I hear the Army is setting up a special task force to search to see if Prayuth actually has a brain.

I think this maybe a little like the Spitting Image skits about President Reagan

[rubl]

So, are there reliable figures on how many have actually been convicted / sentenced by Military Courts?

With 'reliable' I don't mean non-existing government figures, neither HR organization guestimates, nor social networks 'wishful thinking'

Edited March 19, 2015 by rubl