Resistant Citizen group activists stand trial in military court today

[webfact]

Resistant Citizen group activists stand trial in military court today



BANGKOK: -- Four activists of the so-called Resistant Citizen group today stood trial for the first time in Bangkok Military Court on charge of violating the military junta's ban on political gathering.

The four are Anond Nampha, Siravich Serithiwat, Phansak Srithep and Wannakiat Chusuwan.

They were apprehended by soldiers after they held a gathering in front of Bangkok Art and Culture Centre on February 14 to protest the military junta.

They were later charged with the violation of Announcement 164/2015 of the National Council for Peace and Order and were all indicted in the military Court.

At today’s hearing of the charge, the four defiant activists still insisted that the Military Court has no jurisdiction to try them, reasoning that it is the jurisdiction of the Criminal Court which is a civilian court.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/resistant-citizen-group-activists-stand-trial-in-military-court-today


-- Thai PBS 2015-10-08

[NeverSure]

The junta can put a transcript of this trial in their new brochures they're going to make to explain Thailand better to the UN world.

[ldiablo]

Wasn't the ban on political gatherings stated that it could be no more than 5 people?

How many people were at thia gathering?

Edited October 8, 2015 by ldiablo

[AGareth2]

maths is not part of Thainess

[Fat Haggis]

And yet there's posters here who state that no liberties have been encroached or abused.

You can be former members of the PDRC hold press conferences where there's more than 5 of you, and walk to embassies with a group of more than 5 with a political message, whilst wearing saffron robes, and it's kool for Katz ?

Yes, it's all about the reconciliation process that's yet to be started in earnest !!

Even the blind can see what's happening in this country, just many seem to choose to ignore it

[mikemac]

And yet there's posters here who state that no liberties have been encroached or abused.

You can be former members of the PDRC hold press conferences where there's more than 5 of you, and walk to embassies with a group of more than 5 with a political message, whilst wearing saffron robes, and it's kool for Katz ?

Yes, it's all about the reconciliation process that's yet to be started in earnest !!

Even the blind can see what's happening in this country, just many seem to choose to ignore it

Who said that no liberties have been encroached or abused ? I thought it was pretty obvious that was the case.

Of course former members of the PDRC are treated differently to those protesting about the Junta, that is just plain common sense. I seem to remember the redshirts being treated differently to the anti-government protesters when the Shins were in power. That is how it works in Thailand. I am surprised you guys still bring it up.

Reconciliation to some means the Shins and their military wing being forgiven for past sins. It may well never happen.

And I don't think there are too many who don't see what is going on in Thailand, but many have been here long enough to know that it is just part of a cycle, and soon enough the shoe will be on the other foot.

As you have said on many occasions, no matter what us farangs say here on the forum it will have no affect on what happens in the long run.

[dcpo]

And yet there's posters here who state that no liberties have been encroached or abused.

You can be former members of the PDRC hold press conferences where there's more than 5 of you, and walk to embassies with a group of more than 5 with a political message, whilst wearing saffron robes, and it's kool for Katz ?

Yes, it's all about the reconciliation process that's yet to be started in earnest !!

Even the blind can see what's happening in this country, just many seem to choose to ignore it

I think few people on here look at things only from the perspective of how personally inconvenienced they have been. So, red shirts burning buildings in Bangkok = very bad, but the increasing suppression of dissent with detention and imprisonment = perfectly fine.

Edited October 8, 2015 by dcpo

[zaphod reborn]

Well, I couldn't care less about the junta's claim that they should be punished. However, this protest was planned at an art centre. The art centre told the group that it was inappropriate to stage a political event at a place meant to enjoy artwork. Accordingly, tough titties on the protesters. I would only have sympathy for them if they chose an appropriate protest site.

[Somtamnication]

Like watching The Hunger Games.

[Fat Haggis]

And yet there's posters here who state that no liberties have been encroached or abused.

You can be former members of the PDRC hold press conferences where there's more than 5 of you, and walk to embassies with a group of more than 5 with a political message, whilst wearing saffron robes, and it's kool for Katz ?

Yes, it's all about the reconciliation process that's yet to be started in earnest !!

Even the blind can see what's happening in this country, just many seem to choose to ignore it

Who said that no liberties have been encroached or abused ? I thought it was pretty obvious that was the case.

Of course former members of the PDRC are treated differently to those protesting about the Junta, that is just plain common sense. I seem to remember the redshirts being treated differently to the anti-government protesters when the Shins were in power. That is how it works in Thailand. I am surprised you guys still bring it up.

Reconciliation to some means the Shins and their military wing being forgiven for past sins. It may well never happen.

And I don't think there are too many who don't see what is going on in Thailand, but many have been here long enough to know that it is just part of a cycle, and soon enough the shoe will be on the other foot.

As you have said on many occasions, no matter what us farangs say here on the forum it will have no affect on what happens in the long run.

I won't name names, but trust me, they are around.

Reconciliation to me isn't about forgiveness for past transgressions it's about bringing the country together with one common goal, there's more chance of being able to sew a button on a fart than having a United Thailand;)

However if the powers that be see amnesties as being needed then that's just going to have to happen. The junta have themselves one for the past coup and future coups. That's wrong, very wrong, what kind of signal does that send out to the rest of the country?

You know as well as I do, as long as Thaksin and Suthep are both breathing, Thaksin will never be able to return as any sort of leader, it's like giving an arsonist a box of matches and a can of gas!!

These two are part of the problem, if both just fecked off, the Thais might actually have a chance of progress and reconcile, the problem is one is allegedly back by the masses and the other is backed by the ruling elite.

Yes Thaksin was part of the very same elite till he upset the apple cart and started making changes that the Jockeys didn't like.

Once that pair stop breathing and the dinosaurs along with them, then Thailand can move forwards. Probably to be replaced by younger versions, but that's for the Thais to sort out

[phoenixdoglover]

Dear Mr. Prime Minister,

The following is from a transcript of Pres. Barack Obama's address to the UN (as prepared for delivery):

And yet the turmoil of recent weeks reminds us that the path to democracy does not end with the casting of a ballot. Nelson Mandela once said: "to be free is not merely to cast off one's chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others." True democracy demands that citizens cannot be thrown in jail because of what they believe, and businesses can be opened without paying a bribe. It depends on the freedom of citizens to speak their minds and assemble without fear; on the rule of law and due process that guarantees the rights of all people.

In other words, true democracy – real freedom – is hard work. Those in power have to resist the temptation to crack down on dissent. In hard economic times, countries may be tempted to rally the people around perceived enemies, at home and abroad, rather than focusing on the painstaking work of reform.

[Compo]

Don't know if anyone else has noticed, but there have not been a lot of happy, smiling faces around for the last year or so.

The "mood" has changed.

We live in a pressure cooker and the fire is lit.

People are forbidden to talk, associate or read certain books in public but they still think....