Court acquit policemen in the breakup of gas pipeline protest

SONGKHLA: Songkhla provincial court today (Friday) acquitted all the police officers charged with breaking up a protest against the construction of the gas pipeline at a mobile cabinet meeting in Hat Yai district four years ago.

Several protesters were injured when the police used force to break up their protest during a cabinet meeting at the JB hotel on December 20, 2011.

One of the co-plaintiffs, Mr Banchong Nasae, said he respected the court’s verdict although he personally regretted the incident. He, however, said that he and the other plaintiffs would appeal to the verdict to the Appeals Court.

Ms Rattanamee Polkla, a prosecution lawyer, insisted that protesters have the right to stage a protest peacefully. The verdict will be appealed to the higher court, she said.

Pol Col Surachai Suebsook, former inspector of Songkhla’s Muang district, said he felt relieved with his acquittal.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/court-acquit-policemen-in-the-breakup-of-gas-pipeline-protest

-- Thai PBS 2015-11-27

Totally understandable when you realise that police sentenced to death by the courts are allowed out on bail.

"court today (Friday) acquitted all the police officers charged with breaking up a protest"

It seems the Thai courts change the basis of their ruling depending on where they perceive power lies:

- The constitutional court ruled that under the Constitution, the PDRC's protest rallies were an exercise in freedom of assembly (The Nation 2013-12-27)

- Thailand's Civil Court ruled to prohibit the authorities from taking harsh action against anti-government protesters (2014-02-25)

Maybe that's the nature of common law. Whatever is the legal flavor of the day guides the courts. Today the Junta is the law.

"court today (Friday) acquitted all the police officers charged with breaking up a protest"

It seems the Thai courts change the basis of their ruling depending on where they perceive power lies:

- The constitutional court ruled that under the Constitution, the PDRC's protest rallies were an exercise in freedom of assembly (The Nation 2013-12-27)

- Thailand's Civil Court ruled to prohibit the authorities from taking harsh action against anti-government protesters (2014-02-25)

Maybe that's the nature of common law. Whatever is the legal flavor of the day guides the courts. Today the Junta is the law.

Did you read when the protests in question took place?

The protesters were protesting against which government when the got violently, but apparently legally, broke up?

"court today (Friday) acquitted all the police officers charged with breaking up a protest"

It seems the Thai courts change the basis of their ruling depending on where they perceive power lies:

- The constitutional court ruled that under the Constitution, the PDRC's protest rallies were an exercise in freedom of assembly (The Nation 2013-12-27)

- Thailand's Civil Court ruled to prohibit the authorities from taking harsh action against anti-government protesters (2014-02-25)

Maybe that's the nature of common law. Whatever is the legal flavor of the day guides the courts. Today the Junta is the law.

"It seems the Thai courts change the basis of their ruling depending on where they perceive power lies:"

In the US the courts/public prosecutors can delay doing anything for over a year while the police can fabricate the "facts" until it's no longer possible to do so.

Too much Billy BOB syndrome