Thai police reject student activists' appeal for delay

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Police reject student activists' appeal for delay
VISARUT SANKHAM
THE NATION


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BANGKOK: -- POLICE yesterday rejected a postponement petition filed by 11 activists accused of rallying against the Rajabhakti Park scandal and issued a second summons for next week.

Human-rights lawyer Pawinee Chumsri filed the request for a delay on Monday with Thon Buri railway police on behalf of the activists, who were intercepted on December 7 while taking a train to Prachuap Khiri Khan province, allegedly to hold a rally protesting against corruption at Rajabhakti Park.

Thon Buri railway police officer Pol Lieutenant Ausadayoot Thongswan said the 1st Railway Police Division investigation committee had rejected the activists' request for a postponement until January 9 and instead required them to turn themselves in by 9am on December 29. He said the committee felt too much time would have elapsed by January 9, and because the day is a national holiday, it would be hard for police to coordinate with other relevant departments.

Head of the inquiry, Pol Lt-Colonel Songkod Pattanawaraporn, said that police would begin gathering evidence to support arrest warrants if the activists did not show up on December 29. Meanwhile, activist Sirawith Seritiwat said yesterday he had been told that the petition was rejected and a new summons issued.

"Our request would have postponed the summons for only three weeks, which should be allowed in light of the issue. There have been many big names and well-known cases that have been allowed to be postponed for years," he said.

Sirawith posted yesterday on his Facebook profile urging people to send him information about cases that have been postponed for a year or more, which he would compile as statistics to be presented to officers in charge of his case.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/Police-reject-student-activists-appeal-for-delay-30275470.html


-- The Nation 2015-12-23

[Somtamnication]

" day is a national holiday, it would be hard for police to coordinate with other relevant departments." Can't make this stuff up!

[aussieinthailand]

So to postpone a meeting for three weeks so as students can sit exams is not possible, but if you are a person of (influence/hi profile/etc) then yu'p sure postpone for a year hell make it more if you like

[NongKhaiKid]

The young student is spot on about other cases and major postponements but those didn't involve people who were ' marked ' for special attention and no consideration to be given.

He better be careful about asking for assistance via his Facebook page as no doubt there's another criminal charge in there somewhere. Can't go asking for help to prove something against the govt.

[oneday]

"...11 activists accused of rallying..."

Rallying? I thought they were just riding on a train.

[Srikcir]

"police would begin gathering evidence to support arrest warrants if the activists did not show up on December 29"

So if the police have no evidence to support arrest warrants, what is the basis for the summons?

Suppression and intimidation?

Then welcome to Prayut's reform of justice.