EC told to consider action against lecturer who holds 'Vote No' placard at forum

[webfact]

EC told to consider action against lecturer who holds 'Vote No' placard at forum



BANGKOK: -- The Election Commission has been told to consider legal action against a Mahidol University lecturer for allegedly defining the referendum act by holding a “Vote No” placard at a forum held at Chulalongkorn University’s political science faculty on Monday.

Spokesman of the National Council for Peace and Order Colonel Winthai Suvaree said on Tuesday that the conduct of Mr Benjarat Sae Chua, a lecturer at Mahidol University’s Institute of Human Rights and Peace Studies, was initially deemed a violation of Section 61 of the referendum act.

He said Mr Benjarat distributed pamphlets to campaign for the rejection of the draft constitution at the forum. He pointed out that the content in the pamphlets was mere guessing and could not be verified.

Colonel Winthai warned that anyone who was not sure that the information regarding the draft charter that he or she wanted to disseminate to the public was accurate or not or could be deemed as defying the law should better stop disseminating the information for their own sake.

Full story: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/content/161141

-- Thai PBS 2016-04-27

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Prof Denies Breaking ‘Vague’ Referendum Law, Junta Spokesman Says She Did
By Pravit Rojanaphruk
Senior Staff Writer

Benchalat Chua, a lecturer in Mahidol University's Human Rights and Peace Studies program, speaks with a police officer Monday on the campus of Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok in a photo posted by the New Democracy Movement on Facebook

BANGKOK — A university lecturer nearly arrested yesterday for distributing pamphlets listing reasons to oppose the draft charter insists she did nothing illegal.

Benchalat Chua, 40, a Mahidol University lecturer, said today she did not violate the new article which forbids inciting people to oppose or endorse the proposed constitution as claimed by a junta spokesman one day after police told her to leave the campus of Chulalongkorn University and report to a police station.

Full story: http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.php?newsid=1461669929&typecate=06&section=


-- Khaosod English 2016-04-27

[canuckamuck]

There is so much you could say about this. But you better not.

[greenchair]

One moment of saying the wrong word in a sentence, typing the wrong word on FB, wearing the wrong tshirt , could possibly land an honest valuable human being in prison for 10 years.

Who will be the first to get the gift of 10 years?

All people must be very careful what they say and do at this time.

[BigBadGeordie]

There is so much you could say about this. But you better not.

But at least we can state the facts. She is a woman, PBS could not even get that correct.

[tartempion]

Freedom of speech in Thailand is a melting iceberg.

[Laughing Gravy]

How dare she have an opinion. Disgraceful.

[Holy Cinema]

and yet there are expats who fully support and agree with the Junta's actions

[CloudStrife]

and yet there are expats who fully support and agree with the Junta's actions

Thaksin exists so this is all ok you see

[ggt]

If no one is allowed to voice opposition without being harassed by the Military Junta's hitmen...then why on earth have the "show" of a vote...

Better to let people voice opposition now...than deal with a disgruntled population later...

[baboon]

If no one is allowed to voice opposition without being harassed by the Military Junta's hitmen...then why on earth have the "show" of a vote...

Better to let people voice opposition now...than deal with a disgruntled population later...

Why? Because it demonstrates in the minds of the military junta running Thailand and their supporters on here that Thailand is in fact an open and democratic country and never you mind about those naysayers being carted off.

[Srikcir]

The Election Commission has been told to consider legal action [by the NCPO]

If the action is violation of law, should not the RTP who are under NCPO direction or the NCPO directly take such action against the lecturer?

The EC is not an enforcement agency, even under the Interim Constitution and Meechai draft constitution.

And clearly, the EC is not really an Independent Organization when it is being told how to conduct itself by a group that can impose punishment.

[baboon]

The Election Commission has been told to consider legal action [by the NCPO]

If the action is violation of law, should not the RTP who are under NCPO direction or the NCPO directly take such action against the lecturer?

The EC is not an enforcement agency, even under the Interim Constitution and Meechai draft constitution.

And clearly, the EC is not really an Independent Organization when it is being told how to conduct itself by a group that can impose punishment.

Does it really matter who does what at this juncture when the results are preordained anyway?

[geriatrickid]

A political martyr is created.

[mtls2005]

was initially deemed a violation of Section 61 of the referendum act.

So the Referendum Act, gazetted last week, has at least 61 sections?

Wow. I wonder if that's enough to find any/all opponents guilty?

"When laws grow so voluminous and vague that they oppress those who live under them, society can become as unlivable as if it were lawless."

The Criminalization of Almost Everything

"Show me the man, and I'll find you the crime."

Lavrenti Beria, Stalin’s secret police chief

http://www.ratchakitcha.soc.go.th/DATA/PDF/2559/A/034/1.PDF