Thai police charge two eight-year-old girls who tore down pink lists

[webfact]

Thai police charge two eight-year-old girls who tore down pink lists

KAMPHAENG PHET: -- Two 8-year-old girls in Thailand have been charged for violating campaigning rules ahead of a contentious referendum next month after tearing voter lists off a wall because they liked the pink paper they were printed on, police said on Sunday.

The military government has clamped down on dissent ahead of the Aug. 7 vote on a military-backed constitution that it says will ensure stability in a country rocked by political turmoil for more than a decade.

The girls were charged with obstructing the referendum process and destroying public property after tearing down the lists posted outside a school, said Damrong Phetpong, police commander in the northern province of Kamphaeng Phet.

"They confessed to tearing down the voter lists because they liked the color pink," Damrong told Reuters.

Full story: http://www.reuters.com/article/us-thailand-politics-girls-idUSKCN10403L

-- Reuters 2016-07-26

[Mango Bob]

This is going to go over well in other countries. These girls were on Thaksin payroll.

[ClutchClark]

Can someone familiar with the Judicial Process here in Thailand explain this.

My guess would be it has to be a court that officially exonerates the girls for their actions rather than a local police so a charge had to filed to initiate the process.

More media sensationalism.

[NongKhaiKid]

Eight year olds charged with violating campaigning rules ahead of the referendum, how many adults understand what they are let alone eight year old children ?

Is this really part of the clampdown on dissent which in itself shows the mentality of those in charge.

Will this feature next time the PM presents the list of govt ' successes ' ?

[The stuttering parrot]

Anyone who had any of the slightest doubt on the Junta agenda should be ashamed to support them or their intimidating threatening tactics to keep the boot on the throat of their own people.

10 years for even discussing the referendum just shows how desperate they are to derail for as long as they can a democratic election and return the rightful parties as voted by the people back in power.

[PatOngo]

Same thing happened in Pichet.....monkeys have so far have been rather allusive. They have been urged to turn themselves in.

[Somtamnication]

I feel much safer now, as my 7-11 candy will now be all for me!

[leeneeds]

The law states that if you are under 18 you can not get the death penalty

these girls miss the bullet by ten years , how lucky are they,

[taotoo]

Can you re-educate someone before they've completed their education?

Thailand.

No person can be held criminally responsible for an offence committed while under the age of seven. A child older than seven but younger than 14 cannot be “punished”, but can be subjected a number of sentences including detention in a school or place of training and instruction. [Penal Code, Sections 73 and 74(1)-(5)]

https://www.crin.org/en/home/ages/asia

[Prbkk]

Complete <deleted> lunacy from a mob that seems bereft of common sense.

[colinneil]

Major crackdown on 8 year old dissidents

This government have seriously lost the plot.

Lunacy absolute lunacy.

Have the police nothing better to do with their time???

[Plutojames88]

Send the link to people , newspapers, and tourism boards.

Insidious people command insidious things against innocents.

Children .......eight.....charged?

It's now unconscionable going to that nation and propping up the military

Government.

[NongKhaiKid]

Same thing happened in Pichet.....monkeys have so far have been rather allusive. They have been urged to turn themselves in.

I understand the DSI has been writing to them urging they give themselves up and the PM is about to announce he will not invoke Art 44 but will leave it to the relevant authorities as there's sufficient power in the normal law.

[dbrenn]

Eight year olds arrested? Are they really that paranoid? You couldn't make this up.

[ClutchClark]

wasn't there just an article here on TVF less than a week ago about a Police Chief who was severly reprimanded for giving a break to a young boy?

Something about the Authority to make that decision is assigned to the Judiciary.

Its amazing how all of you get your knickers in a knot so quickly just by reading a manipulative headline without using your heads.

[NongKhaiKid]

wasn't there just an article here on TVF less than a week ago about a Police Chief who was severly reprimanded for giving a break to a young boy?

Something about the Authority to make that decision is assigned to the Judiciary.

Its amazing how all of you get your knickers in a knot so quickly just by reading a manipulative headline without using your heads.

So why do we read so often that the police have decided not to charge because of if it's all down to the courts ?

[manarak]

actually, other sources say the girls have been neither charged nor arrested - police just talked to them.

can anyone confirm ?

[bluebluewater]

Would somebody please get ahold of Bill Gates and ask him to speak out about this? That is the only way it will get sorted.

[ClutchClark]

wasn't there just an article here on TVF less than a week ago about a Police Chief who was severly reprimanded for giving a break to a young boy?

Something about the Authority to make that decision is assigned to the Judiciary.

Its amazing how all of you get your knickers in a knot so quickly just by reading a manipulative headline without using your heads.

So why do we read so often that the police have decided not to charge because of if it's all down to the courts ?

Possibly because there was not sufficient evidence in other cases? Ask the Police.

In this case there is sufficient evidence that the girls tore up the pink pieces of paper and so the process has to run its course.

Its not like the article states the girls are facing a fine and/or punishment but all of the TVF crowd has responded as if its so.

The same thing happens in the US. Police have to go through the process even when its a juvenile or accusations will be made they had a cover-up or were bribed to sweep it under the rug--and this TVF crowd would be the first to scream just that.

[tomwct]

Thaksin gave the girls 50 baht each, but they shouldn't charge the children. Charge the parents!

[manarak]

actually, other sources say the girls have been neither charged nor arrested - police just talked to them.

Your sources?

can anyone confirm ?

Well, the BBC for once:

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-36868083

[UKCanuk]

An oxymoron: (Thai) military intelligence

[MaxLee]

Watch out Thai kids, big brother is coming for you...

[LannaGuy]

8 years old? those two must be frightened sick and it's a total indictment of Thai 'society'

killing a Policemen in a Ferrari? 'mai bpen rai'

8 years old and tearing down couple documents? ARREST them!!!

[NongKhaiKid]

actually, other sources say the girls have been neither charged nor arrested - police just talked to them.

Your sources?

can anyone confirm ?

Well, the BBC for once:

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-36868083

Confusion, what a surprise.

The BBC quotes someone in the BIB saying they won't be charged and Reuters quote the local BIB commander as saying they will be but not punished !

[MaxLee]

It's a crime for being a kid these days in Thailand.

[mesterm]

On Reuters no less.

I guess the happiness has been brought...

[gandalf12]

actually, other sources say the girls have been neither charged nor arrested - police just talked to them.

Your sources?

can anyone confirm ?

Well, the BBC for once:

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-36868083

Just read the BBC article on this. The TAT are going to have their work cut out trying to make this into something positive. I think I can better understand the concept of child soldiers in parts of Africa now.

[ClutchClark]

TVF posters never learn...they still tske every word of a news article verbatim.

Never stopping to consider that the facts are often "lost in translation".

[chainarong]

I know they have rules in Thailand , however this is plainly two underage girls , called minors in some countries , who should not be charged under adult law , the main crux here is total human rights violation , all that means is even kids haven't any life under Prayut and Co , it really doesn't matter if they tear down political signs or Junta magic B/S what matters just who is free in Thailand , the answer is no one, just think how it will be in 5 years time under this present climate..........................