Jon, Supinya convicted for 2007 parliament protest

[webfact]

Jon, Supinya convicted for 2007 parliament protest
By The Nation

 

 

BANGKOK: -- Magsaysay Award winner Jon Ungpakorn and Supinya Klangnarong, a member of the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC), were among a group of activists who were convicted yesterday for storming the parliamentary compound 10 years ago to protest against laws affecting human rights.

 

The Supreme Court yesterday found the group guilty of an assembly of more than 10 people, sedition, offences regarding national security, and an offence violating the public peace during their protest in December 2007. 

 

However, all of the activists walked free yesterday as the court issued twoyear suspended sentences, during which time the activists are required to show “good faith”. 

 

The 2007 action came as Jon and many other activists protested against the National Legislative Assembly, backed by the former junta, which had hastily passed many laws including the Internal Security Act to restrict people’s rights. 

 

The assembly functioned as the legislative house after the 2006 coup toppled Thaksin Shinawatra’s govฌernment.

 

“What I did in 2007 was meant to restore the legitimacy of the lawmaking process,” Jon told reporters after the court session yesterday. “Laws that restrict the basic rights of the people should not be passed in a rushed manner. 

 

“It’s better to have representatives of the people make the law,” he said.

 

Asked if he would protest against the current National Legislative Assembly under the presentday junta, Jon said: “I am tied by the court’s verdict.” 

 

Supinya said on her Facebook page that the ruling had legal implications regarding her position as a commissioner of the NBTC. 

Supinya added that she had asked the NBTC to suspend her duties pending an interpretation of the verdict. 

 

“I respect the court’s verdict and accept its consequences,” she said. “As the court found me guilty, despite no punishment, the ruling might have some legal impact on my qualifications as a commissioner.

 

“If the NBTC’s legal department decides I am disqualified, I have to end my position completely. Otherwise I will resume work,” she said. 

 

The other eight convicted activists in the case are Sawit Kaewwan, leader of State Railway of Thailand trade union; Sirichai Maingam, Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand’s trade union leader; Pichit Chaimongkol and Nasur Yeemah, former members of the New Politics Party; farmer Anirut Kaosanit; Amnart Palame, deputy secretary general of the State Enterprise Worker Relations Confederation; Saree Ongsomwang, a member of National Reform Steering Council; and lawyer Pairoj Polphet.  

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/news/national/30309201

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2017-03-16

[kannot]

The  people  Thailand really  needs,  not the current state of affairs

[AGareth2]

topical

magic words

Human Rights

[Sphere]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

“It’s better to have representatives of the people make the law,” he said.

 

Better than GoodPeople™.....?

[canuckamuck]

Another giant black mark on Thailand's human rights record.

[wakeupplease]

Human Rights some here would say what are they others might say not here mate never in a 100 years

[chainarong]

In 10 years nothing has improved , indeed just got worse , so if one is asked is Thailand moving forward in the human rights area,  the answer would have to be, err no......................................

[Emster23]

“It’s better to have representatives of the people make the law,” he said.

I assume he is just guessing about this, as don't seem to recall representatives actually representing the people.

But there has been progress of a sort: "... guilty of an assembly of more than 10 people,..." now down to more manageable level of 5 to make an assembly. Or a basketball side.

[Srikcir]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

a group of activists who were convicted yesterday for storming the parliamentary compound 10 years ago to protest against laws affecting human rights.

Compare that occupation to the event in May 2014 when former Democrat Deputy PM Suthep and his anti-PTP protesters stormed Government House with intent to set up a self-appointed quasi-caretaker government in violation of the constitution and the State of Emergency. He and his supporters never even arrested. Prayut's military coup that took place less than a week later to oust the elected government and abolish the constitution in effect gave Suthep's group amnesty for their illegal occupation. 

 

[elgordo38]

6 hours ago, webfact said:

“Laws that restrict the basic rights of the people should not be passed in a rushed manner. 

Well it is now 2017 and ........

[mtls2005]

In all honesty, a military junta cannot allow a single form of dissent to occur without punishment - even public sandwich consumption by a single individual. If they do then they might fear there would be no stopping mass demonstrations, which we all know are only allowed for one side, sans murder.

 

That's why the recent coal plant demonstration was interesting; it was allowed but stifled quite quickly through some sort of "understanding".