Suthep, a former politician who had won massive popularity when he led the People’s Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) in 2013, only played an advisory role, lawyer Taweesak na Takuathung said. But the party may invite him to become a member, he added.

The application was made yesterday with 32 founding members. Among them were Taweesak himself and Suthep’s brother Thanee Thaugsuban, a former Democrat MP.

The name of the head of the political reform committee, Anek Laothamatas, was not seen in the list although in the past week his name had circulated in news reports as the leader of the new PDRC-dominated party.

Other members, Taweesak said, were businesspersons, academics and ordinary citizens.

Taweesak denied the party was under Suthep’s influence or was another branch of the Democrat Party.

Taweesak yesterday also sought the permission of the National Council for Peace and Order, through the EC, to hold a party meeting. The meeting has been scheduled tentatively for next Sunday, he said.

While reformer Anek Laothamatas yesterday rejected reports that he would lead the PDRC-dominated party. Instead, said Anek, a new reform-oriented party was in the making and he was a part of it. His party would have both former supporters of the anti-Thaksin People’s Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) and others, said Anek, who is chairman of the political reform committee of the junta government and a member of the committee for preparation for reconciliation.

The party, whose official name remained unknown, was beyond colour-coded politics, the political scientist said. He welcomed anyone sharing the same reform ambition and emphasised that he rejected opponents of the military-sponsored Constitution, democracy and reform.

Observers are paying attention to newly emerging parties as potential vehicles to back the return of junta leader General Prayut Chan-o-cha as PM after the next election. But Anek remained vague about the matter, saying only that it was not the main agenda behind getting the party started.

The statement came in response to news reports circulated yesterday that politician-turned-protest-leader Suthep would form a party named Ruam Palang Prachachat Thai, which directly translated into Thai means “United Power of the Thai People”, and that Anek had been approached to be the frontman.

“Suthep did not approach me to be the leader. And if he does, I will not agree to it,” the political science professor responded in a Facebook post. “This is because I am tired of the old way of founding a party or working in politics that are like a soap opera.” However, Anek for the first time admitted that in the past months several hundred people had been gathering quietly and studiously into a group. He also had been relatively active in it, he said.

The members had been determinedly working and brainstorming to come up with a new-style party, he said. The kind, he said, that is idolised in the new Constitution and matches the political reform planned by the committee he had led.

“The party will be the institution of virtue, the pillar of the nation, and the party that upholds Dhamma-cracy,” Anek said, using the label denoting a combination of traditional values and democracy.

“It will be a party that gives members the roles to make decisions, not monopolised by an individual or a group of individuals perpetually.”

Plus, it aims to go beyond just winning elections to also reform politics and the country, he said.

The party would seek registration with the Election Commission (EC) soon, Anek said.

The activists were released on Bt100,000 bail each with the condition that they must not take part in political gatherings that |will “break laws and put society at risk”.

Police had opposed bail, arguing that many of the activists had been charged and released several times for involvement in political assemblies.

“They have become defiant and are not afraid of the country’s laws,” interrogating police officers wrote in the detention request to the court. “Their actions also caused damage to the country’s economy and tourism.”

The activists had been in police custody since Tuesday evening, when they led a 500-strong peaceful march to Government House to demand the junta government hold elections this year.

The attempt ended unsuccessfully, as the key activists were blocked from reaching their destination and turned themselves in to the police.

The assembly, held on the fourth anniversary of the junta’s coup, was supposed to be a grand event. The activists have been holding rallies since January demanding an election this year.

The 15 activists were accused of violating the junta ban on the political gathering of five or more people and committing sedition under the Criminal Code’s Article 116, chaotic assembly of 10 or more people under Article 216, as well as violating the public assembly and land traffic laws.

The group included noted student-turned full-time activists Rangsiman Rome, Sirawit Serithiwat, Chonthicha Jaengrew, lawyer Anon Nampa, educator Nuttaa Mahattana and activist Ekachai Hongkangwan.

The detention of the activists has caught the attention of political observers and rights networks and movements, who either demanded the junta immediately release them, or paid them visits.

Co-founder of Future Forward Party Thanathorn Juangroong-ruangkit visited five activists detained at Phya Thai Police Station on Tuesday while yesterday, red-shirt key figure Nattawut Saikua and his colleagues also went to the Criminal Court to cheer up the arriving activists.

At least 14 networks, from university student networks to international organisations, also called for the junta government to stop prosecuting people for merely engaging in political assembly.

“Detaining and charging peaceful protesters makes a mockery of the promise that authorities will lift political restrictions within the next month,” said Katherine Gerson, Amnesty International’s campaigner on Southeast Asia.

“The National Council for Peace and Order must stop misusing the criminal justice system as a tool to suppress dissent and to harass human rights defenders, activists and political opponents,” Gerson added.

At least 68 people were approached by authorities from May 17-22 when the attempt to march to Government House took place, according to Thai Lawyers for Human Rights (TLHR).

“The actual number of harassed people could go up to hundreds as many were unreported,” the TLHR said.

“Some people were tracked by officers all day long. Some were asked to be photographed or called by phone almost every couple of hours to ensure that they would not join the assembly in Bangkok,” they said.

While reformer Anek Laothamatas yesterday rejected reports that he would lead the PDRC-dominated party. Instead, said Anek, a new reform-oriented party was in the making and he was a part of it. His party would have both former supporters of the anti-Thaksin People’s Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) and others, said Anek, who is chairman of the political reform committee of the junta government and a member of the committee for preparation for reconciliation.

The party, whose official name remained unknown, was beyond colour-coded politics, the political scientist said. He welcomed anyone sharing the same reform ambition and emphasised that he rejected opponents of the military-sponsored Constitution, democracy and reform.

Observers are paying attention to newly emerging parties as potential vehicles to back the return of junta leader General Prayut Chan-o-cha as PM after the next election. But Anek remained vague about the matter, saying only that it was not the main agenda behind getting the party started.

The statement came in response to news reports circulated yesterday that politician-turned-protest-leader Suthep would form a party named Ruam Palang Prachachat Thai, which directly translated into Thai means “United Power of the Thai People”, and that Anek had been approached to be the frontman.

“Suthep did not approach me to be the leader. And if he does, I will not agree to it,” the political science professor responded in a Facebook post. “This is because I am tired of the old way of founding a party or working in politics that are like a soap opera.” However, Anek for the first time admitted that in the past months several hundred people had been gathering quietly and studiously into a group. He also had been relatively active in it, he said.

The members had been determinedly working and brainstorming to come up with a new-style party, he said. The kind, he said, that is idolised in the new Constitution and matches the political reform planned by the committee he had led.

“The party will be the institution of virtue, the pillar of the nation, and the party that upholds Dhamma-cracy,” Anek said, using the label denoting a combination of traditional values and democracy.

“It will be a party that gives members the roles to make decisions, not monopolised by an individual or a group of individuals perpetually.”

Plus, it aims to go beyond just winning elections to also reform politics and the country, he said.

The party would seek registration with the Election Commission (EC) soon, Anek said.

The Court explained that the cause in question was merely provisional, not permanent.

The clause stipulates candidates for the Senate must be either “independent” or represent a professional association.

Opponents including the Constitution Drafting Commission said the clause violated the military-drafted Constitution, which only recognises members of professional guilds as legitimate Senate candidates.

The controversy led to some members of the National Legislative Assembly (NLA) seeking the Court’s ruling to ensure the bill’s legality and prevent any future problems arising regarding the clause. The NLA was criticised loudly for the move by those concerned it would further delay an election.

The Court’s ruling that the clause is in harmony with the Constitution means the NLA can now proceed to submit the bill to the prime minister to present for royal endorsement.

Two more bills – on the election of MPs and on political parties – have been sent to the Constitutional Court for a ruling on their legality.

The Court yesterday announced it would deliver a judgement on the MPs election bill next Wednesday.

Contentious points in the bills are whether it is constitutional to ban eligible voters who fail to vote from taking up any political office, and provision of assistance for the disabled at polling booths.

On controversy surrounding the junta amending the political party law to set deadlines for party arrangements, the Court said it would discuss the issue next Wednesday and give a verdict later.

INTERNATIONAL AND local communities yesterday lent their support to the pro-election group that is calling on authorities to release leaders arrested on Tuesday after their attempt to rally for an early election was suppressed.

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said his government needed to enforce the law to stop the activist movement and to protect public safety, prevent turmoil, and move the country forward to democracy and good governance.

A dozen activists, led by the Democratic Restoration Group (DRG), were arrested and charged with sedition which carries a maximum seven-year prison term, and with violating the military junta’s ban on political gatherings of more than five people.

Well-known young activists Nuttha Mahattana, Rangsiman Rome, Sirawith Seritiwat, Ekachai Hongkangwan and Anon Nampa are among the arrested people. They were detained together yesterday at Din Daeng police station.

Many activists and politicians visited them at the stations, including Thanathorn Juangroongruan-gkit of Future Forward Party, former police commissioner Pol General Seripisut Temiyavet, and representatives of the Pheu Thai Party.

Seripisut offered a Bt1.5-million guarantee for the 14 activists but they had not been granted bail at press time last night.

Their lawyer, Krisdang Nutcharas, said the police might ask the court permission to extend their detention today.

Nuttha sent a message from her cellphone, saying she and her colleagues were in good spirits and they would never give up their fight for democracy.

A message from Sirawith said: “I will not allow the junta to stay in power for five years.”

Rangsiman called on politicians to join the people’s movement to fight for their right to have an election.

‘Drop all charges’

Earlier, the UN Human Rights Office called for the immediate release of pro-election activists. “We have consistently urged the Thai government, as a party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to fully respect the rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly,” the office said in a statement posted on Facebook.

The New York-based Human Rights Watch (HRW) yesterday also called on Thai authorities to immediately drop all charges and unconditionally release the 14 pro-democracy activists who had peacefully expressed their opposition to military rule.

“The arrest of peaceful democracy activists calling for free and fair elections shows that Thailand’s military junta has no intention of easing its oppressive rule,” said Brad Adams, HRW Asia director, in a statement.

Two Thammasat student organisations also called for the release of the activists, saying the students supported freedom of expression and assembly.

The DRG stayed overnight |at the Thammasat University Tha Pracha campus on Monday before their planned 5km march |to Government House was |foiled.

Thammasat University said |

yesterday that despite the police’s suggestion, it would not pursue legal cases against pro-democracy protesters for breaking the university’s gate key.

“The university views the incident as caused by the chaotic situation. The damage was also minor,” the university said in a statement.

“We will not pursue cases against students and activists but will instead try to communicate with them more.”

Thammasat is regarded historically as a stronghold of the pro-democracy movement. Major student uprisings in Thai history in 1973 began at its Tha Prachan campus.

He went to Chanasongkhram Police Station to visit the detained activists and file bailing requests.

The activists are charged with allegedly breaking the junta ban against political gathering of five or more people as they attempted to lead a 500-strong rally to Government House on Tuesday.

The rally ended up not reaching the house with key activists turning themselves into the police.

It was supposed to be one in a series of assemblies, organised since January, to demand the junta hold an election this year.

Human rights advocates and networks have slammed the authority’s infringement of freedom of expression.

“This is not wrongdoing by law. Their expressions were not excessive,” said Seripisut, who also looks forward to forming the Seri Ruam Thai political party. “The police abused them. However, I think they should not object to bail requests.”

“The university considers that the incident was caused by the chaotic situation. The damage was also minor,” the university said in a statement. “We would not pursue cases against students and activists but would instead try to communicate with them more.”

The statement referred to Tuesday’s 500-people assembly that attempted to march from the university’s Tha Prachan campus to Government House to demand the junta hold an election this year.

The rally ended unsuccessfully with key activists turning themselves into the police as they faced pressed charges for breaking the junta’s ban on political gathering of five or more.

Fourteen activists are still detained at Phaya Thai and Chanasongkram police stations.

The so-called Student Friend Network also issued a statement urging the government to unconditionally release all students and stop prosecuting cases related to peaceful assemblies and expressions of discontent.

“We call the officers to stop harassing wellbeing in every form of students and the people. We also call for the state to respect and protect people’s rights and freedom to prevent any further harassment,” it said.

Student activists are known to have been tracked or approached by security officers either directly to themselves, to their families or places of study.

“We also believe that the assembly dispersal [on Tuesday] was excessive and severely infringes fundamental rights and freedom,” it said, referring to the authorities’ targeting of the key protesters.

The network is also collecting signatures from students nationwide to endorse the statement.

“We have consistently urged the Thai Government, as a party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to fully respect the rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly,” the office said in a statement posted on Facebook.

Fourteen pro-election activists were arrested yesterday as they attempted to march to Government House to push for an early election to be held by the end of 2018. Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has insisted that the poll will be no sooner than early 2019.

The activists were charged with sedition, which carries a maximum seven-year prison term, and violating the military junta’s ban on political gatherings of more than five people.

The statement said the UN Human Rights Office for South-East Asia, together with other UN offices, had observed a peaceful assembly organised by “Individuals Who Want Election” during the two-day rally on Monday and Tuesday.

UN observers also coordinated and held meetings with both the organisers and officials from the Royal Thai Police, it said.

The demonstration at Thammasat University was held to remember the four-year anniversary of the May 22, 2014 military coup.

Human Rights Watch has also demanded that the 14 detainees be released and all charges dropped.

The activists were arrested yesterday as they attempted to march to Government House to push for an early election. Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has insisted that the poll will be no sooner than early 2019.

“The arrest of peaceful democracy activists calling for free and fair elections shows that Thailand’s military junta has no intention of easing its oppressive rule,” said Brad Adams, HRW Asia director, on Tuesday.

“Gagging peaceful public protests makes a mockery of Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha’s self-proclaimed commitment to return Thailand to democracy,” he added.

The protest leaders arrested were Anon Nampa, Chonthicha Jangrew, Nuttha Mahattana, Ekachai Hongkangwan, and Chokchai Paiboonrachata. Three others – Rangsiman Rome, Siriwaith Seritiwat and Piyarat Chongthep – also turned themselves in soon after. Six others were also arrested.

They were charged with sedition, which carries a maximum seven-year prison term, and violating the military junta’s ban on political gatherings of more than five people.

“With each new politically motivated arrest, Thailand’s path toward democracy is fading,” Adams said.

He called for governments around the world to press the junta to set a firm date for elections and allow people and political parties to organise and express their visions for the future of the country.