#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40005521

Supreme Court dismisses case against PAD leaders over 2008 rallies

The Supreme Court has dismissed a case against leaders of the yellow-shirt Peoples Alliance for Democracy (PAD) over their rallies in 2008, ruling the charges duplicated those in another case.

On Tuesday, former PAD leaders Chamlong Srimuang, Sondhi Limthongkul, Pipop Thongchai, Somkiat Pongpaiboon, Somsak Kosaisook and Suriyasai Katasila appeared in court in Bangkok.

They were accused of sedition, illegal gatherings and creating turmoil in the country, in violation of articles 116, 215 and 216 of the Criminal Code.

The charges stemmed from rallies against the Samak Sundaravej government, held on Ratchadamnoen Road between May 25 and October 5.

The accusations were dismissed by the court of first instance on July 20, 2017, as they duplicated charges against the PAD over protesters’ invasion of Government House. The court ruled the six defendants had already been punished with two-year jail terms.

The Appeal Court upheld the dismissal on January 30, 2019 – a ruling confirmed by the Supreme Court today.

However, the Supreme Court sentenced three other former PAD leaders – Chaiwat Sinsuwong, Amorn Amornratananont and Terdpoom Jaidee – to eight months each in prison for sedition.

Published : August 31, 2021

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/blogs/in-focus/40005261

Lawmakers approve return to 2-ballot electoral system

The House of Representatives on Wednesday passed an amendment to bring the return of the two-ballot election system.

MPs voted in favour of amending Article 83 of the 2017 Constitution after four and a half hours of deliberation. The vote was won by a majority of 70, with 91 abstentions.

Bhumjaithai, the second-largest party in the government coalition, carried through its threat to abstain from the vote after arguing that the two-ballot system favours large parties at the expense of medium-sized and small parties.

Democrat Party MP Chinnawan Boonyakiat, a member of the Constitution Drafting Committee, insisted the amendment was needed to combat so-called “ghost votes” and election results that favour small parties and undermine the stability of governments.

The switch back to two ballot papers would also boost people’s electoral rights by allowing them to vote separately for constituency and party-list MPs, said Chinnawan.

Published : August 25, 2021

By : The Nation

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40005189

Thai govt armed and ready to tackle fake news, says spokesman

Government agencies are prepared to counter fake news immediately, government spokesman Anucha Burapachaisri said on Monday.

He made this remark after attending a meeting with other ministry spokespersons and members of the Anti-Fake News Centre.

Anucha said Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha was worried that fake news would affect the country’s security, especially misleading reports on the economy, society and health issues like the Covid-19 crisis.

“The prime minister had called on government agencies to deal with this problem, so the Spokesman Bureau got together with the Public Relations Department, Office of the Public Sector Development Commission and Anti-Fake News Centre to tackle the issue,” he said.

ADVERTISEMENTx

Thai govt armed and ready to tackle fake news, says spokesman

He added that the Anti-Fake News Centre is tasked with reporting fake news and rumours doing the rounds immediately, so government agencies can clarify the issue effectively.

“All government agencies are tasked with creating key performance indicators on this issue as well,” he added.

Published : August 24, 2021

By : The Nation

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40005180

NACC chooses to stay mum on Prayut, Wissanu’s assets

The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) said on Monday that it could not reveal Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and Deputy PM Wissanu Krea-ngam’s assets as it can be sued for violating the Criminal Code’s Article 157.

NACC had been asked by the Official Information Commission to reveal what assets had been declared by Prayut and Wissanu when they took office.

According to Article 157, any individual or agency that wrongfully exercises any of its functions that can be injurious to another person can be punished with imprisonment of up to 10 years and/or fined between 2,000 and 20,000 baht.

Watcharapol Prasarnrajkit, NACC president, said the commission can only store information and investigate if there are any discrepancies, but cannot reveal details.

According to Article 102 of the 2018 Prevention and Suppression of Corruption Act, political office holders are required to declare their assets to the NACC when they take office, when they leave office and one year after they have left office.

ADVERTISEMENTx

Article 105 of the same law says that political office holders do not have to declare assets if they take office within one month of stepping down. Prayut and Wissanu took their new positions within one month, so they do not have to declare their assets, NACC said.

Published : August 24, 2021

By : The Nation

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40005139

Mother of infected protest leader ‘Penguin’ requests he get hospital treatment

The mother of detained protest leader Parit “Penguin” Chiwarak has repeated her request that he and fellow imprisoned protester Sirichai “New” Nathuang be moved to hospital after both tested positive for Covid-19 in prison last week.

Sureerat Chiwarak lodged the request at the Department of Corrections on Monday, accompanied by lawyer Krisadang Nutcharat.

She said was she concerned that her son would not recover under the inadequate care of the department’s hospital, so she wanted him moved to Thammasat University Hospital.

On Sunday, the prison’s hospital doctor said that Parit’s oxygen saturation (SpO2) level stood at 99 per cent, but he has been provided with an inhaler as a precaution. Parit, 23, has asthma and weighs over 90kg, which places him at high risk from Covid-19 infection. Last week, he was suffering with a cough and headache, body pains and excessive phlegm, said prison authorities.

Meanwhile, Sirichai, 21, and other infected detained protesters have no problems breathing, said prison the doctor. They also have no fever or coughing, and their vital signs and oxygen levels are normal. The doctor added that they can sleep, eat and defecate normally.

Promsorn “Fa” Weerathammajaree, 30, was the third imprisoned protester to test positive for Covid-19 last week. All are receiving treatment at the Medical Correctional Hospital in Bangkok’s Chatuchak district.

Published : August 23, 2021

By : The Nation

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40005123

Infected pro-democracy protesters perfectly fine, says prison doctor

A doctor with the Corrections Department Hospital said on Sunday that the four detained pro-democracy activists who tested positive for Covid-19 are in fine fettle.

The doctor said the detainees Parit “Penguin” Chiwarak, Promsorn “Fah” Veerathamjaree, Sirichai Nathuang and Sam Samart have no problems breathing. They also have no fever or coughing, and their vital signs and oxygen levels are normal. The doctor added that the four can sleep, eat and defecate normally.

The doctor also said that though Parit’s oxygen saturation (SpO2) level stands at 99 per cent, he has still been provided with an inhaler.

Thawatchai Chaiwat, the department’s deputy director-general, said the patients were being treated in line with the Department of Disease Control’s guidelines and that they will be shifted to a hospital outside the prison if required. He also insisted that every patient was being treated equally.

Published : August 23, 2021

By : The Nation

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40005088

Four activists charged over anti-government protests get bail

The Criminal Court on Saturday granted bail to four activists who allegedly participated in the anti-government protest at the Din Daeng Intersection.

Three activists — Thapchai Sinonyang (22), Chanadol Loymankong (24), and Sahachat Yongchaturas (19) — were charged with carrying ping pong bombs and other materials during the protest on Friday. All the suspects denied the charge and sought release on bail.

The Criminal Court set the bail amounts at THB110,000 per person for the first and second suspects and at THB35,000 for the third suspect, with the condition that they not repeat the alleged offences or participate in activities that may result in chaos.

ADVERTISEMENTx

Four activists charged over anti-government protests get bail

The Criminal Court also granted bail to Prawit Thiboonbun (19), who allegedly set fire to a police traffic control booth at the Din Daeng intersection on August 10. The bail amount was set at THB47,000 with conditions similar to those for the other three suspects.

Four activists charged over anti-government protests get bailFour activists charged over anti-government protests get bail

Published : August 22, 2021

By : The Nation

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40005085

How pro-democracy groups plea for UN help culminated in violent clashes with police

The Thalu Fah pro-democracy group on Saturday submitted its petition to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in Bangkok, demanding justice for imprisoned political activists in Thailand.

Although the group called off the demonstration at 4pm, some protesters marched to the Din Daeng intersection to defy the police, similar to previous protests.

The timeline of events on Saturday:

ADVERTISEMENTx

Published : August 22, 2021

By : The Nation

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40005084

Din Daeng residents up in arms over clashes between police and protesters

Residents living in Din Daeng Flats in Bangkok put up two huge banners on Saturday to express their displeasure after they were affected by the police tear gas and rubber bullets fired during the crackdown on pro-democracy protesters.

One banner said: “Residents of Din Daeng Flats do not want this place to be a battlefield” and another said: “We have children, seniors and patients. Please restore peace to us”.

The residents also urged police officers to remove the containers placed at the Din Daeng intersection where the clashes between protesters and riot police took place.

ADVERTISEMENTx

Din Daeng residents up in arms over clashes between police and protesters

They added that their representative will go to Government House on Tuesday to ask police officers to stop using violence to disperse the assembly.

Din Daeng residents up in arms over clashes between police and protesters

Published : August 22, 2021

By : The Nation

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40005000

Pro-democracy group launches drive to expose Prayut’s ‘unforgivable mistakes’

The pro-democracy “Thalu Fah” group kicked off a “car mob” rally from Victory Monument on Friday morning. The protesters will travel to three embassies in Bangkok to expose Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha’s “unforgivable failings”.

The protesters submitted their complaint at the Embassy of Switzerland at 11am and were scheduled to show up at the US Embassy at 1pm and the Chinese mission at 3pm.

The Thalu Fah group has been holding protests in the capital regularly over the past week.

ADVERTISEMENTx

Pro-democracy group launches drive to expose Prayut’s ‘unforgivable mistakes’Pro-democracy group launches drive to expose Prayut’s ‘unforgivable mistakes’Pro-democracy group launches drive to expose Prayut’s ‘unforgivable mistakes’Pro-democracy group launches drive to expose Prayut’s ‘unforgivable mistakes’

Published : August 20, 2021

By : The Nation