#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40004469

Protest leaders back in jail for violating law, defaming monarchy

Pro-democracy movement leaders Arnon Nampa, Parit “Penguin” Chiwarak, Panupong Jadnok and Jatupat “Pai Dao Din” Boonpattararaksa have been flung behind bars again for allegedly violating the Emergency Decree earlier this month.

Despite their leaders being detained, the movement is going ahead with the rally at Ratchaprasong intersection that is scheduled to kick off at 1pm on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, the Criminal Court threw human-rights lawyer Arnon behind bars after he went to Pathumwan Police Station in response to his arrest warrant. He faces arrest for participating in a rally outside the Bangkok Art and Culture Centre on August 3.

Arnon has also been charged of defaming the monarchy and participating in an illegal gathering. He denies all charges and says he will provide a written explanation in 30 days.

Also on Monday, the Thanyaburi Provincial Court in Pathum Thani found Parit and Panupong guilty of holding an illegal protest outside the Border Patrol Police Region 1 building on August 2. The court has denied bail for both protesters.

The Criminal Court also revoked Parit’s bail request over a lese majeste charge.

Bail requests filed by Arnon and Panusaya Sithijirawattanakul will be considered on September 7.

Jatupat was also detained when he visited Thung Song Hong Police Station in Bangkok on Monday to acknowledge charges related to a rally held at the station on August 3.

ADVERTISEMENTx

He is being charged with organising an illegal gathering and damaging public property. The protesters had splashed paint on the building.

Jatupat denied the charges, but was detained for repeating violations. He was also denied bail as the court believes he will violate law again if released.

Published : August 10, 2021

By : The Nation

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40004366

PM lauds police efficiency in dealing with anti-government protest

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has thanked police officers for maintaining security in line with international principles during the anti-government protest on Saturday, Government Spokesman Anucha Burapachaisri said.

Prayut also thanked people who avoided participating in the protest, while expressing regret over damage to properties and trouble caused to people near the protest sites, Anucha added.

“Prayut emphasised that using violence during the protest was against the law, such as Communicable Disease Act and the state of emergency,” Anucha said.

“People who hold or participate in such gatherings, which raise the risk of Covid-19 infection, would face two years’ imprisonment or THB40,000 fine or both.”

ADVERTISEMENTx

PM lauds police efficiency in dealing with anti-government protestAnucha also asked protesters to propose suggestions or file complaints to the government properly and avoid using violence.

PM lauds police efficiency in dealing with anti-government protestPM lauds police efficiency in dealing with anti-government protestPM lauds police efficiency in dealing with anti-government protestPM lauds police efficiency in dealing with anti-government protest

Published : August 08, 2021

By : The Nation

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40004315

Court orders Prayut to lift media ban immediately

The Civil Court on Friday ordered Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha to lift all restrictions banning media on reporting news that may incite public fear or affect national stability.

The restrictions were issued under Article 9 of the Emergency Decree and were put into effect on July 30.

Media organisation Reporter Production filed a court petition against the restrictions on August 2 and the court said on Friday that the order will be suspended until it is changed.

ADVERTISEMENTx

Official press release on this matter 

As became known to the public that, on 2 August 2021, the Civil Court has accepted the petition brought to the Court by REPORTER PRODUCTION Co., Ltd et al. against Thailand’s Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha seeking the revocation of the enforcement of the Regulation Issued under Section 9 of the Emergency Decree on Public Administration in Emergency Situations B.E. 2548 (2005) (No. 29) (hereinafter Regulation) and the emergency motion for a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction enjoining the defendant from enforcing such regulation, the Civil Court has conducted the hearing for such motion in Civil Action No. 3618/2564 and has fixed the day for the delivery of an order on 6 August 2021 at 1.30 pm.

NOW, THEREFORE, the Civil Court has examined and assessed the witnesses and the documentary evidences brought before the Court and do hereby order this 6u day of August 2021, as follows:

“Article 1 of the Regulation prohibiting the dissemination of information having a risk of frightening people is not limited to those of misrepresentation according to raison d’ere and the necessity of enacting the Regulation as indicated therein, thereby ensuing the deprivation of right and freedom of the plaintiffs and people as protected by Constitution of the Kingdom of Thailand (B.E.2560(2017).

Such Article is, also, not compatible with a part of the Regulation indicating the necessity of creating the measures to render reasonable the exercise of right and freedom of expression in accordance to legal frame as established by the Constitution. Moreover, the phrase “information having a risk of frightening people” as indicated in such Article is of an ambiguous character and opens a possibility to a broad interpretation, thereby rendering the plaintiffs, people and those working in media field unconfident about expressing their opinion and communicating in accordance with the freedom protected by Article 34 Paragraph 1.

ADVERTISEMENT

Article 35 Paragraph 1 of the Constitution. Such Article results in a superfluous and unnecessary deprivation of people’s right and freedom, which makes it, in effect. incompatible with Article 26 Paragraph 1 of the Constitution.

Also, such Article provides no stipulation on the criteria or guideline regarding the performance of official duties lest the treatment ensue unreasonable vexation of people, as designated in Section 9 Paragraph 2 of the Emergency Decree on Public Administration in Emergency Situations B.E. 2548 (2005) (No. 29).

Considering that Section 9 of the Emergency Decree on Public Administration in Emergency Situations B.E. 2548 (2005) (No. 29) provides Prime Minister has no authorization to suspend interment services provision, Article 2 of the Regulation authorizing the suspension of internet services provision against the Internet Protocol address (IP address) of which the user has disseminated the information not compatible with the Regulation is in contrary to the law.

The importance of the internet access is recognized throughout the society. particularly, in the current situation of Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) pandemic and of the enforcement of lockdown measures. Furthermore, such Article is not limited to the suspension of internet services provision in one specific act, yet extending such suspension to a future act.

Such Article, as a result. hinders the communication and information’s dissemination of those not having malicious intent, thereby rendering it incompatible with Article 36 Paragraph 1 of the Constitution.

ADVERTISEMENT

Thus, leaving open the possibility of continuing the enforcement of such regulation runs the risk of

irreparable damages. Therefore, by virtue of Section 254 (2), Section 255 (2)(d) appurtenant to Section 267 Paragraph 1 of the Civil Procedure Code, the Court views as just and appropriate to grant a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction having an effect of suspending the enforcement of those two Articles of such Regulation. It is in the view of the Court that, considering the existence of several legal instruments establishing the measures concerning illegal dissemination of information and the government’s capability to educate people, develop a public better understanding and examine false information, the

suspension of the enforcement of such Regulation does not pose any obstacle to public administration in emergency simulations and public interest.

WHEREFORE, the Court orders that the defendant be provisionally enjoined from enforcing the Regulation Issued under Section 9 of the Emergency Decree on Public Administration in Emergency Situations B.E. 2548 (2005) (No. 29), pending entry by the Court of a changed order in this action.”

Published : August 06, 2021

By : The Nation

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40004309

Protesters will be prosecuted: police

Anybody participating in protests will be charged with violating the Emergency Decree and can face up to two years in jail and/or 40,000 baht in fine, police announced on Friday.

Supporters and members of the pro-democracy Free Youth group are scheduled to gather at Democracy Monument in downtown Bangkok at 1pm on Sunday before they march to the Grand Palace.

The Vocational Protection of the People for Democracy group has also announced that it will hold a car rally at Phan Fa Lilat Bridge before heading to Government House. However, it did not specify when this gathering will take place.

Police said provincial forces were being brought in to control the situation. According to records, since July last year, there have been 2,233 protests in the country and 524 related prosecution cases.

Meanwhile, deputy commander and spokesman for Metropolitan Police, Pol Lt-General Piya Thawichai, said any gatherings are in violation of the Emergency Decree, which has been put in place to control the spread of Covid-19. He added that police officers will be deployed to keep protesters away from all important sites in the city.

Published : August 06, 2021

By : The Nation

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40004266

Protesters face up to two years in prison, warns govt spokesman

People participating in anti-government rallies can face up to two years in prison and/or a fine of up to 40,000 baht, government spokesperson Anucha Burapachaisri announced on Thursday.

He said the order signed by Defence Forces chief General Chalermpol Srisawat and published in the Royal Gazette on Tuesday, bans all gatherings that risk spreading Covid-19 and are in violation of the emergency decree.

The general issued the order in his capacity as the person responsible for handling situations that threaten security and in response to the continuing surge in infections.

The ban also comes as calls to oust Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and his government has intensified recently, with a new rally planned for Saturday.

The Saturday rally is scheduled to kick off at Democracy Monument before protesters head to the Grand Palace.

Critics say the emergency decree and restrictions are being used as a political tool to silence criticism of the government’s pandemic response.

The government, meanwhile, insists that people still have the right and freedom to express themselves in good faith and can call the 1111 hotline to lodge complaints against Prayut.

The spokesman said the authorities want the pro-democracy group to cooperate and consider the safety of people as well as efforts made to contain the spread of Covid-19.

Five demonstrations were held last Sunday, including a car mob rally near the Veterans General Hospital on Vibhavadi-Rangsit Road. Protesters lobbed firecrackers at police who fired rubber bullets, tear gas and water cannon in return.

Published : August 05, 2021

By : The Nation

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40003663

First-year uni student files police complaint against Prayut in Hat Yai

An 18-year-old Songkhla resident filed a police complaint against Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha for wrongful conduct and dereliction of duty causing suffering among citizens.

Vajiravich Mamamuna, a first-year student at Chulalongkorn University’s Faculty of Economics, filed the complaint with Hat Yai Police Station’s deputy inspector Pol Capt Suchart Kaewrat.

He backed the complaint with receipts and other records of Covid-related expenses.

“Prayut Chan-o-cha, as prime minister, is in charge of managing the Covid-19 pandemic. But, due to wrongful management since the beginning of 2020, Thailand is having to deal with more than 9,000 Covid-19 cases per day, and many patients and victims are being neglected,” he explained.

He also said that Prayut should be providing free treatment for citizens under the Constitution’s Article 47.

“The PM’s dereliction of duty during the pandemic has made Thai citizens suffer, as many Covid-19 patients have been left to fend for themselves due to the lack of medical supplies or transportation. Some patients have had to pay huge bills at private hospitals because they were neglected by the public healthcare system,’ he said.

ADVERTISEMENTx

First-year uni student files police complaint against Prayut in Hat Yai

Police recorded the complaint and have scheduled a second meeting with him.

First-year uni student files police complaint against Prayut in Hat Yai

First-year uni student files police complaint against Prayut in Hat Yai

Published : July 23, 2021

By : The Nation

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40003616

Teen rapper Milli fined in social media crackdown on celebrities who criticise govt

Eighteen-year-old rapper Danupha “Milli” Kanateerakul was on Thursday fined 2,000 baht for criticising the government on her Twitter account.

The teen rapper on Wednesday became the first celebrity to be charged with defamation for slamming the government over its handling of the Covid-19 pandemic. “The situation is bad. The government does nothing at all. When citizens tell it to do something, the government does that at 1am,” she tweeted to her 229,000 followers on June 27.

After she was slapped with the defamation charge, the hashtag #save มิลลิ (#saveMilli) began trending on Twitter.

As public anger over the virus crisis grows, Milli has joined other Thai celebrities in exercising what they see as their right to free expression by criticising authorities on social media.

Other celebrities speaking out against the government include singer Natthawut Jenmana and social media influencer Pantipa Arunwattanachai.

ADVERTISEMENTx

Natthawut recently tweeted: “I am not angry that there is a lockdown. I am not irritated that I have to adapt to it. I am furious that there is no certainty or reasoning. I cannot see any determination or plan by the government to solve the problem. I do not feel safe. I feel that I am only a speck of dust to them. Lives are not dust or numbers but they do not understand at all.”

Pantipa wrote on Facebook: “I have grown up being deceived and abandoned by men, but still survived. So, I will not die because of a guy named Tuu [Prime Minister Prayut’s nickname].”

On Wednesday, Digital Economy and Society Minister Chaiwut Thanakamanusorn told celebrities not to criticise the government on social media, warning they could be charged under the Computer Crimes Act.

Meanwhile Sonthiya Sawasdee, a former member of the ruling Palang Pracharath Party, has doubled down by filing a lawsuit against 20 celebrities who commented on the Covid-19 crisis. The names of the celebrities she is suing had not been revealed as of press time.

Published : July 22, 2021

By : The Nation

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40003438

14 nabbed for demanding mRNA jabs in Bangkok rally on Sunday

Police arrested 14 vocational students on Sunday evening for participating in a pro-democracy protest at Bangkok’s Democracy Monument earlier in the day.

Among them was Thanadech Srisongkram, a chief guard of the protest movement, who was arrested based on a warrant issued for his participation in a rally outside the Public Health Ministry in Nonthaburi on Friday. He and his fellow protesters were nabbed while he was dropping them off.

Thanadech faces charges of violating the emergency decree, causing unrest, attacking officers with a weapon, assembling more than 10 persons and stopping officials from performing their duties.

He was reportedly first taken to Bang Khen Police Station before being shifted to the station in Nonthaburi.

Police also confiscated a couple of pick-up trucks owned by Thanadech and his friend, a wooden club, 14 slingshots and some metal nuts.

The 13 others were reportedly charged for violating the emergency decree and were taken to Region 1 Border Police Bureau in Pathum Thani.

On Sunday, a group of pro-democracy protesters gathered at Democracy Monument to demand that the government provide the public with the more effective mRNA vaccines. They also demanded Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha’s resignation and for the monarchy and military’s budgets to be slashed to mitigate the Covid-19 pandemic’s impact on people.

Published : July 19, 2021

By : The Nation

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40003413

Police fire at pro-democracy protesters marching to Government House

Police fired rubber bullets, tear gas and water cannons on Sunday evening to prevent anti-government protesters from marching to Government House in Bangkok.

Pro-democracy protesters of the Free Youth group organised the rally that began at Democracy Monument, and issued a set of demands, including the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha.

The group has demanded that the government:

– Cut the monarchy and military budgets to mitigate Covid-19’s impact on the people.

– Inoculate people using mRNA vaccines instead of Sinovac.

Police fire at pro-democracy protesters marching to Government HousePolice fire at pro-democracy protesters marching to Government House

Earlier, police had warned the protesters that their rally was in violation of the state of emergency which bars the gathering of over five people in maximum and strictly controlled areas.

Police reportedly fired at the protesters on Chamai Maruchet Bridge.

Police fire at pro-democracy protesters marching to Government HousePolice fire at pro-democracy protesters marching to Government HousePolice fire at pro-democracy protesters marching to Government House

Police fire at pro-democracy protesters marching to Government HousePolice fire at pro-democracy protesters marching to Government HousePolice fire at pro-democracy protesters marching to Government HousePolice fire at pro-democracy protesters marching to Government HousePolice fire at pro-democracy protesters marching to Government HousePolice fire at pro-democracy protesters marching to Government HousePolice fire at pro-democracy protesters marching to Government HousePolice fire at pro-democracy protesters marching to Government HousePolice fire at pro-democracy protesters marching to Government HousePolice fire at pro-democracy protesters marching to Government House

Police fire at pro-democracy protesters marching to Government HousePolice fire at pro-democracy protesters marching to Government HousePolice fire at pro-democracy protesters marching to Government HousePolice fire at pro-democracy protesters marching to Government HousePolice fire at pro-democracy protesters marching to Government HousePolice fire at pro-democracy protesters marching to Government HousePolice fire at pro-democracy protesters marching to Government HousePolice fire at pro-democracy protesters marching to Government HousePolice fire at pro-democracy protesters marching to Government HousePolice fire at pro-democracy protesters marching to Government House

Published : July 18, 2021

By : The Nation

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40003367

Police warn groups against anti-government protests on Sunday

Metropolitan Police Bureau (MPB) has urged anti-establishment protesters to suspend their plan to protest in Bangkok on Sunday, due to the Covid-19 situation.

Several protest groups, such as Ratsodan and Free Youth, had announced that they would hold a rally at Democracy Monument from 2pm on Sunday. The protesters plan to march to Government House.

On Saturday, MPB deputy commissioner Piya Tawichai said that the protesters must suspend their plan due to the outbreak in Bangkok.

He warned those who take part in the protests would be charged with violation of the emergency decree, the Communicable Disease Act and other related laws.

Published : July 17, 2021

By : The Nation