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Prachathai.com writer’s lese majeste charges confirmed after nearly 5 years in jail

PoliticsJan 18. 2021Siraphop Kornaroot

By THE NATION

The Bangkok Criminal Court decided on Monday to sentence writer Siraphop Kornaroot to six years in jail for allegedly violating the lese majeste law and the Computer Crime Act.

He was charged for allegedly writing articles, poems and creating caricatures between November 7, 2009 and June 30, 2014 that reportedly defamed late King Rama IX. Siraphop reportedly wrote under the pseudonym “Rung Sila” and his works were published in the news website Prachathai.com.

Siraphop reportedly did not deny his charges or fight back.

The court later reduced his sentence to four years and six months as he had confessed to his actions.

However, since Siraphop has already spent four years and 11 months, from July 2, 2014 to June 11, 2019, behind bars he will not be taken to prison.

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Wevo leader meets police to demand release of pro-democracy group member

PoliticsJan 18. 2021Piyarat (left)

By THE NATION

Pro-democracy activist Piyarat “Toto” Chongthep, founder of the We Volunteer (Wevo) network of guards for protesters, and Wevo members visited Bang Kaew Police Station in Samut Prakarn province on Sunday evening to demand the release of Thosathep “Art” Duangnate, reportedly missing since January 15.

“We had contacted Thosathep’s family and they said he had not returned home since January 15,” said Pirarat. “We recently discovered that he was brought to Bang Kaew Police Station. Police have confiscated his mobile phone and denied him the right to an attorney.”

Thosathep, among others, has been charged with attending rallies to abolish the lese majeste law, also known as Article 112, in Bangkok’s Lat Krabang district and Samut Prakarn’s Bang Phli district.

“Police’s detention of Thosathep is without an arrest warrant and has now exceeded 48 hours, therefore they must release him immediately,” said Piyarat.

The Wevo leader also questioned the legality of the confiscation of Thosathep’s mobile phone which had rendered him unable to inform his family or ask for an attorney.

After about two hours of discussions between police and the Wevo group, Thosathep was released at 8.30pm.

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Two injured in explosion at pro-democracy protesters’ Bangkok rally site

PoliticsJan 16. 2021

By THE NATION

Two people were injured in an explosion on Rama IV Road in Bangkok, near Samyan Mitrtown complex, the site of a gathering of pro-democracy protesters on Saturday evening.

On Saturday, the protesters started gathering in front of the complex from late afternoon, demanding the release of two leaders of a group who had been arrested at the Victory Monument in the afternoon.

The sound of bomb occurred at around 6pm, and two persons were injured — a citizen and a reporter.

The demonstrators left the scene after the incident, while Samyan Mitrtown closed early at around 6.40pm.

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Lese majeste law threatens Thailand’s future and should be revoked: Progressive Movement

PoliticsJan 15. 2021Piyabutr Saengkanokkul,

By THE NATION

The lese majeste law threatens the future of Thailand and should be scrapped, the Progressive Movement said on Thursday.

Piyabutr Saengkanokkul, secretary-general of the movement, said Article 112 of the Criminal Code covering lese majeste was problematic in all aspects, including the severity of punishment, and its interpretation and enforcement by authorities.

Writing on Facebook, he added that authorities were intensifying their enforcement of Article 112.

He urged members of Parliament, as representatives of the people, to use this opportunity to cancel the criminal offence of defamation, whether it covered royalty, foreign leaders, ambassadors, shrines, or ordinary people.

Defamation should be made a civil offence rather than a criminal offence, said Piyabutr. Downgrading the offence of defamation would be in line with international standards, which dictate that no one should be jailed for exercising their freedom of expression, he said.

“We cannot leave the ‘future of our nation’ to be charged with violating Article 112,” said Piyabutr, in a reference to ongoing youth-led protests for national reform.

“They are sacrificing their freedom and lives to fight for democracy. In comparison, MPs have sacrificed less than the youngsters but they owe their salaries and positions to the people who voted for them.”

Addressing MPs, he added: “You should be brave and fight for the future by pushing for necessary amendment of the law.”

The Move Forward Party he co-founded in 2019 had decided to leave the lese majeste law off its agenda, but this had left a scar on his conscience, said Piyabutr. However, the situation had now changed and it was time to support the popular push to revoke Article 112, he added.

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Sudarat denies any connection with ‘dictators’

PoliticsJan 15. 2021Sudarat is seen delivering a speech to protesters rallying to oust the government of General Suchinda Kraprayoon in 1992.

By THE NATION

In response to rumours that she may be collaborating with soldiers to set up a new political party, former Pheu Thai leader Sudarat Keyuraphan insisted on Friday that she had absolutely nothing to do with “dictators”.

In a Facebook post, Sudarat said she has been fighting against dictatorship in all of her 29 years in politics, starting from 1992’s Black May until today.

Sudarat also said she will never submit to dictators nor be a stepping stone to power for them.

Instead, she said, those spreading rumours should collaborate with her and help rid the country of dictators.

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Thammasat University student charged with violating lese-majeste law

PoliticsJan 14. 2021

By THE NATION

A student of Thammasat University Rangsit Campus, who was arrested on Wednesday night in his dormitory and charged with violating the lese-majeste law, according to the Thai Lawyers for Human Rights (TLHR) association, was taken by police to Thanyaburi Provincial Court on Thursday morning.

The TLHR announced the arrest at 11pm on Wednesday via its Twitter account, and identified the student as Sirichai Natueng, or “New”.

Sirichai was reportedly taken to Khlong Luang station in Pathum Thani, followed by pro-democracy demonstrators Parit “Penguin” Chiwarak and Panusaya “Rung” Sithijirawattanakul and TLHR representatives.

The TLHR reported at 9.50am on Thursday that officials completed the documentary procedure of detaining Sirichai. However, his lawyer was trying to free him from detention.

The hashtags #saveนิวมธ (Save New) and #ยกเลิกม112(Cancel Section 112) became the top trending topics on Twitter on Thursday morning.

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Aswin not sure yet on whether he’ll seek another term as Bangkok governor

PoliticsJan 14. 2021

By THE NATION

Bangkok Governor Pol General Aswin Kwanmuang said on Wednesday that he has yet to decide whether he will run for another term.

“I am keeping my body fit [for whatever may come]. Everyone knows this,” he said.

When asked if his son would run instead if he decides not to seek another term, Aswin said plainly: “Too bad he is only 27 years old and does not meet the criteria.”

Aswin’s youngest son, Pol Captain Pongsakorn Kwanmuang, is a spokesman for the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration.

The other possible candidate for the governor’s job is former national police chief Pol General Jakthip Chaijinda.

“Jakthip had called me, asking what I’m going to do next, and I said to him I haven’t made up my mind yet,” Aswin said.

The official candidature application and election dates have yet to be announced by the Election Commission of Thailand.

Aswin took office on October 18, 2016, after being appointed by the National Council for Peace and Order.

The Bangkok governor normally serves for a four-year term.

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Pheu Thai questions safety of vaccines from China

PoliticsJan 07. 2021

By THE NATION

Leading opposition party, Pheu Thai, voiced concerns about the 2 million Covid-19 vaccine doses the government is set to order from China’s Sinovac Biotech, after side effects from the vaccine were reported in Brazil about two months ago.

Arunee Kasayanond, the party’s spokesperson, said on Thursday that Pheu Thai agreed with the government’s plan to first vaccinate people who are high risk, such as medical personnel and seniors.

However, she asked when would the rest of the population be vaccinated, adding that inoculation was every citizen’s basic right. She also called on the government to launch the inoculations as soon as possible, because it will take a few months for people to start build an immunity to Covid-19.

Arunee also asked the government if it has checked the quality of the vaccines it plans to purchase from Sinovac Biotech, pointing out that Brazil suspended trials of the vaccine citing an “adverse, serious event”.

On Tuesday, the Cabinet earmarked Bt1.3 billion to purchase 2 million doses of the Covid-19 vaccine from Sinovac Biotech.

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said the first 200,000 doses should arrive in February, followed by another 800,000 in late March and 1 million by late April.

The government has also signed an agreement for an additional 35 million doses of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine, which are due to arrive in May or June. This will bring the total number of doses from AstraZeneca to 63 million, including the 26 million ordered previously.

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Embassy demonstrators meet with prosecutor over sedition, lese majeste charges

PoliticsJan 07. 2021

By THE NATION

All 13 pro-democracy activists charged in connection with the October demonstration at the German Embassy visited Bangkok’s Thungmahamek Police Station on Thursday to meet with the public prosecutor.

The protesters, including prominent activists Patsaravalee Tanakitvibulpon and Attapon Buapat, were among those who submitted a petition to the embassy on October 26, calling for Germany to investigate whether HM the King was conducting state business from German soil.

They were later charged with sedition and lese majeste.

On Thursday, only three or four of the accused were allowed to enter the station at one time, with supporters outside watched over by about a dozen police officers.

Patsaravalee said the government was using legal means to crack down on the peaceful protesters, including herself and her friends. However, she vowed the pro-democracy campaign would continue, despite Covid-19 hindering protesters’ plans.

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Ratsadon FB admin, facing lese majeste charge, gets bail

PoliticsJan 03. 2021

By THE NATION

An adminstrator of pro-democracy group Ratsadon’s Facebook page, who has been charged with lese majeste, was granted bail on Saturday.

On Thursday, Nong Khaem police had raid the house of the admin, whose name and surname have not been disclosed, and confiscated his phone, along with a Ratsadon calendar on his table.

The calendar reportedly included pictures of Ratsadon’s icon – a rubber duck – as well as messages mocking issues pertaining to the monarchy. The pictures reportedly became grounds for the charge of violating Section 112 of the Criminal Code.

Thai Lawyers for Human Rights said that the police had arrested the admin without showing an arrest warrant or informing about rights. They presented only a search warrant issued by the Taling Chan Criminal Court in Bangkok.

The admin was initially detained at Nong Khaem Police Station and the commissioner there denied a bail bond offered by the suspect’s lawyer.

The admin on Saturday morning was sent to Taling Chan Criminal Court for detention. The court decided to allow detention of the suspect as the charge against him was severe.

However, it granted him bail late as an MP of Move Forward Party offered a bail bond.