Prosecutor indicts Isaan anti-mine activists
The prosecutor has charged seven anti-mine activists in Isaan with breaking the public assembly law and intimidating public officials.
On 25 July 2017, the prosecutor indicted seven members of the anti-mine activist group Khon Rak Ban Koed (KRBK) (translated as ‘People Who Love Their Home’) from six villages in Wang Saphung District of the northeastern province of Loei.
The seven are Phonthip Hongchai, Ranong Kongsaen, Wiron Ruchichaiwat, Suphat Khunna, Bunraeng Sithong, Mon Khunna, and Lamphloen Rueangrit.
The seven were indicted for violating the Public Assembly Act and intimidating public officials for leading more than 100 people to gather in front of Wang Saphung District Administration Office on 16 November 2016 while officials were holding a meeting to consider a request to extend the mining concession for Tungkum Co Ltd, a gold mine operator in Loei.
According to the police, the KRBK members did not inform the authorities about the gathering in advance. Therefore each of the seven is subject to a 500 baht fine, adding that the fine will increase to 10,000 baht if they are found guilty.
The seven were not detained after the indictment. They have denied the accusation and vowed to fight the case.
The Loei Provincial Court has scheduled the preliminary hearing on 11 August 2017.
Prachatai, Wed, 26/07/2017 - 14:27
(From left to right): Wiron Ruchichaiwat, Lamphloen Rueangrit, Mon Khunna, Phonthip Hongchai, Ranong Kongsaen, Bunraeng Sithong, and Suphat Khunna
* http://prachatai.org/english/node/7293
Military court refuses to release Pai Dao Din
A military court has revoked bail for an embattled anti-junta activist after summoning him to a witness hearing.
At around 10 am on 27 July 2017, Jatuphat ‘Pai Dao Din’ Boonpattararaksa, a law student and key democracy activist, was taken to the Military Court of Khon Kaen for a witness hearing.
The hearing concerns a case in which Jatuphat and six other youth activists are charged with violating of the junta’s ban on political gatherings of five or more persons after they gathered at the replica of the Democracy Monument in Khon Kaen Province to commemorate the first anniversary of the coup d’état on 22 May 2015.
The other accused are Apiwat Soontararak, Payu Boonsophon, Panupong Srithananuwat, Suvicha Tipangkorn, Supachai Pukrongploy, and Wasant Satesit.
In this case, Jatuphat was granted 10,000 baht bail on 23 August 2015.
After the hearing, which was held in camera, the military court revoked bail, reasoning that Jatuphat is also facing a royal defamation charge.
Jatuphat is accused of violating Article 112 of the Criminal Code, the lèse majesté law, for sharing on his Facebook account a controversial biography of King Vajiralongkorn published by BBC Thai. He was the first person to be arrested for lèse majesté under the reign of the new King.
Shortly after he was arrested for lèse majesté on 3 December 2016, the court released him on bail. However, his bail was revoked on 22 December after he posted a satirical message mocking the authorities on his Facebook account. The message read, “Economy is poor but they (authorities) took my money for bail.”
Despite the fact that more than 2,000 people shared the same article on Facebook and millions read it, he was the only one arrested for lèse majesté.
Prachatai, Thu, 27/07/2017 - 17:02
* http://prachatai.org/english/node/7297
Court accepts charges against lawyer facing 50 years in jail for lèse majesté
According to the prosecutor, from 25 January to 23 April 2017 Prawais allegedly imported content deemed defamatory to the monarchy and seditious.
He is also charged under Article 14(3) of the Computer Crime Act for importing illegal information online and violation of an Order by the Council for Democratic Reform (the 2006 coup-makers) for obstructing the police from obtaining his fingerprints.
The maximum penalties for Prawais for all counts of lèse majesté and sedition add up to 171 years, as he is accused of 10 counts of lèse majesté and three counts under the sedition law. Under Thailand’s Criminal Code, however, the maximum total jail term other than life imprisonment is 50 years.
Prawais was one of six people arrested by police and military officers on 29 April 2017 before being taken to the 11th Military Circle in Bangkok. He has remained in custody since.
According to Thai Lawyers for Human Rights, Prawais allegedly posted Facebook comments asserting that Thailand should become a republic.
Prachatai, Wed, 26/07/2017 - 11:40
Prawais Prapanugool
* http://prachatai.org/english/node/7292