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Four Red Shirt Political Prisoners Transfered to Laksi

Apr 13
Posted by Ratch in Archive, News
Red Shirt gathering outside Laksi Prison

Red Shirt gathering outside Laksi Prison

After intense lobbying by the UDD and Red Shirt activists fighting on behalf of political prisoners, the Ministry of Justice has recently agreed to transfer 4 convicted Red Shirt political prisoners from Bangkok Remand Prison to Laksi Prison.

UDD chairwoman Tida Tawornseth said the move is significant because Laksi was originally reserved for persons on trial for politically related offenses. The decision to transfer political prisoners already convicted of violating the Abhisit government’s Emergency Decree of April-May 2010 brings Laksi one step closer to becoming a prison for all political prisoners, she said.

However, the Ministry did not approve the transfer of lèse majesté (112) prisoners that were included in the UDD’s request. The decision demonstrates the devastating political marginalization of 112 prisoners. Even Mr. Yuttapoom Martnork, accused of lèse majesté by his brother, was not green-lighted for transfer. Since his arrest in September 2012, the court has denied him bail several times and he will have spent 11 months in Bangkok Remand Prison before the start of his trial in August.  

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Photo Gallery: April 10th Rally in Honour of the Dead

Apr 12
Posted by Demos in Archive, Featured, News

On Wednesday, up to 20,000 Red Shirts gathered by Democracy Monument in Bangkok for a rally organised by the UDD in honour of those who died during the brutal and illegal military crackdown of Red Shirt protests on April 10th 2010.

The rally started off with a procession of street performers and Red Shirts representing different regions of Thailand, heading from the Royal Hotel to Democracy Monument. In the afternoon, Buddhist monks led the UDD leadership and the crowd through a Buddhist ceremony in honour of the victims. The rally also featured an exhibition of photos and videos taken during the crackdown, as well as speeches by regional and national UDD leaders.

Former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra also spoke to the crowd via a webcast. He offered his condolences to the families of the victims, and joined the UDD leadership in saying that the brutal suppression of pro-democratic forces must never again be allowed to take place in Thailand.

For an outline of what happened on April 10th 2010, visit the Thai Accountability Project.

See below for a selection of pictures of the event.

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UDD Political Schools In Context

Apr 08
Posted by Ratch in Archive, Featured, News

IMG_1950Over the course of several months, Thai Red Shirts (TRS) have attended many of the UDD’s political schools. The latest school in the Northern province of Chiang Mai was the UDD’s thirteenth ever political school and more schools are scheduled for the coming months.

While the concept of “political schools” may have negative connotations for some readers, in this case they refer to gatherings akin to political party conventions. Much like party conventions, the UDD’s political schools are important venues for the exchange of ideas between the movement’s leadership and grassroots activists. They also serve to build strong local Red Shirt organizations that are vital to the movement’s long-term success as a vehicle for democratic change in Thailand.

At a previous event in Lamphun province, UDD co-leader Nisit Sinthuprai said,

The Red Shirt movement needs to start at the village level. We need a strong network of local committees that can work together to defeat the amaat system in Thailand.

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Free At Last

Apr 06
Posted by Demos in Archive, News
Pinit Chanarong (left) and Saichon Paebua (right)

Pinit Chanarong (left) and Saichon Paebua (right)

Pinit Chanarong and Saichon Paebua made headlines last week when they were acquitted of the arson attacks on the Central World shopping centre on May 19th 2010. At the time of their release, they had spent three years in prison without bail. Thai Red Shirts (TRS) met with Pinit and Saichon to congratulate them on their release and to discuss life as a political prisoner, the taste of freedom, and hopes for their future and as well as the future of Thai democracy.

TRS: How does it feel to be out of jail? Did you expect this outcome?

Pinit: It feels great. I want to say that I expected to be acquitted this whole time, because I could not imagine serving a sentence for a crime I did not commit. But the fact that I had already been in prison for three years dampened my confidence. I am grateful that the judge had mercy on me.

Saichon: I am so happy! To be honest, I did not expect to be acquitted, I expected the worst. When the judge read out the verdict I could not keep back the tears of joy. But I am also thinking about my friends who are still in prison, I worry about them. We need amnesty for political prisoners, and it must be swift.

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Rally to Honour the Brave Heroes of 2010

Apr 04
Posted by Ratch in Archive, News

IMG_0084The United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) would like to announce a commemorative gathering to be held on Wednesday April 10th 2013 at Bangkok’s Democracy Monument, in honour of the brave heroes who died tragically on April 10th 2010.

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Democracy Update 3/4/13

Apr 03
Posted by Demos in Archive, News

IMG_2149During Wednesday’s press conference, UDD co-leaders discussed obstacles to the ongoing efforts to amend the post-coup Constitution of 2007 as well as a recent ruling by the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) regarding Jatuporn Prompan’s disqualification from parliament in 2011. They also announced a commemorative rally that is being held in Bangkok on April 10th in honor of those who died during the brutal and illegal military crackdown of Red Shirt protests in 2010.

The UDD supports the Pheu Thai government’s efforts to amend the post-coup Constitution, but pro-coup forces have continuously tried, and often succeeded, to thwart the amendment process. In one such recent effort, opposition Senator Somchai Sawaengkarn has petitioned the Constitutional Court to issue an injunction against the parliamentary proceedings and dissolve the Pheu Thai party.

While the Court rejected Senator Somchai’s appeal for an injunction, it has accepted his petition to consider the constitutionality of the proposed constitutional amendments, in particular alterations to Sections 68 and 237. The UDD co-leaders expressed frustration that the amendment process is facing obstacles every step of the way.

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Somyot’s Legal Team submits Appeal and Bail Requests

Apr 01
Posted by Ratch in Archive, News

20130401_153856At Ratchada Criminal Court on Monday, Sukanya Prueksakasemsuk submitted a request to appeal the decision in the case of her husband Somyot, who was sentenced to 11 years imprisonment for lèse majesté, and a previously suspended defamation conviction. She also filed a 14th bail request in the 23 months since Somyot’s arrest on April 30th 2011.

Sukanya was joined by former National Human Rights commissioner Vasant Panich who has joined Somyot’s legal team for the appeal trial. He maintains that, as acting editor of the Red Shirt magazine Voice of Thaksin, Somyot could not be criminally responsible for articles that he did not write. 

Mr Vasant said,

There is no law for which Somyot could be charged. In fact, the Printing Act of 2007 ensures that editors are protected from criminal responsibility for material they haven’t authored. If the verdict stands, then that act would become obsolete. 

The ramifications of the Printing Act are significant in Somyot’s case, as he was convicted on two counts of violating article 112 of the criminal code.

Sukanya and Mr Vasant have also requested that the Appeals Court listen to new witnesses. They expect a response to all requests within two weeks.

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Red Shirt Convicted of Lèse majesté

Mar 28
Posted by Demos in Archive, News

At Ratchada Criminal Court in Bangkok this morning, Red Shirt activist and former UDD journalist Aekachai Hongkangwarn was sentenced to 3 years and 4 months imprisonment for violation of Thailand’s lèse majesté law, or Article 112 of the Criminal Code. He is alleged to have sold VCDs containing an Australian documentary about the monarchy.

This verdict is the latest in a series of tough sentences handed down by Bangkok’s courts in cases of alleged defamation against the monarchy. In an earlier case, Red Shirt activist Somyot Pruksakasemsuk was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment for lèse majesté for two articles that appeared in a magazine of which he was the editor.

UDD leader Tida expressed her sympathies for Aekachai and his family. She also commented on the nature of Article 112:

I know that Aekachai was confident that he had done nothing wrong and had not broken the law, as was Somyot before him. This is the danger of this law. Unlike other laws, where one can be certain what does and what does not count as criminal behavior, with lèse majesté it is difficult to know where the line is.

Unlike many others that have been accused of lèse majesté, Aekachai was fortunate enough to be released on bail during his trial. Since Aekachai will appeal the verdict, his lawyer and his father have re-applied for bail. Until he receives the outcome of his bail application, Aekachai will join other 112 defendants in Bangkok Remand Prison, pending an appeal hearing.

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