On Sunday May 19^th 2013 from 10:00pm onward, the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD), Red throughout the Land, is holding an event “19 May, to Commemorate the Heroes and Call for Justice” in honor of our fallen brothers and sisters of democracy at Ratchaprasong intersection, Bangkok.

The UDD would like to invite all Red Shirts supporters to come and pay tribute to the 98 lives that were lost and to remind their families that their sons’ and daughters’ heroic acts have not been forgotten.  On the 19^th there will be an exhibition of photos along with narration and a collection of video recordings of the tragic incidents that happened 3 years ago. Co-leaders of the UDD will give speeches throughout the day.  Entertainment on that day will be music and other performances provided by our brothers and sisters from every corner of Thailand. Co-leaders will also march with a small contingent of supporters to Wat Pathum Wanaram to leave flowers and wreaths as a mark of respect for the fallen.

There will be a Buddhist ceremony on the main stage that will include family members of the victims and former PM Thaksin Sinawatra is also set to phone in through SKYPE, followed by a VTR to review the sequel of events that transpired in May 2010 called “Battle of the Drenching Bullets”.

Program of the Red Shirts rally this Sunday, May 19 is presented below.

กำหนดการงาน 3 ปี“19 พฤษภา รำลึกวีรชนผู้กล้า…เรียกหาความยุติธรรม”

วันอาทิตย์ที่ 19 พฤษภาคม 2556 เวลา 10.00 น.เป็นต้นไป

ณ. สี่แยกราชประสงค์

• 10.00   Co-leader pay respect to the sacred Brahma at Rachaprasong intersection to mark the start of the rally
• 10.30   Onward, Open Exhibitions in tents on the side walk in front of Central World along with performances on the street and parades
• 12.00   Music and Performances on the main stage by “the commoner’s music”
• 12.30   Mobile stations on standby in front of Phathum Wanaram temple
• 13.30 – 14.30  Co-leader to pay respect for the fallen at Phathum Wanaram temple
• 14.31 – 15.00   Monk ceremony begin on main stage
• 15.01 – 15.30    Family members of the heroes give speeches and interviews
• 15.31 – 16.00   Mr. Robert Amsterdam’s speech
• 16.01 – 20.30   Speeches from regional representatives of the Red Shirts
• 20.31 – 21.30   SKYPE with Thaksin Shinawatra
• 21.31 – 22.00   Commemoration VTR
• 22.01 –22.20   The lighting of the candles
• 22.21 – 22.50   Prof. Tida Tawornseth’s speech
• 22.51 – 23.20   Mr. Veerakarn Musigapong’s speech
• 23.20 – 00.20   Mr. Jatuporn Prompan’s speech
• 00.21 – 01.21   Mr. Nattawut Saikua’s speech

At 16:00 pm today (10/5/13), co-leader of the UDD, Mr. Korkaew Phikulthong was released on bail from Lak-si prison by the authority of the Ratchada Criminal Court with a surety of 600,000 baht as collateral.

Mr. Korkaew, a Pheu Thai Party list MP, was charged with contempt against the Constitution Court judges and was detained for 31 days before he was temporary released on the conditions that he must not appear on any rally stage and he cannot travel abroad without the court permission.

Many of the UDD co-leader went to congratulate Mr. Korkeaw for his released at Lak-si prison including, UDD President Tida Thawonsate, Mr. Vipoothalang Patthanaphomthai, Mr. Nisit Sinthupri and Mr. Yotsawaris Chu-grom.

On Wednesday, May 8, 2013, Thanawut Vichaidit addresed Red Shirt supporters at the press conference of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD), reminding them of the importance of the event to be held on May 19.  He urged them to show up at the rally en masse to commemorate the heroes of democracy, victims of violent state suppressive acts and to show those who committed these acts that their crimes are not easily forgotten.

At the event, there will be several exhibitions in honor of those who died, especially exhibitions of photographic evidence of the military crackdown in the Rachaprasong area.  There will also be speeches by various prominent UDD leaders.

At the press conference, UDD President Tida Thavonsate reiterated her support for the 312 members of Parliament, of both House and Senate, who had denounced the intervention of the Constitutional Court judges to block the amendment of the constitution.  The parliamentarians believe that Section 291 of the Constitution is undemocratic and that members of the Senate should be elected and not appointed.

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At the UDD’s weekly press conference last Wednesday, Red Shirt leaders expressed their strong support for Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra’s speech in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, on April 29th. In her address to the Conference of the Community of Democracies, PM Yingluck explained how the military coup of 2006 and the mechanisms put in place by the 2007 Constitution have severely handicapped Thai democracy. She also praised the Red Shirts who gathered in April-May 2010 as fighters for democracy.

UDD leader Tida Tawornseth said,

The timing, the place, and the speaker were all perfect. The speaker was perfect because it was the Prime Minister who made the speech as the representative of the people. The speech was also perfectly suited for a democracy forum…What she was said was the truth and the whole world knows it!

PM Yingluck’s speech also invigorated a small 3-week long Red Shirt protest that has been taking placing outside the Constitutional Court and is expected to climax in a much larger demonstration on Wednesday, May 8th. The group is calling for the resignation of Constitutional Court judges after they agreed to consider yet another petition on the constitutionality of the charter amendments that are currently being debated by parliament. In so doing, the protesters believe that the Court is impeding the legislative branch from performing its functions and thereby violating the separation of powers principal.

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In a letter dated April 9th, political prisoner Somyot Prueksakasemsuk calls on Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra to focus her government’s energy on making political prisoners a thing of the past in Thailand. His appeal for amnesty, among others, has gained traction in the Pheu Thai party which decided to put amnesty at the top of the legislative agenda. While the move is encouraging, the parliamentary process is likely to be a prolonged battle with Democrat Party members who oppose amnesty for all political prisoners, especially lèse majesté (112) prisoners such as Somyot.  

Consequently, Somyot emphasizes the importance of ensuring bail rights for political prisoners awaiting trial or in the appeal process. Having been denied bail 14 times already, Somyot is all too familiar with the unconstitutional treatment of 112 prisoners.

The letter reads as follows [English Translation]: 

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