During the UDD’s weekly press conference last Wednesday, co-leaders discussed the role of the judiciary in the development of Thailand’s fragile democracy. The ongoing attempts by the Pheu Thai government to reform the post-coup Constitution, in order to align it with modern democratic practices, have attracted condemnation from pro-coup forces.
Read MoreConstitutional Court
Democracy Update 3/4/13
During 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
Read MoreAcademics Call for Judicial Reform
An academic panel hosted by the progressive Nitirat law group last Sunday at Thammasat University debated the role of the courts in the pursuit of justice in Thailand. Special attention was paid to article 112 of the Criminal Code, also known as the lèse majéste law, which states that “whoever
Read MoreUDD Reacts to Constitutional Court’s Silence
At a press conference on Friday, Red Shirt leaders reacted to the Constitutional Court’s response to a letter submitted by the UDD which sought clarifications on the Court’s 2012 decision on amending the constitution. The UDD also reiterated its calls for the government to act on amnesty for political prisoners
Read MoreUDD submits letter to Constitutional Court, announces plans to observe Bangkok governor election
Yesterday the UDD submitted a letter to the Constitutional Court, with the intention of clarifying issues surrounding the government’s current attempts to amend the constitution. In a Constitutional ruling in July 2012, in which the Court ruled that amending the constitution does not pose a threat to the monarchy, the
Read MoreUDD Outlines Four Tier Strategy for 2013
At a press conference on Friday, the UDD leadership outlined their four tier strategy for 2013. Each tier means to challenge a different consequence of the 2006 coup and its aftermath. First of all, the UDD will prioritize its ongoing struggle for amnesty for political prisoners. UDD leader Tida Tawornseth
Read MoreRed Shirts Ask “Where is the Rule of Law?”
At a press conference on Friday, UDD co-leaders expressed their outrage over former prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva’s ability to circumvent the rule of law by walking out of the Department of Special Investigations (DSI) without signing and agreeing to the terms of his release after hearing his charges yesterday. The Red
Read MoreUDD to Democrat Party- “Let the Courts Establish the Truth”
At the weekly press conference on Friday, the UDD leadership responded to allegations made by the Democrat Party during its ‘men in black’ misinformation rally last Saturday. UDD chairwoman Tida especially challenged Abhisit’s statement rally that no lives would have been lost had it not been for the ‘men in
Read MoreFarmers send Message to Academics: When it comes to Rice, We know Better
Up to 1,000 farmers and Red Shirt activists gathered outside the National Institute Development Administration (NIDA) on Tuesday to protest what they perceive as an assault on their livelihoods by 146 academics, who petitioned the Constitutional Court to terminate the Pheu Thai government’s rice-pledging program. Despite such threats of judicial
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