Activists call on regime to drop charges

A group of activists calling itself Seri Kasetsart (Liberal Kasetsart) yesterday issued a statement calling on the regime to drop charges against seven members of the group who were accused of defying the regime’s ban on political gatherings.

On Aug 29, Bang Khen police issued a summons for the seven activists to acknowledge the charges against them.

In its statement, the group accused the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) of using legal threats to intimidate and silence critics. This is part of the efforts by the NCPO to create a climate of fear over the past four years, the group said.

The group called for the charges against the seven activists to be dropped immediately, and demanded the regime return power to the people and revoke legislation and its orders that restrict free speech and peaceful assembly.

The group said the Thai Lawyers for Human Rights Centre has offered legal assistance to the seven activists.

The seven activists were arrested on June 24, 2016 when they held an event to observe the June 24 Siam Revolution in 1932 staged by the Khanarassadorn, that led to the country changing from an absolute monarchy to a constitutional one.

Members of the Seri Kasetsart group gathered at Wat Phra Si Maha That in Bang Khen district on that morning as dozens of uniformed and plain-clothes police were deployed to monitor the event.

When the activists started distributing copies of the Kao Kham (Moving Past) newspaper, authorities approached them and told them to stop the gathering.

But the activists refused and marched to the Pitak Ratthathammanun (Protection of the Constitution) Monument at Laksi Circle in Bang Khen where they were detained.

Among the seven was Chanoknan Ruamsap, a leading student activist of the New Democracy Movement.

They were later taken to the Bangkok Military Court where Bang Khen police requested permission to detain them.

But the court rejected the police request, saying there was no need for detention because the activists only committed a minor offence. The seven were then released.