Sedition accused fight back

Opposition leaders file legal complaint

Core members and leaders of opposition parties have filed a police complaint against the Fourth Region Army commander and the legal officer of the Internal Security Operations Command’ (Isoc) Region 4 forward command for filing a sedition complaint against them in connection with their charter amendment comments.

The leading figures of the seven opposition parties lodged the complaint with the Crime Suppression Division yesterday, three days after the legal officer, Maj Gen Burin Thongpraphai submitted a complaint against them at a police station in the southern province of Pattani on Thursday.

The politicians were among the 12 people named in Maj Gen Burin’s complaint. Also accused in the complaint was Chalita Banthuwong, a lecturer at Kasetsart University’s social sciences faculty.

It is alleged the 12 had joined a public discussion on the charter’s amendment in front of the Pattani provincial hall on Sept 28. At the forum, Ms Chalita proposed a change to Section 1 of the constitution, which stipulates that Thailand is one indivisible kingdom.

The forward command alleges the discussion affected national security and solutions to problems in the southernmost provinces. The opposition figures accused by the command include Sompong Amornwiwat, leader of the opposition Pheu Thai Party, head of the Future Forward Party, Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit and Prachachat Party leader Wan Muhammad Nor Matha.

The opposition figures denied the allegation and yesterday asked the CSD to take legal against the Fourth Region Army commander Lt Gen Pornsak Poonsawat and Maj Gen Burin for filing false charges against them and for defamation.

Lt Gen Pornsak must also be sought for prosecution because Maj Gen Burin was acting on his order.

Mr Wan Nor said speakers at the discussion were protected by law as they voiced their opinions, which could help in improving the constitution.