40 get court bail on gathering rap
Forty pro-election activists who rallied on Ratchadamnoen Avenue in February were granted bail yesterday when they were arraigned on charges of violating the regime’s order that bans political gatherings.
Among them were Anuson Unno, dean of Thammasat University’s Faculty of Sociology and Anthropology; Netiwit Chotipatpaisal, a firebrand student activist; and Piyarat Jongthep, head of the For Friends Association. They are all members of a group socalled “People Who Want Elections”.
The activists were arraigned at Dusit District Court after prosecutors indicted them on the charges in relation to their rally on Feb 10 close to the Democracy Monument.
Hundreds of activists gathered that day to demand an election and the end to the military regime.
One of the activists was unable to come to court yesterday and sought a postponement of his indictment from prosecutors through his lawyer, which was approved.
The 40 accused denied the charges at the court, which has scheduled them to return to undergo evidence examination on June 4. As the case carries no harsh punishment, they were released without being required to place bonds, according to the court.
Meanwhile, Nuttaa Mahattana, a core member of the “People Who Want Elections” group, posted on her Facebook Page a schedule for its members to report to law enforcement officers.
According to her, five key members of the group are slated to report to Nang Loeng police on Monday on charges in connection with their rally outside the Royal Thai Army headquarters on March 24. Other participants in the rally have been summoned to report to the station on April 18. Another batch of core figures of the March 24 demonstration has been summoned to report to Nang Loeng police on April 30.
During t he rally, t he group demanded the regime to hold a general election this year. The poll was earlier promised for November this year, but was later pushed back to February. They also demanded the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) be dissolved, the Prayut Chan-o-cha government should only serve as a caretaker administration and the military should stop supporting the NCPO.