Pro-democracy activists charged with defying the Thai junta’s orders submitted a statement to the court of justice, urging the judicial authorities not to let the military court hold civilian trials.
Four activists from Resistant Citizen, a pro-democracy activist group, on Thursday afternoon submitted a statement to Bangkok’s Ratchada Criminal Court to call for the court of justice to resist the junta’s orders in letting the military court trying civilian trials.
The statement was addressed to the chief judge of the Supreme Court. It was received by officers of the court.
The four activists are Sirawit Serithiwat, a student activist from Thammasat University, Pansak Srithep, a red-shirt activist and father of a boy killed by the military during the 2010 political violence, Anon Numpa, a human rights lawyer who volunteers for Thai Lawyers for Human Rights (TLHR), and Wannakiet Chusuwan, a pro-democracy activist and taxi driver.
(From left to right) Pansak Srithep, Sirawit Serithiwat, Anon Numpa, and Wannakiet Chusuwan in front of the Bangkok’s Ratchada Criminal Court on 12 March 2015 (Photo from: Resistant Citizen)
The statement pointed out that the military court cannot guarantee the rights to fair trials to suspects and that civilians should not be tried by the military tribunal. This is mainly because substandard ruling procedures of the military court, which do not guarantee the suspects’ rights to appeal the verdict. Therefore, the separation of the military court, which are seated by judges from the military, apart from the civilian court is longer in use in most countries, according to the statement.
By entitling the military tribunal to have power over civilian, the military junta is using the military court as an apparatus to get rid of civilians who are opposing the coup, the statement concluded.
The activists submit the statement to the Criminal Court personnel on 12 March 2015 (Photo from: Resistant Citizen)
- The court of justice should stand firm in its authority under the Constitution, the Criminal Procedure Code, and its judicial authority to uphold the pillar of justice and not the allow civilian cases to be tried by substandard jurisdiction of the military court.
- The court of justice should show its courage by resisting the barbaric orders of the junta and stand firm in its legal principles that the coup-makers were rebels and that the orders and announcements of the coup-makers should have no legal effects in order to fight with the people to return justice and democracy.
Resistant Citizen will hold a rally titled “I walk Therefore I Am” from Bang Bua Thong in Northwest of Bangkok to Pathumwan Police station in central bangkok from 14-16 March to raise awareness about the group’s demands.
Earlier on 14 February, the four were charged with violating NCPO Order No. 7/2014 which prohibits a political public gathering of more than five people for holding a political event in central Bangkok titled “The election that was loved (stolen)” which called for an election and commemorated the latest election on 2 February 2014. The activity was organized by the Resistant Citizen group. People who violate this order face a jail term of up to one year and a fine of up to 20,000 baht or both.