The 14 embattled anti-junta activists reunite with their families after nearly two weeks of detention. However, their charges linger on.
At around 5:30 am on Wednesday, 8 July 2015, the prison staffs of Bangkok Remand Prison freed the 14 embattled anti-junta activists after Bangkok Military Court rejected the custody petition against the 14 yesterday.
The 14 were welcomed by families, friends, and a jubilant crowd who camped out at the prison’s gate to await their release. Many were among those who went to the military court on Monday morning to campaign for the unconditional release of the 14 activists together with pro-democracy academics, activists, and many others.
Rangsiman Rome, one of the 14 embattled activists, told the media that him and his friends were not ill-treated during the detention and that the group vowed to fight on.
The 13 male activists of the group were transported in a van and dropped in front of the remand prison to be released at around 5:30 am on Wednesday.
Cholticha Jang-rew, the only female activist of the group was first transported to her friend’s house in Bangkok, but was later brought back to the prison’s gate to be reunited with her family and activist friends.
Together the 14 sang ‘Sang Daw Heng Satha’ (the light of faith from the stars), a well known Thai rally anthem in front of the prison’s gate.
They group said that they will continue to campaign for democracy and freedom and that their case should be handled by the civilian court not the military one since they are civilians.
Despite their release, the 14 activists will still have to stand on trials for allegedly breaking the junta’s National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO)’s Order No. 3/2015, which prohibits any political gathering of five or more persons and Article 116 of the Thai Penal Code, sedition law. If found guilty they could face up to 7 years imprisonment.
Yesterday, 7 June, Sunai Phasuk, a researcher of Human Rights Watch (HRW), posted his comment on his twitter account“although the military court rejected the custody petition against the 14, they are still charged with a serious case with the penalty of up to 7 years imprisonment. What happened was just meant to improve the image [of the regime] and reduce pressure.”
The 14 embattled anti-junta activists in front of Bangkok Remand Prison on 8 July 2015
Cholticha Jang-rew, the only female activist of the 14 reunites with her activist friends
