The Military Court rejected bails for the eight abducted junta critics for the second time while the junta leader maintained that the eight violated the laws.
The Military Court of Bangkok on Tuesday, 3 May 2016, denied bails for the eight junta critics who were charged with Article 116 of the Criminal Code, the sedition law, for allegedly involving in a Facebook page titled ‘We Love Gen Prayut’, a political satire page mocking the Thai junta leader.
The court rejected bails after Anon Nampa, a human rights lawyer representing the eight, submitted bail requests with 150,000 baht surety for each of the suspects, reasoning that the behaviors of the suspects do not appear to change.
This is the second time that the Military Court rejected bails for the eight.
The eight suspects are: Supachai Saibutr, a photographer, Harit Mahaton, former reporter of Matichon and independent writer, Noppakao Kongsuwan, a person affiliated with the United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD), the main red shirt faction, Natthika Worathaiwich, Worawit Saksamutnan, Yothin Mankongsanga, Thonnawan Buranasiri and Kannasit Tangboonthina.
Among the eight, Harit and Natthika, also face charges under Article 112 of the Criminal Code, the lѐse majesté law, for sending messages deemed defamatory to the Thai Monarchy in their private Facebook chat.
On the same day, Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha, the junta leader and Prime Minister, said that the eights were not arrested because they allegedly mocked him on social media, but they violated the laws.
“Their charges are not related to mocking me. Some of them repeatedly violated the law. They were released and arrested again and again,” said the junta premier. “Go warn them, will they study or do jobs like this? If Thammasat University does not afraid of losing its reputation, then they can just let these people study.”
On the two suspects who were charged under the lѐse majesté law, Gen Prayut asked if Thai people can tolerate anyone who defame the monarchy.
If found guilty under the sedition law alone, they could face up to seven years imprisonment.