Several prominent red shirt leaders have been sentenced to prison terms for leading a demonstration against the current head of Thailand’s Privy Council.
On 9 January 2016, the Criminal Court announced the Appeal Court’s verdict on ten red shirt activists accused of unlawful assembly for leading a demonstration against General Prem Tinsulanonda, the current head of the Privy Council.
The defendants were accused of offences for leading a crowd of several thousand to Prem’s residence on 22 July 2007 for the purpose of demanding his resignation. The group is membered by several prominent red shirt leaders.
Among the ten defendants are Nattawut Saikua, a leader of the anti-establishment network United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD); Veerakarn Musikapong, a former UDD leader; and Weng Tojirakarn, a former MP for the Pheu Thai party.
The harshest punishment was handed to Noppharuj Worachittawutthikun, who was sentenced to a jail term of 3 years as the leader of the unlawful assembly.
However, the Appeals Court classified four of the group as only assistants to the crime, decreasing their jail terms to 1 year for obstructing the work of public officials.
Nattawut has already publically announced the intentions of the defendants and their lawyers to prepare evidence to escalate the case to the Supreme Court. Emphasising that he respects the court’s verdicts, Nattawut nevertheless stated that it is their right to appeal their charges until they have exhausted the court system.
The Appeal Court’s verdict was a revision of a previous decision by the Court of First Instance that the defendants were all guilty of unlawful assembly on two counts. From the evidence, the Appeals Court concluded that the defendants were guilty of only one offence, reasoning they had but the single intention of creating chaos.
Previously, the Court of First Instance had sentenced four of the defendants to jail terms of 4 years and 4 months each. One defendant was sentenced to a jail term of 2 years and 8 months each, while two others were acquitted. The status of the final three defendants remains pending.
The Appeals Court revised these sentences after corroborating witness statements from policemen, reporters and two photographers with recordings of the event.
Following the court’s verdict, the Facebook page announced that the defendant’s legal team are working on temporary bail for the five convicted. The requirements stipulated by the Appeals Court are 500,000 baht in cash per defendant for their release as the Supreme Court considers the terms for their full bail. The defendants are forbidden to leave the country.
Nattawut maintains the fight is not over, even though some of his co-defendants are free. He remains concerned for other red shirt activists currently imprisoned, such as UDD leader Jatuporn Prompan who has yet to be allowed bail.
Riot police offcers push out the protesters at Prem's house on 22 July 2007