Anti-junta activists have filed a civil lawsuit against the Thai army, police, and the Prime Minister’s office for abusing rights of peaceful demonstrators.
On 24 January 2017, activists from the New Democracy Movement (NDM) led by Rangsiman Rome, key leader of the group, attended a preliminary hearing at the Southern Bangkok Civil Court.
On the case, the group has filed a civil lawsuit against the Royal Thai Army, the Royal Thai Police, and the Prime Minister’s Office.
They accused the three of malfeasance and abuse of human rights for arresting and abusing NDM activists and other demonstrators who on 22 May 2015 participated in a peaceful gathering to commemorate the 2014 coup d’état .
The group demands about 16.5 million baht of compensation from the three public agencies.
Kritsarang Nutcharat, lawyer representing NDM, said that many anti-junta activists were physically assaulted by about 20 security officers during the peaceful demonstration.
At the hearing, Rangsiman said that the reconciliation process which the junta the military government tries to foster will not occur if injustice is still being done to people.
He added that the group will continue to demand justice for Jatuphat ‘Pai’ Boonpattararaksa, an NDM activist, accused of violating Article 112 of the Criminal Code, the lèse majesté law, for sharing on his Facebook account a controversial biography of King Vajiralongkorn published by BBC Thai.
The court will hold the first trial on the case on 18 July 2017.
Student being arrested in 2015 Coup comemoration (file photo)