The military court has acquitted a well known labour unionist accused violating the junta’s summon order.
On 6 July 2017, the Military Court of Bangkok dismissed charges against Jittra Cotchadet, a labour activist who is a former president of the Triumph Workers Union and MP candidate from the Democratic Force Party.
Jittra was accused of violating the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO)’s Announcement No. 41/2014 for failing to report to the authorities in June 2014 because she was in Sweden at the time.
While in Sweden, she, however, submitted a letter to the Royal Thai Embassy and the NCPO, explaining that she would report to the junta on her return to Thailand.
She was arrested upon her return to Thailand on 13 June 2014 by the Thai Immigration officers. The police later requested the military court to remand her in custody, but Jittra was released on bail on the same day.
Since her trial began in September 2014, Jittra always maintained that she had no intention to defy the order and she had sought all necessary measures to comply with the order.
She based this argument on her actions of having her friend report to the authorities on her behalf in Bangkok as well as report herself to the Thai Embassy in Sweden, which was considered as a representative of the Royal Thai Government overseas.
Jittra Cotchadet, a labour activist, in front of Bangkok's Military Court (file photo)