It must have been standing room only when 96 members of the People’s Alliance for Democracy, including leaders like Sondhi Limthongkul and Chamlong Srimuang, appeared in the Criminal Court for the “first hearing of charges over the occupation of Don Mueang and Suvarnabhumi airports in 2008.” But as the Bangkok Post reports, this was not a huge milestone as the “court agreed to postpone the hearing” for some of the accused as they claimed no legal representation and a further 17 defendants have yet to be indicted.
While the judge did point out that “the charge of terrorism carries the death penalty,” it was not explained why all defendants repeatedly get bail while red shirts accused of terrorism have been indicted, refused bail and imprisoned for long terms for alleged offenses in 2010. Obviously double standards are at work in the courts.
An AFP report: states that all of the PAD members are “planning to plead not guilty…”. It also notes that “investigations against the arch nationalist group have been sluggish, prompting resentment and claims of double standards…”. It adds: “Many leaders of the mainly rural, working class Reds were swiftly locked up on terrorism charges after their street protest in the heart of Bangkok in 2010 which came to a bloody end after an army crackdown.”
Political Prisoners in Thailand 