Royalist smother reform

The royalist courts continue their vendetta against political reformers, seeking to smother any effort to rid Thailand of its military-monarchy feudal political system.

In yet another court case decided yesterday, the Pathumwan District Court sentenced Pita Limjaroenrat, Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit, Piyabutr Saengkanokkul, Pannika Wanich, Piratthachot Chantarakajon, Nuttha Mahatana, Tanawat Wongchai, and Parit Chiwarak each to four months in prison, suspended for two years, over a protest on 14 December 2019 protest in Pathumwan. The protest “was in response to the Election Commission’s 11 December decision to disband the Future Forward Party.”

A Bangkok Post picture

The protest drew many hundreds, maybe thousands – one of the PPT group was there – to see Thanathorn and the others speak about the EC’s decison, which was based on yet another politicized decision by the regime’s Constitutional Court.

Thanathorn had “posted a Facebook invitation for people to gather. The demonstration took place on the skywalk between MBK Mall and the Bangkok Art and Culture Centre. Protesters filled the skywalk and the courtyard in front of BACC.”

The court found them “guilty of violating the Assembly Act for organising a protest near the Pathumwan Intersection within a 150-metre radius of a prohibited [royal] area, the Sa Pathum Palace.”

The court sentenced each person “to four months in prison and fined 20,200 baht, both for violating the Assembly Act and for using a sound amplifier without permission… The sentences of all 8 defendants were suspended, as the protest was for purposes of political expression and not a serious crime.”

The defendants are to appeal on the principle that they were exercising constitutional rights. The courts pay little attention to principles, rights, or even the law.