Boonyuen Prasertying

Boonyuen Prasertying, a middle-aged woman (46 in 2009), was charged with lese majeste resulting from speeches she made at a pro-Thaksin rally on Sanam Luang. She turned herself in to the police on 15 August 2008.

She confessed to the charges and on 6 November 2008 was sentenced to 12 years in prison. Her sentence was reduced to six years as a result of her confession. It is added that she “reportedly confessed to the charge out of fear.”

In mid-November 2009, the Appeals Court further reduced Boonyuen’s sentence to 2 years. She is to be released in August 2010.

Boonyuen “was charged with offending the Heir Apparent in a public speech in a rally at Sanam Luang on 6 Aug 2008.”

Boonyuen, who was a junk dealer and fortune teller, reportedly became active in politics only after the 2006 military coup. Her life has been detroyed: “During her detention, her house and car, which she used to earn her income, were seized after she defaulted on her repayments.”

In June 2010, Boonyuen was pardoned and released. Somsak Jeamteerasakul at New Mandala on 8 July 2010 reported on Boonyuen Prasertying’s release. He writes as follows:

Here is the link to a report at Prachatai (in Thai) on another ex-LM prisoner, just released last month too:…
http://www.prachatai3.info/journal/2010/07/30249

Boonyuen was arrested in the same case as Da Torpedo, from their group’s political activities at Sanam Luang. (Da was arrested on 22 July 2008, Boonyuen was arrested three weeks later on 15 August. See report at the time of her arrest on Manager here: http://www.manager.co.th/Crime/ViewNews.aspx?NewsID=9510000096572 ) But she chose to act differently from Da (option II I mentioned above #18http://asiapacific.anu.edu.au/newmandala/2009/04/28/suwicha-thakor-still-locked-up/#comment-698053 ), namely to ‘confess’ her ‘wrongdoing’ on LM, was sentenced right away, then appealed for royal pardon. In the meantime, she also decided to ‘cut off’ contact with her former activists including Da in prison. (See further below.)

Included in the report at Prachatai is a 3-part interview with her on YouTube. (Direct links here):

Part I: Life as prisoner
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jeKfcNYOcos&feature=player_embedded

Par II: Real-life study of ‘Thai Law 101′
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qjERMJ52rHY&feature=player_embedded

Part III: On Politics
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=25E4hBJ_7vs&feature=player_embedded

Although in the interview, Boonyuen appears in the current royalist shirt color (Pink, not yellow), it’s clear from the content that she doesn’t change her political views. (She explains why she took part in the political activities: because Thaksin had done a lot for her family’s economic well being, etc.) Of course she ‘admits’ (in passing) her ‘mistake’ (ผิดพลาด ไม่เหมาะสม) on her LM speech, but insists that it’s not right to put her into jail. She suggests the [LM] law be changed to lesser punishment, such as warning or fine. (See Par III at minute 7.50).

News on Boonyuen Prasertying’s case:

Prachatai, 8 July 2010: “Bunyuen Prasertying: 1 year and 10 months in jail for lèse majesté”

Prachatai, 15 November 2009: “Lèse majesté convict Boonyuen Prasertying’s jail term reduced to 2 years”

Prachatai, 9 January 2009: “Destinies of Two Female Lese Majeste Offenders”

Prachatai, 8 January 2009: “Boonyuen Thai lèse majesté alleged offender convicted for 12 years”