Wichian Kaokham

Wichian Kaokham is a Puea Thai Member of Parliament for Udon Thani and was accused by Army chief Prayuth Chan-Ocha of lese majeste. Prayuth laid a complaint of lese majeste with the police following speeches by Wichian on 10 April 2011.

Prior to the 10 April anniversary rally by red shirts, commemorating the first attack by the army on red shirt demonstrators rallying in 2010, the Army set up a “war room” that was, in part, meant to catch red shirt speakers out. General Prayuth said he was “concerned that some red-shirt demonstrators might attack the high institution and incite violence and therefore the army war room was set up.” The so-called war room monitored the rally “and all speeches delivered at the rally stage by UDD core leaders.” The Army promised legal action against all law violators; they meant for lese majeste.

The outcome of that monitoring is reportedly that the “army on Tuesday filed a complaint against United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship co-leader Jatuporn Prompan and two others [Wichian Khaokham, a Puea Thai MP for Udon Thani, and Suporn Atthawong, a UDD member], saying they might have committed lese majeste in connection with their speeches made at the red-shirt rally at the Democracy Monument on Ratchadamnern Avenue on Sunday, April 10.”

Importantly, this complaint has been filed at the Samranrat police station, on behalf  of army chief Prayuth.

These same three are also subject to earlier terrorism charges from May 2010 and are on bail. The police are now required “to examine tapes of the three’s speeches to see if they constituted lese majeste.”

Wichian and his co-accused red shirt leaders filed a case against Prayuth at the same police station on 16 April, claiming the Army chief deliberately filed charges that were false and provided false information.

Media accounts of Wichian’s case:

The Isaan Record, 18 April 2011: “Udon MP Accused of Lèse-Majesté Responds to Charges”

Bangkok Post, 17 April 2011: “Army chief faces charges”

Bangkok Post, 12 April 2011: “Complaint against Jatuporn, 2 others”