Yesterday, we posted on the case of 21-year-old activist “Bank” Natthaphon, charged with lese majeste.
Clipped from Prachatai, attributed to Ginger Cat
In a related case, on 19 January 2024, “Ta” Khathathon, a 28 year-old activist from the Thalugaz group, turned himself in to the police and he has been charged 112 and computer crimes.
The charges relate to a Facebook photo of a man holding pieces of paper with profanities in front of a portrait of King Vajiralongkorn.
Ta had learned that there was an arrest warrant for him after Natthaphon was arrested and charged over the same Facebook photo.
The complaint against both Khathathon and Natthaphon was filed by ultra-royalist thug Anon Klinkaew, self-proclaimed leader of the People’s Centre to Protect the Monarchy.
Khathathon announced on activist Tantawan Tuatulanon’s Facebook page that he was turning himself in to show that he is not a flight risk. The latter is a “reason” used by royalist judges to refuse bail.
In that video clip he also said that he would refuse to be transferred to any police station other than Samran Rat Police Station, which is responsible for the case against him and Natthapon. Natthapon has been transferred to Thung Song Hong Police Station.
Even so, the brown shirts transferred Khathathon to the Thung Song Hong Police Station. In protest, he refused to leave the police van “and spent the night in the vehicle, which was parked in front of the police station surrounded by metal railings.”first
Khathathon learned of the warrant when he and other activists were gathering in front of Samran Rat Police Station.
While being processed at Samran Rat Police Station, Khathathon refused to be fingerprinted and was subsequently charged for refusing to follow an officer’s order. The police also wanted to collect a sample of his DNA, but both Khathathon and his lawyer refused.
Later, the Criminal Court granted bail.
Political Prisoners in Thailand 