Anti-Coup Group to Sue NCPO Despite Arrest Risk

[Sumocakewalk]

The Nation
May 22, 2015
By Pravit Rojanaphruk

Despite the risk of being arrested, between 10 and 20 members of an anti-coup group plan to march to the Criminal Court to file a lawsuit against the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) for illegally tearing up the constitution a year ago today.

"We hope the court will accept our case against the NCPO," said Anon Nampa, a red-shirt human rights lawyer and key member of the Resistant Citizen(s) Group.

However, Thammasat post-graduate student Rakchart Wong-Artichart, 24, disagreed. "I don't think the court will accept the case, but it will be more of a symbolic action," he said.

In the lawsuit, the group will accuse the NCPO of violating Article 113 of the Criminal Code, which states that anybody who commits treason by overthrowing the country's constitution faces the maximum penalty of death, Anon said. The group will march from Lat Phrao MRT station at 3pm today to the Criminal Court.

Meanwhile, Anon said he does not expect himself or the rest of the group to be arrested because, though Thailand is still under a military regime, it is not as "barbaric" as the military regimes of the distant past.

"I am really expecting a result," he said, referring to the legal complaint. Asked if he had prepared for the possibility of getting arrested even before they have a chance to file the lawsuit, Anon defiantly said: "Let them arrest me if they want to."

Rakchart too is ready for arrest. "I don't think we are going to be arrested, but if we are, we are prepared for it."

The group's website features a photoshopped image of Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha, who is also the NCPO leader, and his fellow coupmakers behind bars.

Group to sue NCPO despite arrest risk - The Nation

[KEVIN2008]

[Sumocakewalk]

Seems he needed more luck...


Siriwit Serithiwat, one of four 'Resistant Citizen' activists arrested after filing a lawsuit against
junta chairman Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha on 22 May 2015.

Khaosod English
May 22, 2015

BANGKOK — Four anti-coup activists were detained by police after filing a lawsuit that accused coup-leader and junta chairman Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha of committing high treason for overthrowing an elected government one year ago.

The activists, who founded the anti-coup group Resistant Citizens, initially planned to walk to the Criminal Court in a public display of dissent, but were intercepted by police and forced into a van.

Police brought the activists to the courthouse and allowed them to file the largely-symbolic lawsuit accusing Gen. Prayuth of violating Section 113 of the Thai Criminal Codes, which outlaws any attempt to overthrow the constitution, administration, and monarchy through unlawful means. The charge carries a maximum penalty of death sentence.

Police then arrested the activists and brought them to Phahonyothin Police Station for interrogation. The group was released later in the evening without charges.

The lawsuit is very unlikely to go forward, as the junta granted itself legal amnesty in the interim constitution that was enacted shortly after the May 2014 military takeover. Coup d'etats are nearing on a political tradition in Thailand, where the military has launched 13 successful takeovers since democracy was established in 1932.

Coup anniversary protests

Although political activities and protests remain banned by the ruling junta, several small anti-coup demonstrations broke out in Thailand today on the one-year anniversary of the takeover.

This morning, around a dozen students were arrested by police in Bangkok for reading a statement urging the junta restore civil rights. In the northeastern province of Khon Kaen, at least seven activists were arrested for unfurling an anti-coup banner.

The largest confrontation took place in front of the Bangkok Art and Culture Center in downtown Bangkok, where at least one hundred police attempted to disperse around 30 student activists who were gathering to peacefully protest the military regime. At least nine protesters were detained by police at the time of publication.

Activists Arrested After Suing Junta Chairman for 2014 Coup

[Sumocakewalk]

Does the man in the previous Khaosod article look remotely familiar?

He's the same man who had his photo in the news for an anti-coup protest arrest back in February.



https://teakdoor.com/thailand-and-asi...-thailand.html

[tomta]

Does the man in the previous Khaosod article look remotely familiar? He's the same man who had his photo in the news for an anti-coup protest arrest back in February.

Why would that be a surprise? He didn't like the coup in February and he doesn't like it now. Clearly the attitude adjustment hasn't worked.

[citizen33]

This is an important though probably futile move. It has always seemed to me that everything since the illegal abrogation of the 1997 Constitution has been outside the law.

[Lancelot]

According to this article, the General is playing the long game.

What a surprise

The Strongman of Siam | Foreign Policy