Thirteen anti-establishment protesters were formally indicted by public prosecutors this morning (Thursday) on lèse majesté and sedition charges, in accordance with Sections 112 and 116 of the Thai Criminal Code, for their roles in the protest in front of the German Embassy in Bangkok on October 26th last year.
Among the accused named by the public prosecutors are Passaravalee “Mind” Thanakitvibulphol, Korakot Saengyenphan, Chanin “Ball” Wongsri, Benja Apan, Watcharakorn Chaikaew, Nawat “Am” Liangwattana, Atthapol “Khru Yai” Buapat, Akkarapon Teeptaisong, Suthinee Jangpipatnawakit, Ravisara Eksgool, and Cholathit Chote-sawat.
12 protesters reported to prosecutors at the Bangkok South Criminal Litigation Office at about 9.30am to acknowledge the charges brought against them by Thung Mahamek police. The other was due to report themselves tomorrow. They were escorted by police to the Bangkok South Criminal Court for arraignment and have been granted bail.
On October 26th, 2020, the protesters submitted a petition to the German Embassy, demanding that the German government investigate whether HM the King of Thailand had exercised his powers on German soil. The petition letter was accepted by embassy officials.
A small number of supporters, including Anon Nampa, a core leader of the anti-establishment Ratsadon group, showed up to offer moral support to the protesters. Some of them raised posters demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha.
Three “Move Forward” MPs, namely Rangsiman Rome, Thongdaeng Benjapak of Samut Sakhon, Suttawan Suban Na Ayuthaya of Nakhon Pathom, were present at the court to offer their parliamentary status to secure bail for the protesters.
Supanut Boonsod, from the Centre of Thai Lawyers for Human Rights, said that six lecturers also volunteered to offer their academic status to support bail for the protesters.
Meanwhile, Pol Maj-Gen Piya Tavichai, deputy commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Bureau, said today police have filed charges in 16 cases against 154 protesters, from eight protest groups, involved in protests in Bangkok between July 2nd and 18th, in violation of the Emergency Decree and Communicable Disease Control Act.
Moreover, he said that police are in the process of asking the court to withdraw bail granted to some of the protesters, who allegedly took part in fresh protests in violation of their terms of bail.
He also warned protest organisers to cancel their planned protest this evening and on Sunday July 25th or face charges.
