The Appeals Court upheld the Criminal Court’s decision to reject the bail requests of four Ratsadon leaders today (Monday).

The four Ratsadon leaders, namely Parit “Penguin” Chiwarak, Anon Nampa, Somyos Prueksakasemsook and Patiwat Sarainaem, sought bail from the Appeals Court after being charged with lèse majesté and other offences.

The court turned down their bail request on the grounds that the offences, with which they are charged, carry high penalties and that their public speeches were damaging to the monarchy, hurt the feelings of people who are loyal the institution and tended to encourage people to break the law.

After the Appeals Court’s decision, the four defendants were taken back to Bangkok remand prison.

The court’s decision is a blow to the Ratsadon followers and supporters. It came after a group of 250 lecturers from 31 institutions signed a petition urging the court to free the four defendants on bail.

Ratsadon followers have threatened to stage a bigger rally on February 20^th, to put pressure on the court to free the four.