Barkar Nash (Page 1,054)

Ex-UDD chairman to appeal court ruling

The Criminal Court has sentenced Jatuporn Prompan, former chairman of the red-shirt United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD), to two years in prison in connection with the violent 2007 protest at the Si Sao Thewes Residence, then home of late Privy Council president Prem Tinsulanonda.

The court on Thursday handed down the prison sentence to Jatuporn on charges of sedition, resisting arrest, and physically assaulting security officers. However, it acquitted another suspect.

Jatuporn, who at the beginning of the trial denied any wrongdoing, later confessed to the charges, saying he no longer wanted to fight the case after he talked with Gen Prem before the latter passed away. Both he and Gen Prem had forgiven each other during their discussion, said Jatuporn.

On Thursday, the court granted him bail of 200,000 baht.

On July 2007, the UDD led thousands of protesters to march from Sanam Luang to Si Sao Thewes and surrounded the residence in an attempt to pressure Gen Prem to resign from his post as privy council president, said the ruling.

The protesters believed Gen Prem was pulling the strings behind the Sept 19, 2006, military coup which ousted former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, according to the ruling.

A number of protesters broke barriers and hurt security officers deployed at the residence to protect Gen Prem, said the ruling.

Sarawut Longseng, the other defendant in the case, was acquitted as there was insufficient evidence to support the allegation that he deliberately rammed a vehicle into a police officer.

Jatuporn appeared relaxed and smiled after hearing the ruling, saying it was as he expected.

He said his lawyer was preparing to appeal the court’s ruling in the Appeal Court.

Jatuporn was initially given four years in prison, but the term was halved in light of his confession and cooperation.

In a previous case linked to the same Si Sao Thewes incident, seven UDD core members and protesters were given two years and eight months in jail. The Appeal Court and Supreme Court both upheld the lower court’s ruling.

Speaking at the court yesterday, Jatuporn added a word of caution for Move Forward Party (MFP) leader Pita Limjaroenrat, saying a political party that is presenting itself as a prospective coalition partner has long been planning to break away from the MFP.

Court rules on 2020 voting card use saga

The Supreme Court’s Criminal Division for Political Office-Holders has handed down nine-month jail sentences and revoked the political rights of three former Bhumjaithai Party MPs who allowed other lawmakers to use their voting cards when the House deliberated the budget bill in 2020.

The ruling was read out at the court on Thursday afternoon in response to a lawsuit filed by prosecutors against Chalong Thoetwiraphong, a former Bhumjaithai MP for Phatthalung in Constituency 2; Phumsit Khongmi, a former Bhumjaithai MP for Phatthalung in Constituency 1; and Natee Ratchakitprakanr, a former Bhumjaithai list MP.

They were accused of dereliction of duty for allowing other lawmakers to get hold of their MP cards during the vote in 2020, which resulted in the second and third readings being ruled illegitimate.

Their action was found to be in breach of Section 172 of the Organic Act on Counter Corruption, which makes violators liable to up to 10 years in jail or a fine ranging from 20,000 baht to 200,000 baht or both.

The court then handed down nine-month prison sentences to each of the three ex-MPs and revoked their political rights with immediate effect. All three sought bail as they said they would appeal. The court released them on bail of a million baht each.

They argued earlier that allowing others to use their cards would not benefit them as the draft law could still be passed by a government vote.

Prosecutors filed the lawsuit after the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) found grounds for the allegations against them and one more former MP.

Thanikan Phonphongsarot, an ex-Palang Pracharath Party MP for Bangkok, was sentenced last August to a year in prison and fined 200,000 baht, but the jail term was suspended for two years.

Only 63 more votes needed in PM quest

The Move Forward Party (MFP) has announced the formation of an eight-party alliance and the setting up of working groups to lobby senators for support and thrash out policy platforms with a memorandum of understanding to be disclosed on Monday.

With the inclusion of the Pheu Thai Ruam Palang and Palang Sangkhom Mai parties, the MFP-led bloc has pulled in 313 House seats and requires 63 more votes to support MFP leader Pita Limjaroenrat’s bid to become prime minister.

The leaders of the eight parties — MFP, Pheu Thai, Prachachart, Thai Sang Thai, Seri Ruam Thai, Fair, Palang Sangkhom Mai and Pheu Thai Ruam Palang — were present on Thursday at the announcement at the Okura Prestige Bangkok Hotel following initial talks on Wednesday.

Mr Pita said all the coalition parties agreed to support him as the next prime minister as the MFP clinched the most seats in Sunday’s election.

The coalition will work out an MoU which will map out guidelines for their collaboration and address national, political, economic and social crises. Details of the MoU will be revealed on May 22, the ninth anniversary of the military coup on May 22, 2014.

The eight parties will establish working groups to facilitate the transition from the caretaker government to the new administration, the MFP leader said, adding that allocation of cabinet seats is not up for discussion at this stage.

“We’re not focusing on ministerial posts. We’re focusing on the formation of policy platforms of each party, and goals. Concentrating on [allocating] ministries isn’t in the public interest,” he said.

The MFP leader expressed confidence the coalition would muster enough votes to back him as prime minister.

He said he was not worried about petitions involving his qualifications, adding he is ready to face scrutiny.

Mr Pita faces complaints over shares he holds in a media company, which could possibly see him disqualified.

“If we didn’t have the roadmap and foreseen all scenarios, I’d be worried. But I’m not. We have working teams, and we have clear goals. We have anticipated and are prepared to deal in order to make the coalition happen,” he said.

Mr Pita said the working teams would hold talks with the Senate over the vote for prime minister and would consider the possibility of other parties joining the coalition.

“The 313 House seats are enough, and gathering 376 votes isn’t an issue for the time being. However, to be cautious, I’ve asked the teams to find the proper number, so there is stability and no loss of balance in governing,” he said.

Mr Pita said: “The lese majeste law would be discussed by coalition partners, and whether it would be addressed in the MoU depends on the talks”.

However, he insisted “amendments to the law are necessary”.

Pheu Thai leader Cholnan Srikaew said the coalition partners would review the MoU prepared by the MFP and make suggestions, including on the lese majeste law.

“If the MoU is signed, it means we have reached an agreement. Let’s take the lese majeste law, which is controversial, as an example. The differences will be listed in the MoU as well as how to address them,” he said.

Thai Sang Thai leader Khunying Sudarat Keyuraphan said forming policies is more important than allocating cabinet seats.

Khunying Sudarat said there are uncertainties ahead and that her party is honouring its promise to support the election winner in forming the government.

“If changes happen, we’ll have to wait and see. We don’t have to be part of the government. We must do things right, and we can be the opposition if we have to,” she said.

She said the party’s stance is to protect the monarchy but insisted the law must not be used as a political tool to harm others.

The Seri Ruam Thai Party’s Pol Gen Sereepisuth Temeeyaves said that the party supports the MFP in forming the government.

Court rules police must enforce Act

The Constitutional Court yesterday ruled by a majority that an executive decree postponing the enforcement of key provisions of the law against torture and enforced disappearance was unconstitutional.

In its 8:1 ruling, the court said the decree, which sought to postpone the enforcement of Sections 22–25 of the Prevention and Suppression of Torture and Enforced Disappearance Act until Oct 1 this year, violated Section 172 of the constitution.

The ruling was sought by a group of 100 former MPs in late February via the House speaker following concerns that the decree postponing the four sections could fall foul of the charter.

The Act was published in the Royal Gazette on Oct 25 last year and was set to take effect on Feb 22 — after more than 14 years of campaigning. It was hailed as a milestone in combating torture, ill-treatment and enforced disappearances in the country.

However, the Royal Thai Police (RTP) submitted a petition to the Ministry of Justice urging it to defer enforcing the law so as to allow police and related state agencies more time to prepare for its enforcement.

The RTP cited a lack of equipment, skills and standard guidelines as the reason for their petition while further claiming that enforcement of the law under current circumstances would cause more harm.

The cabinet issued the executive decree on Feb 19 this year to delay enforcement of the four provisions, sparking an outcry from human rights groups.

When a special House meeting was held to deliberate the decree, the session was cut short as government MPs decided to ask the Constitutional Court to rule on its validity.

Opposition MPs who vowed to vote against the decree slammed coalition MPs for the move, saying it was a tactic to avoid the bill being voted down.

During the debate, several government and opposition MPs voiced their disagreement with the delayed enforcement because the authorities concerned had been given four months to prepare after the law was passed by the House.

4 Russians and 2 Thais being treated for injuries sustained when speedboat struck channel marker

Six people — four Russians and two Thais — remain in critical but stable condition after a boat carrying 37 people hit a channel marker in Chalong Bay in Phuket on Wednesday evening.

The accident occurred when the Thanathip Marine 555 was bringing foreign tourists — 21 Russians, nine Kazakhs and one each from Hong Kong, China and Ukraine — back from the Phi Phi Islands to Chalong Bay at about 5.30pm. The Thais onboard were the driver, two assistants and a tour guide.

The boat smashed into the channel marker about 700 metres from the Chalong pier and sustained heavy damage. About 10 people, including the boat driver, suffered broken limbs. The injured were taken to seven different hospitals on the island.

Dr Weerasak Lorthongkam, director of Vachira Phuket Hospital, said on Thursday that the four Russians and two Thais were in critical but stable condition.

Of the four, two had been transferred from Chalong Hospital for treatment at Vachira Phuket Hospital, while the other two were being treated in Bangkok Hospital Phuket, he said.

In response to the accident, authorities are considering tighter screening protocols for drivers, including for illicit substances, to prevent such incidents from occurring again, he said.

Strict rules will also be put in place to require lists of passengers and crewmen, said Dr Weerasak, adding that every boat must insure its passengers.

“Luckily, no one drowned or fell off the boat,” he said, noting that the craft was insured. “Life jackets are necessary to prevent loss of life.”

Nachapong Pranit, chief of the provincial marine department, said the boat was taken after the incident to the Koktanod area in tambon Chalong for a closer inspection by Chalong police and related agencies.

He said the office would question the boat’s mechanic and other individuals involved.

The captain will also be summoned for questioning as soon as his condition improves, he added.

Earlier on Wednesday, Mr Nachapong instructed officials to assess the damage to the channel marker.

Due to the incident, the provincial marine office invoked Section 170 of Navigation in Thai Waters Act 1913 to suspend the operation of the boat, he said, adding that it must undergo a complete safety check before it can resume operating again.