Court sets May 2 for next hearing in sedition case after hospitalised appetite striker ‘Tawan’ stops working to reveal
RELEASED: 2 Apr 2024 at 21:20
Tantawan “Tawan” Tuatulanon speaks with a press reporter from inside a paddy wagon after her arrest on Feb 13. She stays in health center on a cravings strike in demonstration versus the rejection of bail to individuals charged in political cases. (Photo Supplied/Wassayos Ngamkham)
The very first hearing in the sedition trial of 2 young activists implicated of trying to interrupt a royal motorcade occurred on Tuesday without among the offenders, both of whom are on cravings strikes.
Natthanon “Frank” Chaimahabud, 23, was given court from the Central Correctional Hospital regardless of his weak condition, according to Thai Lawyers for Human RightsHis associate Tantawan “Tawan” Tuatulanon, 22, is at Thammasat University Hospital and was considered not able to participate in the hearing. No statement was taken and the court set May 2 as the date for the next hearing, the attorneys stated.
Ms Tantawan and Mr Natthanon face charges occurring from an event on Feb 4 throughout a motorcade bring Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn. Mr Natthanon beeped his horn consistently and attempted to pass a patrol car and Ms Tantawan argued with an officer when they were stopped.
The activists discussed later on that they were uninformed that the cops had actually established barriers planned for a royal motorcade. They stated they did not understand who remained in the motorcade and were not trying to interrupt it, however were rushing to participate in a conference.
The set submitted video of the encounter from their dash webcam, resulting in charges under the Computer Crime Act as well as Section 116, the law on sedition. They reject the charges.
A couple of days after the motorcade event, Ms Tantawan tried to perform a public viewpoint study about motorcades outside Siam Paragon shopping. The occasion drew in a crowd of royalist protesters who began a brawl with Ms Tantawan’s fans.
With feelings running high up on both sides of the argument, cops jailedMs Tantawan and Mr Natthanon on Feb 13. A day later on they were rejected bail and bought apprehended pending additional examinations. They started their appetite strikes on Feb 14 and were later on moved to various healthcare facilities, where they stay under treatment.
Over the next 48 days, 7 efforts were made by different individuals, consisting of Ms Tantawan’s dadpopular academics and human rights activists to protect bail for the implicated. The court turned down all the applications, while authorizing cops demands to keep the duo in detention as they were still collecting proof.
District attorneys lastly submitted indictments on Monday, one day before the expiration of a 48-day due date to do so. The implicated can now be apprehended for the rest of their trial, which might last for months, if the court continues to reject them bail.
In addition to sedition and computer system criminal offenses, Ms Tantawan and Mr Natthanon face charges of triggering an annoyance, and exceedingly loud usage of an automobile horn under the Land Traffic Act. Mr Natthanon was likewise implicated of insulting an authorities under Section 136 of the Criminal Code.
According to TLHR, district attorneys validated the sedition charge by stating that the habits and mindset of the 2 offenders was defiant to the point of triggering discontent or motivating individuals to breach the law. It was not an act of truthful criticism that would be safeguarded under the Constitution, they stated.
The indictment did not clearly object to bail for the set, stating that need to be left “to the discretion of the court”.
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