<p>A Chulalongkorn University lecturer has withdrawn his court case over the Centre for the Resolution of the Emergency Situation’s ‘Lom Chao’ (overthrowing the monarchy) chart after the CRES spokesperson told the court that people whose names appeared on it were not meant to be part of a conspiracy.</p>
<p>On 23 May, the public prosecutor brought Aekkachai Hongkangwan to the Criminal Court for indictment.</p>
<p>According to the public prosecutor, the defendant disseminated CDs containing a documentary by ABC television and WikiLeaks materials which are offensive to the King, the Queen and the Heir Apparent, and sold CDs without a license. </p>
<p>On 23 May, the Civil Court accepted cases filed against the authorities by family members of two victims of the crackdown on red shirts last year.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.prachatai.com/english/node/1818">Samaphan Srithep</a>, 16, was shot and killed at Soi Rang Nam on 15 May 2010. Thanuthat Asawasirimankong, 53, has been paralysed after being shot in the back and shoulder on 14 May at Bon Kai on Rama IV Rd.</p>
<p>On 18 May, Anand Panyarachun, former Prime Minister and Chair of the National Reform Committee, held a press conference at the Foreign Correspondents Club of Thailand to discuss the work of his committee which resigned on 15 May.</p>
<p>Preeyanant Losermwattana has been sued by a doctor for posting figures of patient fatalities and a picture of medical maltreatment as part of a campaign to support a bill to protect patients’ rights.</p>
<p>On 22 May, Niphit Intarasombat, Minister of Culture and the Democrat Party candidate for Phatthalung, said, in response to a public call to amend the law made by a group of writers last week, that he did not see any problem with the lèse majesté law and its enforcement.</p>
<p>On 18 May, the National Human Rights Commission’s Subcommittee on Civil and Political Rights held a discussion on the lèse majesté law, attended by academics, activists and individuals affected by the law.</p>
<p>On 19 May, groups of red shirts under the banner of Democracy Networks held activities to mark the first anniversary of the crackdown in front of Lumpini Park, performing traditional rituals to curse the masterminds who ordered the killings, and campaigning for the release of political prisoners and the repeal of the lèse majesté law.</p>
<p>The Santi Asoke group will send a candidate to contest the general elections under the banner of its political party to prevent the party from being dissolved under EC rules. </p>
<p>Nikorn Srikamma, 29, was arrested in July last year for his participation in the red shirt rallies on 19 May in Chiang Mai, and jailed for nearly 5 months, before being released as his sentence was suspended by the court. On 7 May this year, he received a summons from the court attached to a copy of an appeal by the public prosecutor who considered that his sentence was too low.</p>
By Achara Ashayagachat |
<p>Critic of the monarchy Somsak Jeamteerasakul was warmly cheered by a hundred supporters when summoned this morning to Nang Lerng Police Station to hear a lèse majesté charge regarding his response to <a href="http://www.prachatai.com/english/node/2406">Princess Chulabhorn’s comments.</a></p>
<p>Somsak Jeamteerasakul reported to the police with many supporters and reporters present at the police station. He denied the lèse majesté charge and said that he will fight the case. An air force officer who faces a similar charge was also there to give him moral support.</p>