Firework being lit at Din Daeng Intersection during a protest (Photo by Ginger Cat)

Four protesters released after over 200 days in detention

Four protesters detained pending trial on charges relating to the burning of a police truck during a protest on 11 June 2022 have been granted bail after spending over 240 days in prison.

Firework being lit at Din Daeng Intersection during a protest (Photo by Ginger Cat)

Watcharaphon, Palaphon, Jatuphon, and Natthaphon were accused of setting fire to a police car during a protest on 11 June 2022. After the march from the Democracy Monument to the Victory Monument, some protesters went to the Din Daeng intersection and attempted to march to the 1st Infantry Regiment, where Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha lives. They clashed with riot police during the march, during which a police truck parked near a traffic tunnel was set alight.

The four have been detained since June 2022. Lawyers have requested bail for them 18 times – the most of all political prisoners in 2022, according to Thai Lawyers for Human Rights (TLHR). 

After the Criminal Court ordered probation officers to produce a report on their behaviour and their education and employment history, they were granted bail yesterday (16 February) on a security of 70,000 baht each. They are also required to wear an electronic monitoring bracelet and will be released today (17 February) after they have had a bracelet placed on them.

To demand the right to bail, Jatupon and Natthaphon have been depriving themselves of sleep for about a week before they were granted bail, but stopped to take care of detained activist Sopon Surariddhidhamrong, who is still refusing to sleep and has been doing so for the past 8 days.

With their release, four people remain in pre-trial detention on charges relating to various protests: Sopon Surariddhidhamrong, Nutthanit Duangmusit, Khathathon (last name withheld), and Pornpot Jaengkrajang.

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