Picture courtesy of Thai People Press- Sombat in the detention facility at the Criminal Court while awaiting transfer to Bangkok Prison

At 16.30 on 31 August 2007, at the request of the police, the Criminal Court approved a 12-day detention order of Mr. Sombat Boon-ngam-anong, leader of the Citizens against Coup Group. That evening he was transferred to Bangkok Prison. 

During his detention at the Criminal Court and while awaiting transfer to Bangkok Prison, Sombat Boon-ngam-anong explained why he refused to make bail of 100,000 baht or the equivalent. According to Sombat, since the plaintiff in the case (General Saprang Kalayanamitr) holds that he is guilty and should be subject to physical constraint, this reflects the no-rights-and-freedom-atmosphere permeating society both inside and outside prison. Therefore, it does not matter for him to live inside or outside. 

He further disclosed that the libel suit was initiated against him because the plaintiff wanted to protect his own human dignity. He asked about the dignity of people in 35 provinces which are still under martial law, whose human dignity I also being trampled on. 

"I just wonder why people who care so much about protecting their own dignity fail to think about protecting the human dignity of people in 35 provinces as well" said Sombat. In the past 11 months, he said he had been fighting as well as he could, and now this is his last resort. 

People giving moral support to Sombat in the afternoon at Chana Songkram Police Station where he reported in. Some followed him to the Criminal Court and were with him until his transfer to the prison in the evening. They all sang the song "The Ultimate Wishes of Free People" and encouraged him to fight on. 

Sombat told well-wishers who came to give him moral support at the Criminal Court that they and others who support him should wear red tops on Sundays to continue campaigning for the revocation of martial law before the forthcoming election.

At 18.00, Sombat was taken in a bus along with other defendants facing felony charges, according to the officers, for transfer to prison. 

Translated by Pipob Udomittipong