On 9 June, about 20 students from Thammasat University visited political prisoners at Bangkok Remand Prison to give them moral support.

They met with leaders of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship and those alleged to have committed lèse majesté, including Somyos Phrueksakasemsuk, Surachai Danwatthananusorn, Thanthawut Thaweewarodomkul, and Amphon Tangnoppakul.

‘Our group consists of close friends and others who have joined us through Facebook,’ said Somyos’ son Tai Phrueksakasemsuk about their Liberal Thammasat for Democracy group.

‘This is the fourth time that I’ve come to visit my father here.  Previously, I came to see my father alone, but this time I’ve come to visit other political prisoners as well,’ said the sophomore at the university’s Faculty of Law.

At about 11.20 am, about 50 red shirts were queuing up to visit their incarcerated leaders.

This was the first time at a prison for most of the students.

‘I’ve talked to Somyos and told him that I came with his son and we have held political activities together.  I gave him moral support and a vow to fight on,’ said Pee Janenarong, a second-year student of the Faculty of Political Science.

Through the visit, the students learned about life in prison for the political prisoners, particularly those accused of lèse majesté.  They told reporters that they had heard stories of lèse majesté prisoners being beaten up by fellow inmates and warders.

It seems that life is not too harsh for the leaders as they have always had visitors, but it is difficult for other less known political prisoners as most of them have rarely been visited by family members and have hardly got any help, the students said.

Among the visitors was a first-year student of the Faculty of Social Welfare.  She asked that her real name be withheld because she had been a victim of a ‘cyber witch hunt’.  Expressing her political views on online forums has resulted in her being denied admission to the Faculty of Arts of Silapakorn University, and prevented her from going for an interview at the Kasetsart University because of physical threats.

‘Seeing people visiting and giving moral support to the political prisoners, I feel very impressed.  I used to feel desperate and worn out.  Although I’ve never been in there, I think I understand their feelings about the lack of freedom and justice.  As I once was a victim of injustice myself, I think that giving moral support is very important, because it means so much during the time that we have nobody.  It gives us strength to stand up and carry on,’ she said.