The police on Wednesday charged Chaturon Chaisang, former minister who did not report himself to the military junta, with defying the coup makers’ orders and causing unrest. The Martial Court denied Chaturon’s bail request.
He face up to two years in jail for defying the junta’s order and face up to seven years in jail for causing unrest as an offence under the Article 116 of the Criminal Code. He was jailed at the Bangkok Remand Prison. The Martial Court denied Chaturon’s bail request.
On Thursday morning, Chaturon appeared calm at Bangkok Remand Prison. He was wearing a white t-shirt and a pair of shorts. His hair has not been shaved like normal Thai inmates. He told Prachatai that he will argue in the court that the summon order by the coup makers are not legitimate and that he has never call for unrest, but urge Thai people to defy the coup peacefully.
Chaturon was arrested on Tuesday in front of about a hundred of Thai and foreign reporters at the Foreign Correspondent Club of Thailand where he earlier gave an anti-coup speech. Chaturon was among the first group of Pheu Thai Party leading members who were summoned by the military junta. He did not report himself to the coup makers, and chose to make a public appearance at the FCCT and waited for the military to come and arrest him.
He will be tried in the Martial Court since the coup makers has empowered the Military Court to prosecute all cases related to lese majeste and national security, of which offences took place after the coup d'etat. In the Martial Court, the defendant cannot have a lawyer representing them.
Chaturon has served as Justice Minister, Education Minister, and Deputy Minister during the administration of Thaksin Shinawatra and Yingluck Shinawatra. He was also a leader of a pro-democray student movement in 1973.
Article 116 of the Criminal Code says whoever makes an appearance to the public by words, writings or any other means which is not an act within the purpose of the Constitution or for expressing an honest opinion or criticism in order:
- To bring about a change in the Laws of the Country or the Government by the use of force or violence;
- To raise unrest and disaffection amongst the people in a manner likely to cause disturbance in the country; or
- To cause the people to transgress the laws of the Country, shall be punished with imprisonment not exceeding seven years.
Chaturon will be tried at the Martial Court according to the coup makers’ order.
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