Jaran Ditapichai, red-shirt leader and veteran political activist, has been charged with lèse majesté in connection with the play ‘The Wolf Bride’. This is one of four charges filed against him since the coup.
Jaran, who is now in exile in Europe, was accused of defaming the King because he was the head organizer of the 40th Anniversary of the 14 October 1973 student uprising, where ‘The Wolf Bride’ was performed in October 2013, according to a source.
Jaran Ditapichai (file photo)
‘The Wolf Bride’, performed at Thammasat University, Bangkok, was organized by former members of the now-defunct Prakai Fai Karn Lakorn.
Two other people, Patiwat S. and Pornthip M., face charges under Article 112, or lèse majesté law because of their involvement in the play.
Patiwat S., a student activist and theatre artist from northeastern Khon Kaen Province was charged because he performed a role in the play, and Pornthip M. was also accused of being involved in the play.
The arrest warrant for Jaran was issued on 26 August.
Since the military coup on 22 May, four charges, including the case related to the play, have reportedly been filed against the red-shirt leader. The three other charges are:
- Defying the junta’s National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) by not reporting
- Charges related to the red-shirt protest in front of the Bangkok residence of Privy Counsellor President Prem Tinsulanonda in July 2007
- Defying the Emergency Decree during the red-shirt mass protest in 2010
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