The police have summoned Anon Numpa, a human rights lawyer and pro-democracy activist, because of a Facebook post criticising a verdict.
Anon Nampa (file photo)
According to Thai Lawyers for Human Rights, Lt Col Supharat Kham-in filed a complaint against Anon over his 2 Nov 2017 Facebook post, accusing him of contempt of the court and importing false information into a computer system under Article 14 of the Computer Crime Act.
Anon’s problematic post is related to a news report about the Khon Kaen Court’s verdict on 2 Nov which found seven anti-junta activists guilty of contempt of the court for their activities in front of Khon Kaen Court on 10 Jan 2017. The peaceful symbolic activity was organised to give moral courage to Jatupat Boonpattararaksa, alias Pai Dao Din, a pro-democracy activist who has been sentenced to 2 years and six months in jail for lèse majesté.
Among the seven was Sirawit Serithiwat, a well-known anti-junta activist who faces several charges from his political activities. The court sentenced Sirawith to six months in jail (suspended for two years), a fine and 1 year of community service. The court also prohibited the seven “from associating or gathering to conduct any activity or repeating the same activity.”
In his post, Anon copied the news story from Prachatai and wrote a comment, questioning if it is fair or possible for the court to prohibit the seven from associating with each other.
Anon will have to report to the police’s Technological Crime Suppression Division on 20 Dec.
Read related article: ‘Contempt of court’, or courts showing contempt?
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