Updated: Challenges for the state apparatus
A few hours ago, PPT commented that the increased wave of state control of dissent via the lese majeste law seemed timed "to secure political advantage for the current government and to repress while the world's attention has shifted to the Middle East." Yet even as the Thai state attempts to do so, it is facing an uphill battle. Challenges from within and outside the state apparatus are emerging – in a sense, at the same time that those outside are launching deep challenges to the system, its own internal contradictions are being exposed.
First, PPT draws readers' attention again to the night time arrest of Surachai Sae Dan. PPT quoted the text of the Prachatai article about his arrest, and here we roughly translate Surachai's comments about how he will proceed in his case:
Mr. Surachai said that he was aware that he had not prepared to ask for bail. He was prepared to go to jail, because the on path of struggle he was prepared for, there would be at least another ten cases like this one. He was not going to struggle only to the point of being arrested and then released. Not at all. There is no need for people to go and call for his release.
นายสุรชัย กล่าวยอมรับว่าในวันนี้ไม่ได้เตรียมยื่นขอประกันตัว โดยเตรียมที่จะเข้าเรือนจำอยู่แล้ว เพราะแนวทางการต่อสู้ที่เตรียมไว้ ยังต้องมีคดีอย่างนี้ตามมาอีกเป็นสิบคดี จึงไม่ใช่ต่อสู้ว่าแค่จับตรงนี้แล้วปล่อยตรงนี้ มันไม่ได้ ดังนั้นจึงไม่ต้องไปเรียกร้องที่จะให้มีการปล่อยตัว
Surachai's comments are chilling and arresting. If the state can no longer use arrest under Article 112 as a tactic of intimidation and control, then what? Despite his insistence that people do not need to call for his release, PPT here notes the unjustness of his arrest. Article 112 should be repealed and Surachai should be released immediately.
In the coming months, proceedings by the Constitutional Court will either aid in undoing the repressive power of the state or further clarify the depths of its monstrosity. Responding to the recent news of the failure of the court to grant bail to Darunee Charnchoensilpak, despite the annulling of her sentence, Elizabeth Fitzgerald at New Mandala highlights the looming constitutional crisis in Thailand. Fitzgerald points out that when the Constitutional Court considers whether the original closed-door nature of her trial was legal or not, this is a question of with deep political, and not only procedural, significance. PPT names this a crisis because it should be viewed as one. Rights, justice, and the basic premise of citizenship are at stake.
Updated: Also at New Mandala, Jim Taylor has a post on Surachai's arrest and his attitude to the state's use of lese majeste repression.
..
http://asiapacific.anu.edu.au/newmandala/2011/02/23/abhisits-ongoing-campaign-against-free-speech/
Abhisit's ongoing campaign against free speech
February 23rd, 2011 by Jim Taylor, Guest Contributor · 2 Comments
Yesterday seven core leaders were released on bail of 600,000 baht each and told not to "incite" (ยุยง) the masses and not to leave the country; in effect, silenced.
Coincidentally (or was it?) also yesterday at around 2 am police finally closed in on Surachai "Sae Dan" Danwattananusorn for his increasingly brazen and frank statements about corruption and nepotism within the ruling regime, continuing injustices, and importantly touching on the palace. In the latter regard this was an excuse to roll out the insidious Article 112 which is used as a political tool against all opposition voices.
Surachai had been urging summit institutional reform along the lines of the Japanese model to avoid the likelihood of civil war in Thailand.
Plain clothes police carrying weapons pointed to his head took him away to hear charges against him and then he was taken to Klong Prem Prison. Surachai told me last month that this day would inevitably come and that he was quite prepared to sacrifice himself for democracy. He said he would not challenge his arrest or retract anything he has said because he felt that this was the truth and he wanted everyone to hear and reflect on this and then see for themselves what is going on in Thailand at this time. His followers are clearly outraged at the continuous audacious and perverted use of Article 112 to persecute opposition in the guise of lèse majesté.
Khun Jakrapob Penkair, from hiding outside the country, issued a strong statement on Thai E-News condemning the arrest saying that "let those among the masses who now have their 'eyes open' (ตาสว่าง) and who are 'revolutionaries' please continue to join this important path with me. I offer myself to be part of the movement for Thailand's democratic revolution. Let all core leaders who are ready for the 'long-distance walk' such as [Red Siam's] Khun Palot Chaloemsaen [คุณพลท เฉลิมแสน] co-ordinate this task inside the country for the masses". He finally asked all Red Shirts to continue to join together on the path to democracy.
A number of Red Shirts have suggested the timing for the release of UDD core leaders and the imprisonment of Red Siam's leader Surachai is not coincidental. The intention, many believe, is to create a further rift between these two Red groups within the mass social movement.
No comments:
Post a Comment