Jatuporn, Nisit in prison after bail revoked
- Published: 12/05/2011 at 11:53 AM
- Online news:
United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship core members Jatuporn Prompan and Nisit Sinthuprai were taken to prison on Thursday morning after their bail was revoked by the Criminal Court.
The two are among nine UDD leaders who are charged with sedition in connection with the violent protests of the red shirts in April-May last year.
The other seven are Veerakarn Musikhapong, 62, Natthawut Saikua, 35, Weng Tojirakarn, 59, Korkaew Pikulthong, 45, Kwanchai Sarakham, 58, Yossawaris Chuklom or Jeng Dokchik, and Wiphuthalaeng Pattanaphumthai, 58.
They had all been released on conditional bail. One bail condition was that they must not do anything in any way to incite unrest.
Prosecutors handling special cases asked the court to revoke bail for the nine after they made speeches on the UDD stage on April 10. Prosecutors accused them of committing lese majeste oin their comments.
The April 10 rally was to mark the first anniversary of the clash between red-shirt protesters and soldiers at Khok Wua intersection on April 10 last year.
The Criminal Court ruled today that parts of the speeches made by Mr Jatuporn, 44, and Mr Nisit, 54, could lead to disruption in the country and were in breach of the bail conditions. The court ordered the withdrawal of bail for them both.
The petition against the seven others was dropped and their bail continues.
After the ruling, Mr Jatuporn and Mr Nisit were taken from the court to the Bangkok Remand Prison for detention.
A large number of red-shirts turned up to hear the court ruling in a show of support. About 300 police were deployed to ensure law and order.
This afternoon, the Criminal Court denied a request for the release on new bail of Mr Jatuporn and Mr Nisit, filed by UDD lawyer Winyat Chartmontree.
Mr Winyat submitted the request for fresh bail at 1pm.
He offered to place two million baht each as collateral for the release of the two men.
The court was asked to reconsider its order because both Mr Jatuporn and Mr Nisit were members of the dissolved House of Representatives are now preparing to contest the general election.
At 2.30pm, the court formally rejected the new bail request, reasoning that the two, if released, could cause more problems.
UDD co-leader Korkaew said supporters of the red-shirt group should remain calm over the jailing of Mr Jatuporn and Mr Nisit and await the decision of the other UDD core members, who would meet later today or tomorrow.
Mr Korkaew said UDD co-leaders would discuss ways to help their two colleagues.
He and other UDD key figures including UDD chair Thida Thavornseth, former chairman Veerakan Musigkhapong, Natthawut Saikua, Weng Tochirakarn, Kwanchai Praiphana, Yosvarit Chuklom and Wiphurthalaeng Phatthanaphumthai went to the Bangkok prison to visit Mr Jaruporn and Mr Nisit about 1pm.
Mr Korkaew said he was shocked by the court's decision and did not understand what was happening.
"The bail conditions prohibited Mr Jatuporn from mentioning his court case. But the evidence brought to the court by the Department of Special Investigation was about Mr Jatuporn's speech on other matters.
"The red-shirts were surprised when the court ruled to revoke his bail," he said.
Lawyers working for Mr Jatuporn and Mr Nisit were preparing an appeal and the outcome was expected sometime next Wednesday, May 18, due to the long holiday weekend, from Friday to Tuesday.
Mr Korkaew said the bail decision made the red-shirts unhappy and stressed. He called on red-shirts to exercise patience and stay peaceful for the time being.
The other UDD co-leaders will meet to discuss their next move, he added.
Deputy Prime Minister overseeing security and Democrat Party secretary-general Suthep Thaugsuban urged the UDD to call off its planned major rally on May 19 because a general election has been called and some red-shirt leaders will be contesting it.
Mr Suthep was responding to UDD chair Thida, who said the planned rally on May 19, to mark the first anniversary of the military crackdown on the red-shirts at the Ratchaprasong intersection last year would go ahead, despite the launch of the campaigning period for the general election.
"I think the plan for a major rally should be called off," Mr Suthep said.
"Red-shirts will run in the elections and Pheu Thai is about to pick its No 1 candidate on the party list. A mass rally, a show of threat, is not acceptable to the majority of law-abiding Thai people."
Mr Suthep also said UDD leader Jatuporn should respect the court order revoking his bail for making an offensive speech at the April 10 red-shirt rally at the Democracy Monument.
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