Somyot brought to court, charged under lese majeste law. Next trial on 12/9/2011

http://freesomyot.wordpress.com/2011/07/25/update-on-somyot-pruksakasemsuk-somyot-brought-to-court-charged-under-lese-majeste-law-next-trial-on-1292011/

Update on Somyot Pruksakasemsuk : Somyot brought to court, charged under lese majeste law. Next trial on 12/9/2011

On Monday 25 July 2011, following the full 84-day incarceration permitted under the law, Somyot Pruksakasemsuk was brought to the criminal court to hear the prosecutor's charge against him. The charge's related to an article published in the 'Voice of Taksin' in February and March 2010 editions. Somyot was editor of that magazine which was shut down last year.

Based on the prosecutor's, the article printed under the name of Jitra Polchan's considered insulting to the monarch. Somyot was charged for publishing and distributing the magazines containing the article in violation of lese majeste law.

The court has set Monday 12th September 2011 for a pre-trial hearings, 13.00, at Bangkok Criminal Court on Ratchadaphisek Road.

Base on previous sentences of the 112- lese majeste law. If he plea guilty, he would be imprisoned for 6 years; if he plead not guilty, he would be imprisoned for 12 years.

His lawyer is preparing another bail request in this week.

Again, we see this gross violation of human rights to Somyot. Again we withness that the lese majeste law had used against to pro democracy activist and suppress the freedom of speech/expression.

He should have the Right to Bail and for Hearings to be Open to Public.

The close door- black box style of hearing is not fair and just for the accused as their case shall be heard by society and public! The judiciary system again has proven that they are operating again under the darkness, as what they did in Da's case.

We will continue to campaign till the justice is restored for Somyot! This apply to other political prisoners as well who had been penalized under notorious lese majeste law!