Former PDRC protest leader Suthep and 25 others sentenced to prison terms

[webfact]

Former PDRC protest leader Suthep and 25 others sentenced to prison terms

 

 

Former cabinet minister Suthep Thaugsuban, who led the mass protests to oust the government of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra between November 23rd 2013 until May 1st, 2014,was sentenced to five years in prison by the Criminal Court today (Wednesday).

 

25 other core members of the People’s Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC), which engineered the protests which eventually led to a military coup, were also sentenced to prison terms.

 

Among the convicted are Education Minister Nataphol Teepsuwan, Digital Economy and Society Minister Buddhipongse Punnakanta and Deputy Transport Minister Thaworn Senneam, who were sentenced to 6 years and 16 months, 7 years and 5 years respectively.  The three serving cabinet ministers were also stripped of their posts, in accordance with Section 160 of the Constitution.

 

Full story: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/former-pdrc-protest-leader-suthep-and-25-others-sentenced-to-prison-terms/

 

 

-- © Copyright Thai PBS 2021-02-25

 

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[webfact]

Thai ministers jailed as court finds 26 guilty of insurrection

By Panu Wongcha-um and Panarat Thepgumpanat

 

FILE PHOTO: Thailand's Education Minister Nataphol Teepsuwan gestures while wearing a face mask as anti-government protesters and students attend a demonstration demanding the government to resign, in front of the Ministry of Education in Bangkok, Thailand September 5, 2020. REUTERS/Soe Zeya Tun/File Photo

 

BANGKOK (Reuters) - A Thai court on Wednesday sentenced 14 political leaders to jail, including three incumbent cabinet ministers, after finding them guilty of insurrection during anti-government protests that culminated in a 2014 military coup.

 

The court found 26 of 39 defendants guilty, a lawyer for the group said, for actions that included obstructing elections and invading government property, which took place during seven months of demonstrations against the government of Yingluck Shinawatra.

 

Digital Minister Puttipong Punnakanta, Education Minister Nataphol Teepsuwan and Deputy Transport Minister Thaworn Senneam received jail terms ranging from five years to seven years and four months. According to the country's constitution, they will be required to vacate their posts.

 

A government spokesman declined to give comment on jailed ministers, while the court could not be reached.

 

The ministers are all in the cabinet of Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, who led a coup that overthrew Yingluck in 2014, an intervention the military said was necessary to prevent bloodshed as protests against her intensified.

 

"They pleaded not guilty to all the charges and will appeal," said Sawat Charoenpon, a lawyer representing the People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC), as the group is known.

 

PDRC leader and former deputy prime minister Suthep Thaugsuban was jailed for five years. Of those found guilty, 12 were given suspended sentences and six were released on bail.

 

"We the leaders of the PDRC have been convicted to many years in jail yet all of us still maintain our ideals of serving the nation, religion and king," Suthep posted on Facebook after the verdict.

 

The PDRC protests in 2013 and 2014 play a pivotal role in uniting royalist and nationalist forces against a government they said was controlled by fugitive tycoon and ousted former premier Thaksin Shinawatra, Yingluck's exiled brother. Both Shinawatras won elections by landslides.

 

Prayuth stayed on as prime minister after the coup and retained the post after a 2019 election, which he insists was free and fair, despite opposition allegations of foul play.

 

(Reporting by Panu Wongcha-um and Panarat Thepgumpanat; Editing by Martin Petty)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2021-02-25

 

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[candide]

That's the usual m.o. in order to look impartial after/before convicting former red shirts or other opponents to the dominant network It is likely that they will appeal and be soon freed on bail. On top of it, Suthep knows where all skeletons are buried and is not going to remain silent if he's kept in jail.

[Samui Bodoh]

49 minutes ago, webfact said:

A Thai court on Wednesday sentenced 14 political leaders to jail, including three incumbent cabinet ministers, after finding them guilty of insurrection during anti-government protests that culminated in a 2014 military coup.

 

Just out of curiosity...

 

How is what they did different from what Prayut and his friends did?

 

Didn't they both try to overthrow the legal government?

 

Is insurrection legal in Thailand if you succeed?

 

Does Thai law make a special provision if you are a member of the military?

 

Just askin'

 

 

 

Edited February 24, 2021 by Samui Bodoh
Lack of Coffee

[Thaiwrath]

53 minutes ago, webfact said:

Prayuth stayed on as prime minister after the coup and retained the post after a 2019 election, which he insists was free and fair, despite opposition allegations of foul play.

The one person who should be behind bars !

I take it that if you make yourself P.M., then amend the rules  to make yourself untouchable, that is accepted in the Thai justice system ?

 

[bluesofa]

14 minutes ago, Thaiwrath said:

The one person who should be behind bars !

I take it that if you make yourself P.M., then amend the rules  to make yourself untouchable, that is accepted in the Thai justice system ?

As long as you are still in power, yes. After that, use the time-tested manoeuvre - run away abroad.

[Dagfinnur Traustason]

27 minutes ago, Samui Bodoh said:

 

Just out of curiosity...

 

How is what they did different from what Prayut and his friends did?

 

Didn't they both try to overthrow the legal government?

 

Is insurrection legal in Thailand if you succeed?

 

Does Thai law make a special provision if you are a member of the military?

 

Just askin'

 

 

 

Please, you are trying to use common sense and logic. Really? Shame on you! ????

[Dagfinnur Traustason]

21 minutes ago, Thaiwrath said:

The one person who should be behind bars !

I take it that if you make yourself P.M., then amend the rules  to make yourself untouchable, that is accepted in the Thai justice system ?

 

Doesn´t really matter if it is accepted or not, as long as you have the power to change to rules.

[webfact]

Criminal Court sentences jail terms to ministers for involvement in PDRC’s 2013 protest

Na-ark Rojanasuvan

 

   

BANGKOK (NNT) - The Ratchada Criminal Court has handed out jail sentence members of People’s Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) whose members also include ministers in the current administration. The defendants were involved in 2013 protests against the then government of Yingluck Shinawatra.

 

Among the 39 defendants who were core members of the now-defuncted People’s Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) are Education Minister Nuttaphol Theepsuwan, Digital Economy and Society Minister Buddhipongse Punnakanta, and Deputy Transport Minister Thaworn Seneum. Minister Buddhipongse is facing 7 years of imprisonment, Minister Nutthaphol is facing a jail term of 6 years and 16 month, and Deputy Minister Thaworn is facing 5 years of imprisonment. In addition, the court ruled to sentence PDRC’s leading member Suthep Thaugsuban to 5 years of imprisonment.

 

The PDRC was the main movement against the Yingluck administration which obstructed the general election, invaded government’s properties, and organized the “Shutdown Bangkok” event and at least 7 protests. The verdict effectively removed the three ministers from their posts, prompting the administration to soon reshuffle the Cabinet.

 

 

-- © Copyright NNT 2021-02-25

 

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[RichardColeman]

41 minutes ago, Samui Bodoh said:

How is what they did different from what Prayut and his friends did?

How do you prosecute those with the tanks and guns ?

[bluesofa]

3 minutes ago, RichardColeman said:

45 minutes ago, Samui Bodoh said:

How is what they did different from what Prayut and his friends did?

How do you prosecute those with the tanks and guns ?

Very carefully.

[Dagfinnur Traustason]

2 hours ago, Samui Bodoh said:

How is what they did different from what Prayut and his friends did?

How dare you question the almighty? Remember the attitude adjustment camps?

[PatOngo]

2 hours ago, Samui Bodoh said:

Just askin'

Who's asking???

 

[champers]

This; for me; has come out of the blue. Am I being overly cynical in thinking tbat any appeals will be succesful? Friends in very high places does help, I am guessing.

[Destiny1990]

Why doesn’t this old man whistle his way out of it.

[Thailand]

Suthep was hand in hand with the current ptb no way will he  do 5 years,or likely none at all. Seems like a charade..

[PatOngo]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

Criminal Court sentences jail terms to ministers for involvement in PDRC’s 2013 protest

I wonder if they'll have to peel potatoes?

[PatOngo]

Just now, Thailand said:

Suthep was hand in hand with the current ptb no way will he  do 5 years, or likely none at all. Seems like a charade..

Is'nt the entire political farce just a charade?

[colinneil]

Suthep will never see the inside of a prison, easy to sentence him but actually jailing him, ha,ha,ha.

Edited February 24, 2021 by colinneil

[VincentRJ]

2 hours ago, Samui Bodoh said:

Just out of curiosity...

 

How is what they did different from what Prayut and his friends did?

 

Didn't they both try to overthrow the legal government?

 

Is insurrection legal in Thailand if you succeed?

 

Does Thai law make a special provision if you are a member of the military?

 

Just askin'

It's very different. Those protesters of Yingluck's government were fueling continual political unrest which could have escalated into complete chaos if the military had not intervened to take control.

 

The military didn't intervene because they disagreed with Yingluck's policies and/or because they became aware of signs of corruption  in the government. They intervened in order to create stability.

 

It is those protesters who were the cause of the military coup.

[pegman]

1 hour ago, VincentRJ said:

It's very different. Those protesters of Yingluck's government were fueling continual political unrest which could have escalated into complete chaos if the military had not intervened to take control.

 

The military didn't intervene because they disagreed with Yingluck's policies and/or because they became aware of signs of corruption  in the government. They intervened in order to create stability.

 

It is those protesters who were the cause of the military coup.

That is absolute hogwash. Most days it was old matrons making up most of those  participating in the protests. Guarded by south Thailand thugs acting as "security". Prem was no doubt the puppet master of the protest and the  coup d'état leaders. Now that he is gone wouldn't it be wonderful  if the despicable Suthep and his comrades got long stays at the Bangkok Hilton.

[jonclark]

59 minutes ago, VincentRJ said:

It's very different. Those protesters of Yingluck's government were fueling continual political unrest which could have escalated into complete chaos if the military had not intervened to take control.

 

The military didn't intervene because they disagreed with Yingluck's policies and/or because they became aware of signs of corruption  in the government. They intervened in order to create stability.

 

It is those protesters who were the cause of the military coup.

And it seems that those protestors who in your opinion caused the coup, were rewarded with jobs in the government cabinet or within the political party established after the coup. 

 

How many cabinet ministers and Palang / democrat MPs have just been jailed. 

 

To suggest even a narrow degree of separation between these jailed people, and the military is plainly false. 

 

The military caused the coup. Without them it would have never happened. 

 

[Mr Meeseeks]

1 hour ago, VincentRJ said:

It's very different. Those protesters of Yingluck's government were fueling continual political unrest which could have escalated into complete chaos if the military had not intervened to take control.

 

The military didn't intervene because they disagreed with Yingluck's policies and/or because they became aware of signs of corruption  in the government. They intervened in order to create stability.

 

It is those protesters who were the cause of the military coup.

Several news articles are out there (can't link to the other paper, sorry) in which Suthep and other Yellow Shirts claim the 2014 coup was being planned as early as 2010. 

[tandor]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

who were sentenced to 6 years and 16 months, 7 years and 5 years respectively.

...hmmm! when i went to school; 6 years and 16 months = 7 years and 4 months.

[hotchilli]

2 hours ago, Destiny1990 said:

Why doesn’t this old man whistle his way out of it.

He will.... he's just waiting for the right tune  to come along.

[Katipo]

Well that takes any wind out of the supposed justification for the coup. I assume the generals will step back from any and all involvement in government and hold fresh elections by the end of this year.

[mfd101]

Don't worry, noone will be going to jail. Suspended sentences (already dealt out to many of the accused) + appeals will ensure that everyone can continue to sleep soundly in their own beds.

 

Symbolism continues to win out over reality in this deeply Buddhist land. (Not much different in that regard from any other country you can think of.)

[mtls2005]

Let's see how this plays out.

 

Assume they can appeal to a higher court? And that they will ultimately get bail.

 

I can even see the "government" allowing the three ministers to continue serving under some super-secret waiver?

 

 

Seems like lipstick on a pig to make it look like the "government" is impartial while locking up children, and young men and women for protesting.

 

 

 

 

[phantomfiddler]

Must be missing something. Putting someone in jail for attempting to do what one is doing one's self ? This reeks of hypocrisy, which many believe to be the greatest crime of all ???? 

[metisdead]

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