Bangkok Remand Prison reopened for visitors on 18 Nov, after it had been closed for two weeks due to flooding. The water at the prison was still above knee level, and wooden walkways had been built for visitors to reach buildings inside the compound from the road. Just a small number visited that day. Khlong Prem prison, situated in the same compound, had reopened for visitors three days earlier.
Pranee, the wife of Surachai Danwatthananusorn, detained on lèse majesté charges, told Prachatai that in early November her husband had diarrhoea and high blood pressure and was sent to the prison hospital. He was now better, but still hospitalized. The doctor had just come to check him today, as he had been on holiday and the hospital did not have enough doctors, she said.
She said that the court had set 31 Oct for scheduling court hearings for one case involving his public speech at Doi Saket in Chiang Mai, but due to the flooding that was postponed to 30 Jan 2012.
Pranee and the Red Siam group had submitted a letter to the Truth for Reconciliation Commission, asking it to help check which police stations would seek arrest warrants or prosecute him, as there were now three cases against him and they had heard that police in Ratchaburi, Udon Thani and Chiang Rai might also prosecute him.
They also asked the Commission to work with the Department of Special Investigation to combine all cases into one as the alleged offences were all the same and Surachai had health problems and could not travel to several provinces for witness hearings over a long period of time.
‘He suffers from several health problems, including heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure and a bladder problem, as a result of which he has to go to the toilet very often. If he has to be taken by car to Chiang Mai, it will be intolerable for him. So he wants to combine all the cases and plead guilty,’ Pranee said.
According to Somchai Homla-or, member of the Truth for Reconciliation Commission, the letter has been delivered to Khanit Na Nakhon, Chair of the Commission. The Commission had already made recommendations to the government regarding the fundamental rights of prisoners, particularly in lèse majesté cases, including the right to bail. The government recently set up a committee to follow the Commission’s recommendations, but then the floods came, so no progress has yet been made, he said.
On 21 Nov, Somyot Phrueksakasemsuk will be tried at the Sa Kaew Provincial Court, and will then be taken to Phetchabun, Nakhon Sawan and Songkhla for further hearings of prosecution witnesses on 19 Dec, 16 Jan 2012 and 13 Feb 2012, respectively.
Anon Nampha, lawyer for Joe Gordon, whose verdict was originally scheduled for 9 Nov but had to be postponed indefinitely due to the flooding, said that on Monday 21 Nov he will petition the court to read the verdict. He is not sure whether or not the court will do so on that day.
Amphon Tangnopphakul, alleged SMS sender, will hear his verdict on 23 Nov at the Criminal Court on Ratchadapisek Rd.
