The public prosecutor decided to file charges against human rights lawyer for hosting ‘standing still’ activities demanding for the release of junta critics.
On Tuesday, 27 May 2016, Thailand Lawyers for Human Rights (TLHR) reported that the public prosecutor had filed charges under Public Assembly Act against Anon Nampa, a human right lawyer and a key member of Resistant Citizen, an anti-junta activist group, for hosting standing still activities to show support for and solidarity with those detained by the junta. The first deposition hearing will happen on 8 August.
The prosecutor charged him with hosting two standing still activities -- one on 20 April to demand that the junta release Watana Muangsook, an embattled Pheu Thai politician who was then detained by the military, and another on 27 April to demand that the junta release eight abducted junta critics who were administrators of the Facebook page ‘We Love Gen Prayut,’ a satirical page mocking the Thai junta leader, reported TLHR.
Anon was charged for not asking local authorities a permission to host the public events, TLHR reported.
He told TLHR that he did not ask a permission from local authorities since he saw the Public Assembly Act as a suppression against freedom of expression by creating unnecessary difficulties to those people who want to host a public event. In fact, authorities usually interrupt the activity anyway despite a permission. Therefore, Anon wanted to exercise his freedom of expression to host a non-violent public activity which is protected under the Constitution and international laws.
If found guilty, he could be fined up to 10,000 baht for each offence.
Anon Nampa (the man in the middle) doing a Standing Still activities at the Victory Monument on 27 April 2016 (source: BBC Thai)
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