I was in a Bangkok criminal court yesterday to show solidarity with Samyot Prueksakasemsuk, a Thai labour activist and editor of Voice of Thaksin. He is been charged to defame, insult or threaten the King Bhumipol Adulyadej of the kingdom of Thailand through the publication and dissemination in public throughout Thailand in his paper.
At the court, Karom Polpornklang and Suwit Thongnuan, the two defense lawyers argued yesterday that the penalty under the lese majesty law is too harsh and undemocratic, as it is more severe than that for other civil defamation cases. With a maximum imprisonment term of 15 years under the lese majesty law, compared to three years for an ordinary defamation case, the current law is tantamount to placing the monarchy “above the constitution” the lawyers argued.
Yesterday, one of the prosecution witness was Tongthong Chandarangsu, permanent secretary to Prime minister office ministry. He told the court that penalty under the current lese majesty law are too severe and not proportionate to the crime. He also pointed out that lese majesty penalties under an absolute monarchy were less severe than now, under a constituent monarchy. He was not sure if the two articles that are the basis of these charges against Samyot could be interpreted as directly referring to the King.
The case will continue and last hearing will be in the first week of May. Samyot was arrested in April 2011 and has been denied bail for eight times.
Samyot was chained when he was brought to the court. I was told by Jaran Ditapichai, the former national human rights commissioner of Thailand that all the prisoners re chained in Thailand and that it is been criticized by the human rights organizations. Jaran who was at the hearing is also an adviser to commission on Foreign affairs. I had met him along Rokaya Kabir of Bangladesh at European Parliament last year when we both went to lobby the EU on behalf of South Asian Alliance For Poverty Eradication (SAAPE).
At the hearing several trade unionists were present to show solidarity with Samyot, one of the top political prisoners of Thailand. That included Thai Labour, Clean Cloths Campaign representative Jenneke Arens and several others.
I told Samyot after the court hearing about the solidarity efforts of PSM Malaysia and also of different organizations linked to Fourth International. Samyot said that it is not me who is on trial it is the freedom of expression. I am fighting for all Thailand people.
