Court Denies 9 Lese-Majeste Appeals for Arnon, Cites Thaksin & Suu Kyi

Matichon•General•16d ago

Reader Briefing

The Appellate Court has rejected nine bail appeals for human rights lawyer Arnon Nampa in lese-majeste cases, who has been detained for over two and a half years, while the petitions referenced the parole of Thaksin Shinawatra and sentence reductions for Aung San Suu Kyi.

•The Appellate Court denied bail for Arnon Nampa in 9 lese-majeste cases.
•Arnon Nampa has been detained for over 2 years and 7 months.
•The bail petitions referenced the parole of Thaksin Shinawatra and sentence reductions for Aung San Suu Kyi as precedents.
•The court cited previous denials of bail due to flight risk and the severity of the charges.

Overview

•On May 9 and 11, 2024, lawyers for the Human Rights Lawyers Association filed appeals for Arnon Nampa in 9 lese-majeste cases.
•On May 12, 2024, the Appellate Court issued an order denying all 9 bail requests.
•The bail petitions argued that Arnon's actions constituted freedom of expression and assembly, advocating for a transition from military rule to a democratic government.
•The petitions also highlighted the Department of Corrections' decision to grant parole to Thaksin Shinawatra and the release of political prisoners in Myanmar.
•Arnon Nampa has been imprisoned since September 26, 2023, totaling over 2 years and 7 months.
•Arnon Nampa received a combined sentence of approximately 31 years and 9 months across 11 lese-majeste cases and other charges by the lower court.
•The Appellate Court's order stated that bail was denied due to the weight of the charges, past denials of bail related to flight risk, and no new reasons to alter previous decisions.
•Arnon Nampa has upcoming witness examination dates in two cases: '#19กันยาทวงอำนาจคืนราษฎร' and '#ม็อบ25พฤศจิกาไปSCB', with the latter scheduled from May 19-22 and May 26-29.

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Key Quotes

Appellate Court

"Considering the weight of the charges and penalties, and that the Appellate and Supreme Courts have previously denied bail requests several times due to fears of flight, there is no reason to change the previous orders."

พิเคราะห์ความหนักเบาแห่งข้อหาและโทษ ประกอบกับศาลอุทธรณ์และศาลฎีกาเคยมีคำสั่งไม่อนุญาตให้ปล่อยตัวชั่วคราวในระหว่างอุทธรณ์มาแล้วหลายครั้ง เนื่องจากเกรงว่าจำเลยจะหลบหนี ยังไม่มีเหตุที่จะเปลี่ยนแปลงคำสั่งเดิม

Key Entities

Person

Arnon Nampa(อานนท์ นำภา)ℹ️

A human rights lawyer and political activist facing multiple lese-majeste charges and denied bail.

Thaksin Shinawatra(พ.ต.ท.ทักษิณ ชินวัตร)ℹ️

Former Prime Minister whose parole was cited as a precedent in Arnon Nampa's bail petitions.

Aung San Suu Kyi(ออง ซาน ซูจี)ℹ️

Former State Counsellor of Myanmar whose sentence reduction was cited as a precedent in Arnon Nampa's bail petitions.

Prayut Chan-o-cha(ประยุทธ์ จันทร์โอชา)ℹ️

Former Prime Minister of Thailand, whose military rule was part of the political transition context mentioned in the bail petitions.

Organization

Appellate Court(ศาลอุทธรณ์)

The court that issued the ruling to deny Arnon Nampa's bail requests.

Human Rights Lawyers Association(ศูนย์ทนายความเพื่อสิทธิมนุษยชน)

The organization representing Arnon Nampa and filing his bail appeals.

Department of Corrections(กรมราชทัณฑ์)

The authority that granted parole to Thaksin Shinawatra.

Law

Section 112(ม.112)ℹ️

The lese-majeste law under which Arnon Nampa faces multiple charges.

Place

Myanmar(เมียนมา)ℹ️

The country where political prisoners were released and Aung San Suu Kyi's sentence was reduced, cited as a point of comparison.

Timeline

December 21, 2020(21 ธ.ค.2020)

The date of a protest gathering in front of Bangkhen Police Station for which Arnon Nampa is charged.