World News | Thai Court Grants Bail to 2 Pro-democracy Activists
Get latest articles and stories on World at LatestLY. A court in Thailand on Tuesday agreed to release on bail two key leaders of the anti-government protest movement on condition that they refrain from activities deemed to defame the monarchy.
Bangkok, Jun 1 (AP) A court in Thailand on Tuesday agreed to release on bail two key leaders of the anti-government protest movement on condition that they refrain from activities deemed to defame the monarchy.
Arnon Nampha and Panupong Jadnok must also wear electronic tracking tags and are banned from leaving the country.
Arnon and Panupong are prominent figures in a pro-democracy movement that began last year. In addition to challenging the government of Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, the rallies they led demanded reform of the monarchy to make it more transparent and accountable.
They have been held in pre-trial detention under the country's tough lese majeste law which protects the monarchy from criticism, but which has been increasingly used to target government opponents. The law carries a penalty of up to 15 years in prison on each count.
Several previous applications for bail by the activists were denied.
During their detention, both contracted COVID-19 and were sent to the prison hospital for treatment. They have now tested negative, according to their lawyer, Krisadang Nutcharas, and were expected to obtain their release documents later Tuesday.
Thailand's prisons have become hotspots for the coronavirus. The Department of Corrections has discovered 26,330 cases, around 9% of total prisoners in Thailand, over the past two months.
A third protester held on lese majeste charges, Chukiat Sangwong, was also granted bail on Tuesday but will remain in detention because he is facing similar charges in two other courts, Krisadang said.
He was charged after allegedly writing critical messages on a portrait of the king in front of the Supreme Court during an anti-government rally in March.
According to the group Thai Lawyers for Human Rights, 97 activists including eight minors are facing lese majeste charges after the government late last year stepped up its legal offensive against protesters. (AP)
(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)