Coss Posted February 22, 2011 Report Share Posted February 22, 2011 The Criminal Court on Tuesday approved a police request to detain Surachai Danwattananusorn, or Surachai sae Dan, for 12 days for interrogation following his arrest on lese majeste charges. Mr Surachai, 69, a core member of the Red Siam Group, was arrested by metropolitan police about 2.30am on Tuesday at Pracharat Soi 3, in Muang district of Nonthaburi province, over a speech he made at Sanam Luang two months ago. The arrest was made under a court warrant issued on Jan 4. The warrant was issued after Mr Surachai addressed an audience of about 1,000 people at a seminar on the 6th floor of the Imperial Lat Phrao shopping centre on Dec 18 between 6.30pm and 9pm. His speech was was video-taped by police. Comments in his speech were deemed insulting to the institution of the monarchy The police took Mr Surachai to the court on Tuesday and received approval to detain him for further interrogation from Feb 22 to March 5. Mr Surachai was one of the political activists who fled into the jungle to join the armed struggle of the Communist Party of Thailand in the South after the Oct 6, 1976 bloodshed. He was arrested and sentenced to death for murder during a train robbery and for the torching of the Nakhon Si Thammarat provincial hall. He was freed under a royal pardon in 1988. Mr Surachai later became a member of the New Aspiraration Party, which was then led by Gen Chavalit Yongchaiyudh. He ran for election to the Senate in Nakhon Si Thammarat and then for a seat in the House of Representatives under the now-dissolved Thai Rak Thai party, but was not elected. Mr Surachai joined the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship's protests against the coup-maker's Council for National Security (CNS) after the overthrow of the government under Thaksin Shinawatra. He later broke away to set up the Red Siam Group, which has launched political activities separate from the UDD. Link Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
khunsanuk Posted February 22, 2011 Report Share Posted February 22, 2011 Hi, "He was arrested and sentenced to death for murder during a train robbery and for the torching of the Nakhon Si Thammarat provincial hall." and then "He ran for election to the Senate in Nakhon Si Thammarat and then for a seat in the House of Representatives under the now-dissolved Thai Rak Thai party, but was not elected." Say what!?!?!?! Convicted of murder, arson, and train robbery and then runs for government office. Unbelievable. Sanuk! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nervous God Posted February 22, 2011 Report Share Posted February 22, 2011 And arrested for lesse magiste, good they look for the important things! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mentors Posted February 22, 2011 Report Share Posted February 22, 2011 Amazing Thailand Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flashermac Posted February 22, 2011 Report Share Posted February 22, 2011 And arrested for lesse magiste, good they look for the important things! Ironic since he got off a murder conviction and death sentence on a royal pardon. Maybe they can reverse the pardon now? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
preahko Posted February 22, 2011 Report Share Posted February 22, 2011 Keep in mind that l*se m*j*ste is one of the most mis-used laws in Thailand, the accusation of which is frequently used by one party to silence a rival, whether said person is "guilty" of it or not. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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