Police had an opinion to file the case against seven activists for violation of political gathering to the military prosecutor

On 2 October 2018, the Bang Khen Police Station submitted an opinion that a prosecution order should be made and sent the document of the “Cleaning-up Democracy” case to the military prosecutor, which were accused of defying Order No. 3/2015 of the Head of NCPO and the Public Assembly Act.

At the beginning, inquiry official of Bang Khen Police Station appointed to meet activists at the Bang Khen Police Station, but then they changed to meet up at the Bangkok Military Court instead. Around 9:45 on 2 October, activists Aranyika, Kasemchat, Sutida, Kan, Uthai and Phat, excluded Chonakanan has fled for political, arriving Bangkok Military Court with about 20 people, students, social activists, and professors came to give encouragement to activists. The atmosphere was not so serious, activists looked leisurely, they could even talk and laugh with people.

After that, student representative of “Free Kasetsat Group” read out the statement of vacating prosecution to the case “Cleaning-up Democracy”, describing the purpose of activity and process of incident, declaring their stand and appreciating all the supports from Thai Lawyers for Human Rights Center (TLHR) and the donation from people.

Kumklao Kongsomboon,The lawyer from Thai Lawyers for Human Rights Center, said “Procedure today was that inquiry official of Bang Khen Police Station would come and submit documents, there were only six defendants attended except Chanoknan who fled the country after lese majeste accusation. However, the military prosecutor scheduled to inform prosecution order on November 6, 2018 and if the military prosecutor has an opinion to prosecute, the lawyer will apply for bail release. “

Chalida Bantuwong, an professor of Faculty of Social Sciences, Kasersat University also came to accompany and gave encouragement to activists, talking about this case, she said, “At the time that the police detained seven students from Wat Prasi Mahadhat Worawihan( a Buddhist monastery) to the Bang Khen Police Station, the police didn’t allow the lawyer to talk to the student, they then informed the Office of Students Activity Affairs of Kasetsat University to come, helping persuaded students to accept the procedure of “Attitude Adjustment” in order not to be prosecuted. However, the students didn’t accept because they thought they didn’t do anything wrong, three professors then went back with mad. After that, this case entered the proceeding, was submitted to the Bangkok Military Court, and the Bangkok Military Court announced to release the students without bail at that night.”

The professor also talked about the attitude of the University, “Few days after, the administrator of Kasetsat University determined that the students were wrong, they tried to set up an investigation team to reprimand students. But the University received lots of criticism from society, many professors who graduated from Kasetsat University also wrote articles to criticize that the University shouldn’t have an attitude like this. Thus their attempt failed because of social pressure.

However, a professor of the faculty even called student’s parents who were in another province came to meet at the University, said in a kindly manner that s/he would take care of the student and would ask the student to assist his/her work in order not to interfere politics, but this was a kind of intimidating actually. The University never provided any legal assistance to students, they totally ignored this case at present. Students have to take care of themselves, they had to talk to the professor if they had to ask for leave, the University didn’t defend students at all.”

“Not only this case had effect toward the University, actually the academic freedom of the University had been influenced until now because Kasetsat University works closely to the Bang Khen Police Station. For instance, the University held a seminar as a part of course, and used dozens of police and soldiers to close the building, even the students who had to attend other courses couldn’t enter the building for about a half day. The circumstances like this influenced many student activists. Furthermore, it caused pressure to some of the students, even affected their mental status.”