5 replies to this topic

[B.I.G.]

"A Thai judge citing reasons of national security closed the trial on Tuesday of a "red shirt" supporter of former premier Thaksin Shinawatra charged with insulting the monarchy. The ruling drew an emotional response from the defendant, Darunee Charnchoengsilpakul, who was arrested last July after delivering an exceptionally strong speech on the 2006 coup that ousted Thaksin.

"I want justice," the 46-year-old campaigner, better known as "Da Torpedo", told the judge before a handful of journalists and supporters were ordered to leave. "The speech I am charged with was made at an open rally. I cannot accept that a closed trial will guarantee justice," she said, standing before the court wearing a dark prison gown. . .

Judge Prommat Toosang said Darunee's trial at Bangkok's Criminal Court was a "matter of national security" but her lawyer could appeal against the decision."For now, anybody not involved with this case needs to leave the courtroom immediately," he said."I guarantee the defendant will get a fair trial, but this has to be a closed-door hearing."

Speaking to Reuters before the hearing, Darunee said she had lost 17 kilos (37 lb) after nearly a year in detention awaiting trial. "My life in jail is hard," she said, holding out little hope of winning her case after being denied bail several times.

She said her speech at a pro-Thaksin rally in Bangkok last year was aimed at the generals who ousted the former telecoms tycoon, who lives in self-imposed exile after his conviction on conflict of interest charges."I do not want to topple the monarchy in Thailand. What I want is a sustainable monarchy like in the United Kingdom and Japan," Darunee said.

Critics of the lese-majeste law say it is open to abuse since a complaint can be filed by anybody against anybody, no matter how minor the alleged disrespect.The law has been a regular feature of the charged political atmosphere in Thailand in the past three years. The generals who overthrew Thaksin cited his alleged disrespect for the monarchy among other reasons."

http://www.prachatai.com/english/node/1261

[Hedda]

You might have expected this kind of authoritarian justice in the trial of "The Lady", Daw Aung San Suu Kyi in Burma, but the Thais seem to be doing their best to hit the bottom of the ASEAN barrel as well. It's bad enough that this poor Thai woman has been held without bail for a year awaiting trial, in a country where most criminals routinely get bail for the most serious of crimes, even after conviction pending appeal. This lady's offense was to give a political speech which some royalists found objectionable, and now a judge has seen fit to conduct her trial in secret, like the persecutions of some 16th century Star Chamber proceeding, on the preposterous claim that "national security" is at stake. If that is so, then this country's stability must be in a profoundly terminal condition of its own doing.

I wonder if the people sponsoring these lese majeste witch hunts know what terrible damage they are doing to the institution they claim to be protecting, both at home and abroad. The term "Amazing Thailand" has taken on a new and very sinister meaning with the secret trial of Thailand's "Lady."

[Haloi]

I made a search of the two English language papers this morning and could not find a singlw word about this court decision to hold a secret trial. It's so typical and disgusting when the Thai journalists decide to self-censor the news because they're intimidated by the royalists who scream lese majeste every time someone says something they don't like.

[Garcia]

I looked for three days now and as far as I can see, the Nation ran a short piece with comments from her lawyer, but other than that, the Thai English language papers have said almost nothing about this trial held in secret.

[DOLLY]

"Rights group Amnesty International urged Thailand on Friday to open the trial of a political campaigner charged with insulting the monarchy after it was closed for reasons of "national security." Amnesty said the court's decision to bar the media and public from attending the trial of Darunee Charnchoengsilpakul, a "red shirt" supporter of ousted former premier Thaksin Shinawatra, could jeopardize her chances of receiving a fair hearing.

Darunee, 46, also known as "Da Torpedo," was arrested and charged with lese-majeste last July after delivering an exceptionally strong speech on the 2006 coup that ousted Thaksin.

"When a judge closes the doors on a trial it significantly raises the risk of injustice taking place," Amnesty's Asia-Pacific director, Sam Zarifi, said in a statement. "The Thai government will have a very difficult time explaining why the trial of someone charged with making an insulting remark could compromise Thailand's national security. "In this case, a fair trial means that the doors should remain open," Zarifi said.

On Tuesday, Judge Prommas Phoosang ordered journalists and Darunee's supporters to leave the courtroom in Bangkok's Criminal Court because her case was a "matter of national security. In an emotional response to the ruling, Darunee she could not be guaranteed justice if the public were barred from attending. Her lawyer has filed an appeal.

The trial, which resumes on July 28, is the latest in a slew of lese-majeste cases critics say are stifling dissent and freedom of speech."

http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/i...E55P1CW20090626

[Gene]

The Court has denied the defendant's request for a ruling from the Constitutional Court on the constitutionality of closing this secret trial to the public. the constitution clearly says trials should be open to the public. So much for the rule of law in Thailand.

The Thai newspapers continue to avoid reporting these developments. So much for Thai journalism.

http://www.prachatai.com/english/node/1270