The Criminal Court's decision to revoke bail for red-shirt chairman Jatuporn Prompan after he breached bail conditions in a terrorism case is a "great loss" for the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship, UDD co-leader Nattawut Saikuar says.
The court ruling must be respected, but Mr Nattawut said he still believes that Mr Jatuporn has a basic right to voice his opinions. Prosecutors say Mr Jatuporn's recent comments, aired on UDD-sponsored Peace TV and on YouTube clips, insulted the authorities.
After the ruling, officials from the Department of Corrections immediately took Mr Jatuporn to Bangkok Remand Prison. Mr Jatuporn had been spotted carrying a bag of his personal belongings upon his arrival at the court. He told reporters he had packed the bag in case he was jailed.
"I am also taking with me my sports shoes, but there are no socks definitely," he said, referring to the fate of land fraud suspect Thawatchai Anukul, who was found hanged by a pair of socks at Department of Special Investigation headquarters last month. His family suspects foul play.
Mr Jatuporn and fellow UDD leaders are fighting terrorism accusations, following the pro-Thaksin group's fierce protests against the Abhisit Vejjajiva government in 2010 that ended in bloodshed. Mr Nattawut said the decision was a "great loss of freedom in political expression".
But he insisted it would not hinder the UDD's fight for democracy and it would wait until Mr Jatuporn returns. The UDD is working with its legal experts to re-apply for bail with the court, he said.
Prosecutors handed over evidence which the court said showed Mr Jatuporn used incendiary words and referred to people in a way that could defame them. In 2010, Mr Jatuporn and other UDD co-leaders led thousands of supporters to pressure Mr Abhisit, who was not elected by voters, to dissolve the House.
The prosecutors yesterday also petitioned the court to revoke bail for other UDD co-leaders -- Mr Nattawut, former deputy commerce minister Weng Tojirakarn, former Pheu Thai Party list-MP Nisit Sinthuphrai, and former Pheu Thai MP Veerakarn Musikapong -- for alleged violations of bail conditions in the same case. However, the judge dropped the petition, arguing they expressed their opinions without causing damage to other people.