Two bailed defendants allegedly involved in the so-called "Khon Kaen model" of red-shirt resistance insist they are innocent and had nothing to do with past red-shirt rallies.
Kanyarak Samuntarphan, a bailed defendant involved in the "Khon Kaen model" case, with the mystic, supra and natural power magazines she once wrote. Achara Ashayagachat
"We are not terrorists, but unconvincing scapegoats,'' they told the Bangkok Post in a special interview.
The pair, Ms Kanyarak Samuntarphan, 44, and Mr Damrongsak Suthisin, 45, were released on bail by a military court in Khon Kaen.
They were among 10 bailed defendants in the case. Another 16 are still in military custody, where they have languished for months.
In total there are 26 defendants facing terrorism charges for their alleged ties to the so-called Khon Kaen model. Prosecutors claim they intended to create a model for red-shirt resistance.
Soldiers took Ms Kanyarak and five others from their homes, a day after another 20 people were rounded up at a hotel in Khon Kaen's Ban Ped municipality in Muang district on May 23.
That was one day after the army staged a coup to seize power from former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra.
Ms Kanyarak said she has been doing odd jobs since her divorce from her Muslim husband eight years ago.
She used to work with the Population and Community Development Association (PDA) in Chiang Rai and she was a writer for mystic, supra, and natural power magazines.
She suffered cranial damage a few years ago when she worked briefly in Nonthaburi.
"I've been busy raising my three children and looking after my parents. My mother is mostly bed-ridden, my elder sister has been diagnosed with paranoia. I don't have time for the things they charged me with," Ms Kanyarak said.
She said she didn't know any of the other defendants and had never joined red-shirt rallies. "I don't like politicians of any colour, they rarely do as they claim,'' she said.
Khamsorn Pimdee, Kanyarak's father, 73, was worried about his daughter.
"I thought she had been abducted and killed. We couldn't contact her at all for the first three days after she was arrested," he said.
He was speaking from his home in Ban Fang district, about 27km from Khon Kaen town.
Ms Kanyarak and 25 other defendants were charged with collaborating in acts of sabotage in Khon Kaen and other provinces, terrorising banking and financing institutions, mobilising riots, and possessing illicit and unregistered weapons, among other things.
"It's a test in my life, it may be karma from the past life. We are truly scapegoats," said Ms Kanyarak, asking why the authorities did not go after the real perpetrators.
She said she wished the country would recover economically and proceed to speedy elections and reconciliation.
Another bailed defendant, Mr Damrongsak, said he was also innocent.
"Pinai Singhad [a co-defendant] called me and said let's go to Khon Kaen for a meeting. I said we'd better not come come home late, as a curfew was in place,'' he said.
Mr Damrongsak said he is the breadwinner of the family with three teenage children and an ailing mother-in-law.
He said he had never attended red shirt rallies in Bangkok or Khon Kaen. However, he was interested when people discussed about politics in his neighbourhood.
"Still wearing an old t-shirt and shorts that day, I accompanied Pinai to the meeting. Ten minutes later, fully-armed rangers stormed the meeting room," said Mr Damrongsak, who is angry he was held for five months for doing nothing illegal.
Like many other defendants, his household debts have accumulated as he had no income coming in.
"Where are the human rights defenders, where is justice?" asked the Khon Kaen native.
His wife, Mrs Uraiwan, said their sons were concerned about his safety during the first three days when they heard nothing.
Denchai Wongkranuan, 54, another defendant from Kalasin's Yang Talad district, was not as lucky as Ms Kanyarak and Mr Damrongsak, who were bailed on Oct 21.
His wife and daughters took turns visiting him at the prison on Mondays and Fridays, travelling 160km back and forth.
"He seems discouraged and lonely, he doesn't talk much now. All he said was he wanted to come home," said Mr Denchai's wife, Mrs Daeng.
Darat Thongdee, one of Mr Denchai's two daughters, said her father used to join the Ratchaprasong demonstrations, like other villagers, but he had never made it to Aksa Road (the last red-shirt rally held before the military coup).
Ms Darat said her father earned a living rice farming, selling fish at the market, playing the pin (an Isaan stringed instrument) and helping out at the local temple.
"He's a loveable man. Villagers have visited us and given mum solidarity,'' Ms Darat said.
Benjarat Meetian, a defence lawyer, said she hoped the military court would grant more defendants bail when she submits another request this week.
"It's an unconvincing trial. Many people were not at the hotel as alleged," said Ms Benjarat.