Jatuporn challenges military to arrest him

Jatuporn challenges military to arrest him

United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) leader Jatuporn Prompan on Friday cried foul after being linked to a group of suspects charged with violating the computer crime law and inciting unrest under Section 116 of the Criminal Code.

While admitting that two of the suspects, Natthika Worathaiyawich and Noppakao Kongsuwan, worked for the "Jatuporn Prompan" and "Peace TV" sites, he insisted these pages were legitimate and slammed the police for trying to link him to alleged offences.

Mr Jatuporn said the information the military and police obtained that they worked for him was public.

"There's nothing complicated about this. They worked for me and "Peace TV". Since when has hiring people to run a website been against the law? Is the content of these websites illegal?

"The police made me look like a criminal at their press conference [on Thursday] even though there was nothing to it," Mr Jatuporn said during a live broadcast of his programme, Mong Klai (Look Beyond), on YouTube.

As police held a press briefing on the case on Thursday, they said they were gathering evidence against Mr Jatuporn and coup critic Sombat Boon-ngamanong over suspected links to the eight suspects.

Mr Jatuporn challenged the military to arrest him, but he warned this could snowball and have an impact on the Aug 7 referendum.

"Come and detain me if you want, but at least tell me what I've done wrong. I'm not intimidated ... I've been through a lot. And with this [allegation] my patience is wearing thin. I'll fight. Don't think you can lock me up and it's all over," he said.

Col Kritsana Pattanacharoen, spokesman of the Royal Thai Police Bureau, said a working panel has been set up to monitor social media for content deemed in violation of the Referendum Act.

He also said no charges have been pressed against Mr Jatuporn and Mr Sombat so far, but both will be monitored closely because they are public figures.

Ms Natthika and Mr Noppakao are among eight people arrested in connection with their involvement in several websites critical of the military regime and the prime minister including the "We Love Gen Prayuth" Facebook page.

A military court yesterday approved a police request to detain the eight individuals for another 12 days from April 29 to May 10 for further questioning.

Of the eight, Kannasit Tangboonthina told the court he wanted to retract his statement given to the police.

Winyat Chartmontree, the suspects' lawyer, also told the court that the "We Love Gen Prayuth" page was more satirical in nature rather than being designed to stir up public unrest.

Mr Winyat yesterday said the charge was unreasonable because the "We Love Gen Prayuth" page did not pose any threat to national security.

He added that none had been charged with lese majeste offences.

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