Prayut refuses to grant amnesty to 14 students

Prayut refuses to grant amnesty to 14 students

Calls for more pardons would mount, PM says

The rumoured New Democracy Movement made its debut Wednesday when activists erected and locked themselves into this mock-up of a prison cell outside Thammasat University. Participants said it was part of a campaign calling for the release of the 14 students detained last week for flouting the ban on political gatherings. (Photo by Patipat Janthong)
The rumoured New Democracy Movement made its debut Wednesday when activists erected and locked themselves into this mock-up of a prison cell outside Thammasat University. Participants said it was part of a campaign calling for the release of the 14 students detained last week for flouting the ban on political gatherings. (Photo by Patipat Janthong)

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha refuses to exercise his special powers under Section 44 of the interim charter to grant an amnesty to the 14 student activists arrested for holding a rally.

The students' supporters have asked the prime minister to exercise his powers to release them.

He said yesterday he was unable to do so because it would only encourage others to seek similar dispensation from the law.

The students were arrested last Friday, following a rally against the military regime, and are being detained at Bangkok Remand Prison and the Central Women's Correctional Institution awaiting trial in the Bangkok Military Court.

They insist they will not seek bail, as they do not accept the military court's authority.

The government is exploring ways of holding talks with student activist groups moving against it, as it ponders a softer approach for handling escalating anti-coup movements, Gen Prayut said.

He said the government aims to encourage activists to stop their activities because he feels uncomfortable seeing them face legal action.

The government is also investigating whether the political movements are driven by the students' own views or are backed by politicians or other groups, Gen Prayut said.

National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) spokesman Winthai Suvaree, meanwhile, responded to concerns expressed by the European Union and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) over the detention of the students.

He said the arrests came after these students repeatedly defied the ban on political gatherings.

The authorities had tried to deal with them in gentle ways including verbal warnings and formally requesting their cooperation.

The decision on the case against the students would now rest with officials of the military court, Col Winthai said.

The case will probably be treated as both a criminal case and a matter of security, he added. Security matters are usually heard by the military court.

However, he said the students still have a chance to prove themselves against the charges in the proceedings, as allowed under international legal prosecution standards.

The UN body and the EU have asked the government to drop charges against the students.

"Those international organisations should not worry about our work conducted under Thai law and they should know that punishment is only for convicted wrongdoers," Col Winthai said.

"Any suspects are given equal chances to defend themselves against allegations and to protect their rights."

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