The mother of a lese majeste detainee has pleaded for him to be released on bail on the eve of Mother's Day (Aug 12), saying denials have "crippled" his son's basic rights.
Taem (last name withheld), 68, from Bueng Kan province, was given an hour-long meeting with her son Suraphak, 40, thanks to the "Hugging Day" concept conceived for Mother's Day.
The Corrections Department has allowed mothers of all prisoners and detainees who have registered before the end of last month, to meet their sons from Aug 2 to 10 and from Aug 14 to 20.
"We hugged each other and talked a lot until we forgot to eat together," said Mrs Taem, who took a 10-hour bus ride Sunday night from the northeastern province to Bangkok to meet her son on Monday afternoon.
She has travelled back and forth several times since her son, a promising programmer, was arrested in November last year.
"He felt sorry for me that I have to travel a lot just to see him. Of course, I feel tired sometimes, but as a mother I always miss him and want to see him anyway. He also wants to be outside with me. Being inside the prison without bail has crippled his basic rights," said Mrs Taem of the youngest of her five children.
Mr Suraphak will appear before the court for the first time next month. Mrs Taem believes her son did not do anything wrong, but she noted whatever the case, he should at least be given the chance to prepare a good defence for himself.
Mr Suraphak has twice been denied bail - the most recent one involved a one-million baht surety put forward by the Justice Ministry's Rights and Liberties Protection Department.
"In the past, he could earn more than 40,000 baht per month and he sent the money to me every month. Now, he needs to rely on me and his siblings. If he is still there, his future will be vaporised," said Mrs Taem.
Another inmate, Surachai Danwattananusorn, 70, was returned to prison on Monday after prostate treatment at the Police General Hospital since July 25.
Pranee Danwattananusorn, Surachai's wife, said her husband could now urinate comfortably thanks to the medical treatment from the hospital.
Surachai will meet the Police Hospital doctor again for a follow-up check on Aug 16, Mrs Pranee said.
She said her husband has been given a one-fifth reduction of his sentence as a result of Mother's Day. "Now Surachai's sentence is lowered to two years. Altogether from five cases he will have 10 years left," he said.
On the Somyot Prueksakasemsuk case, the Criminal Court has set Sept 19 to discuss the reading of the verdict. However, the court has to wait for a Constitution Court decision on whether Penal Code Article 112 was against the Constitution or not.
Mr Somyot's lawyer Suwit Thongnual said he would still seek bail for his client who has been denied bail 12 times since his arrest in April 2011.
Two people convicted of lese majeste will complete their sentences this year, while many others have received a different reduction of sentence. None of the six lese majeste prisoners, however, received a full pardon during the auspicious day.
A petition to revoke an appeal to the Supreme Court for Thanthwut Thaweewarodom has also been shelved for some three months. Without the appeal being dropped, his case could not be categorised in regards to his sentence - thus making his case ineligible for any royal pardon entitlement.
Thanthawut, 40, was sentenced to 13 years on lese majeste charges for posting defamatory messages. He has been detained for two years and three months.
Surapot Thaweephak, a lecturer at Rajabhat Suandusit's Hua Hin Campus, said Roi Et police have decided not to file a lese majeste case against him. However, Police Headquarters in Bangkok has the final say on the decision.