Court won't stop protest

Court won't stop protest

The Constitution Court rejected attempts by three separate individuals yesterday to stop the weekend demonstration of Pitak Siam.

The court said there were no indications Pitak Siam would try to topple the democratically elected government through illegal means.

Former senator Ruangkrai Leekijwattana, Pheu Thai Party member Singthong Buachum and lawyer Nuengdin Wimuttinant claimed in their petitions to the court that the rally would violate Section 68 of the constitution.

This was because the group was seeking to illegally oust a democratic administration under the constitutional monarchy, they alleged.

The court's decision came after it questioned lawyers representing Pitak Sam leader Boonlert Kaewprasit, otherwise known as Seh Ai, AVM Vachara Ritthakhani, the group's spokesman, said yesterday.

The lawyers assured the demonstration was meant only as a show of force to demand the government quit. If the demand was not met, the protest would be called off.

The rally was not intended to take over state power through illegal means, the court was told.

The lawyers also insisted the Pitak Siam leaders had never mentioned that they wanted to "freeze" the country under military rule.

The lawyers said what Gen Boonlert and AVM Vachara intended to mean was to "freeze" corrupt politicians for five years to prevent them seeking benefits from the country.

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