Street protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban vows to fight charges of insurrection and terrorism after public prosecutors indicted him and eight others yesterday over their months of "Bangkok shutdown" demonstrations to oust the Yingluck Shinawatra government.
The defendants pleaded not guilty to all the charges when they were arraigned at the Criminal Court yesterday. The charges include insurrection, criminal association, illegal assembly and obstructing elections.
The eight other defendants were Sathit Wongnongtoey, 57, Chumpol Julasai, 48, Buddhipongse Punnakanta, 50, Issara Somchai, 72, Witthaya Kaewparadai, 63, Thaworn Senneam, 71, Natapol Teepsuwan, 52, and Akanat Promphan, 32.
Mr Suthep and Mr Chumpol were also indicted for terrorism.
The maximum penalty for insurrection is execution.
The charges related to the activities of the defunct People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) to protest against the Yingluck government from November 2013 to May 2014 that included a "Bangkok shutdown" campaign in which several government buildings were occupied by protesters.
The case, compiled by the Department of Special Investigation (DSI), was forwarded to the prosecution in 2014.
All nine defendants were released on conditional bail of 600,000 baht each with orders not to leave the country without permission from the court.
The court yesterday gave instructions to ensure a smooth and uninterrupted process, saying there were many defendants in the case.
The defendants were ordered to appoint lawyers before a witness and evidence examination hearing and asked to make sure their lawyers are able to attend witness hearings as scheduled by the court.
According to the court, it would not allow any postponements on the grounds that lawyers have other engagements or they are ill, and it would consider such cases as possible attempts to stall the judicial process which may affect their bail.
The hearing to examine witnesses and evidence has been scheduled for March 19.
Mr Suthep yesterday vowed to fight the charges and see through the judicial process.
He said he and the others are prepared to prove their innocence and have strong confidence in the justice system.
"If we lose the fight, we'll accept the ruling. We've made our choice," he said.
The former Democrat member also promised the group would not resort to any tactics to stall the process, saying the group is aware of the public interest in the case.
Asked about the remaining suspects who had not reported to the prosecution to hear the indictment decisions, Mr Suthep said there should be only nine defendants.
Stressing that he did not want to interfere with the prosecution, he said prosecutors should review the case against the remaining suspects to be just to them.
"I don't want to interfere with the prosecution's judgement, but I feel there should be only nine of us standing trial," he said. "We persuaded the people to join the fight.
"Several people who took the stage were there to answer some questions. Academics were there to give opinions or information to the demonstrators."
Citing as an example, he said former secretary-general of the National Security Council (NSC), Thawil Pliensri, simply explained his case against former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra in the Administrative Court.
Mr Issara said the indictment would not have any repercussions on the Democrat Party because he did not join the protests as a party member.
Few PDRC supporters showed up yesterday to give moral support. More than 50 security officers from Metropolitan Police Division 2 and the DSI were deployed to step up security at the Office of Attorney-General where they were indicted.
The case against the nine former PDRC core members was forwarded to the prosecution by the DSI in 2014, but delayed by the complexity of the matter.
The case involved 58 individuals, but the charges were dropped against one suspect while four others -- Seri Wongmontha, Sombat Thamrongthanyawong, Sonthiyan Chuenruethainaitham and Sakontee Phattiyakul -- were indicted in May 2014.
Chartpong Jiraphan, deputy director-general of the Department of Special Litigation, said yesterday 34 suspects sought postponement and the prosecution would consider their requests on a case-by-case basis. Charges against another 10 would be dealt with separately.
The PDRC kicked off the protest in November 2013 after the Pheu Thai Party-led government proposed a bill viewed as attempting to end legal action against former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.
The Yingluck government invoked a special security law to ban the protests. Former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra dissolved the House in December 2013.
In January 2014, demonstrators blocked Bangkok's main streets, determined to "shut down" the government.
Protesters in Bangkok and the South, the political strongholds of the Democrat Party, also prevented advance voting for the general election.