The military court on Friday dropped a lawsuit against eight anti-coup activists accused of violating the regime’s ban on political gatherings of more than five persons during a train trip to Rajabhakti Park in Prachuap Kirikhan in December 2015.
According to the Thai Lawyers for Human Rights, the case was withdrawn on the grounds that the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) issued 22/2018 Order in December last year to repeal the ban and the defendants’ actions should no longer be considered an offence.
As a result, the court suspended the witness hearings and dismissed the case.
The NCPO’s 22/2018 Order repealed nine orders and announcements issued following the May 2014 military coup.
The case was filed with the military court on April 25, 2016. Named in the lawsuit were Sirawith Seritiwat, Anon Nampa, Kititituch Suman, Wisarut Anukulkan, Kornkanok Khumta, Vichit Hanhaboon, Korakot Saengyenpan, and Thanet Anantawong.
The charge involved the group’s participation in a high-profile train trip on Dec 7, 2015, to Rajabhakti Park as part of their call for an investigation into alleged irregularities in the park’s construction. The activists were stopped at Baan Pong station in Ratchaburi and detained for defying the regime’s ban.
While the seven defendants denied the charge, Mr Thanet pleaded guilty and was sentenced to eight months in prison. His jail sentence was reduced to four months after he confessed.
Mr Thanet is currently being detained at Bangkok Remand Prison over another incident in which he was accused of inciting unrest, an offence under Section 116 of the Criminal Code, and violating the anti-computer crime law.
The dismissal of the lawsuit means cases against two other suspects, Chonthicha Jaeung-Rew and Abhisit Sapnaphapan, who were not yet indicted were also dropped.
The military court yesterday also revoked a warrant for the arrest of Chanoknan Ruamsap, the eighth defendant in the case. The warrant was issued in July last year when she fled overseas after facing a lese majeste charge.