Opposition parties file complaint against army officers

Opposition parties file complaint against army officers

Opposition core members, led by Pheu Thai Party leader Sompong Amornwiwat (centre), talk to the media before registering a complaint against the Internal Security Operations Command at the Crime Suppression Division on Sunday. (Photo by Wassayos Ngamkham)
Opposition core members, led by Pheu Thai Party leader Sompong Amornwiwat (centre), talk to the media before registering a complaint against the Internal Security Operations Command at the Crime Suppression Division on Sunday. (Photo by Wassayos Ngamkham)

Core members of seven opposition parties on Sunday filed a complaint with the Crime Suppression Division (CSD), charging the 4th Army commander and another army officer with defamation and giving false information to the authorities.

In the complaint, they asked the CSD to take legal action against Lt Gen Pornsak Poonsawat, the 4th Army commander, in his capacity as director of the 4th Region Internal Security Operations Command (ISOC), and Maj Gen Burin Thongprapai, a legal specialist at the forward headquarters of the 4th Region ISOC, for defaming the opposition parties and giving false information to the authorities in violation of Sections 137, 172, 174, 326 and 328 of the Criminal Code.

On Oct 3, Maj Gen Burin filed a complaint on behalf of the 4th Region ISOC with Pattani police against 12 people -- iincluding Pheu Thai leader Sompong Amornwiwat, Future Forward Party leader Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit and several academics -- accusing them of sedition, a violation of Section 116 of the Criminal Code, during a panel discussion organised by the seven opposition parties at a venue in Pattani on Sept 28.

The 4th Region ISOC alleged the discussion affected national security and solutions to problems in the southern border provinces.

Mr Sompong said that by filing that police complaint, the 4th Region ISOC had defamed the seven opposition parties and the academics taking part in the discussion and given false information to the police.

Prachachart Party leader Wan Muhamad Nor Matha said the panel discussion was held within the scope of the law and the constitution to gather people's opinions as a guideline for amending the charter.

The legal action taken by the ISOC has infringed on the rights and liberties of those who took part in the discussion, he said.

Those filing the new complaint were Mr Sompong; Phumtham Vechayachai, an adviser to the Pheu Thai leader; Chusak Sirinil, chairman of the legal staff of Pheu Thai; Mr Wan; Chaikasem Nitisiri, a member of the Pheu Thai Party's strategic committee for monitoring judicial procedures and use of state power; Phaophum Rojanakul, deputy secretary-general of Pheu Thai; Pol Col Tawee Sodsong, secretary-general of the Prachachart Party; Songkram Kijlertpairot, leader of the Pheu Chart Party; Nikom Boonwiset, leader of the Thai People Power Party; Lt Gen Pongsakorn Rodchomphu, deputy leader of Future Forward; Lt Gen Paradorn Pattanathabut, former secretary-general of the National Security Council; and Sompong Sakawi, a leader of the Seri Ruam Thai Party.

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