Bathing rite for dead inmate conducted on the court's sidewalk
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The Campaign Committee for the Amendment of Article 112 on Wednesday organised a bathing rite for the body of Ampon Tangnoppakul, the inmate who died of cancer atthe prison's hospital on Tuesday.
The ceremony was held late afternoon on the sidewalk of the Criminal Court on Ratchadapisek Road before the funeral at a temple in Samrong, Samut Prakan. The campaigners wanted to raise awareness on the opposition against the lese majeste law.
In a highly-publicised SMS case, Ampon was convicted last year for involving in four short messaging services deemed offensive to the monarchy. He was sentenced to serve five years in jail for each count of offence, totalling 20 years.
The 112 Campaign questioned the judicial decision as unfair and the case remained a mystery whether Ampon was the actual sender of the SMS.
Criminal Court chief justice Thawee Prachuablarp said the defence withdrew the bail application in March after Ampon had decided to seek a royal pardon. An inmate in the pardon process is not entitled for bail review.
Chulalongkorn University lecturer and campaigner Suthachai Yimprasert said the 112 Campaign would on June 27 submit a draft bill to amend the lese majeste law.
Suthachai said the death of Ampon should serve as tragic lesson on the enforcement of Article 112.
