Royal pardon 'expected' for Surachai
Political activist Surachai Danwattananusorn, who was convicted of lese majeste, was expected to receive a royal pardon but there was no confirmation at press time yesterday.
His wife Pranee Danwattananusorn told The Nation by phone shortly before 5pm yesterday she was certain her husband would be granted the royal pardon, although there had been no sign of such an order yet. Speaking from Bangkok Remand Prison, Pranee said the information came indirectly to her from a top-ranking Justice Ministry official.
Corrections Department director-general Suchart Wong-anantachai said yesterday there has been no order for Surachai’s release. “The department will release him only when there is an order,” he said, adding that Surachai had requested for royal pardon.
About 100 supporters of Surachai had gathered at the prison.
A former prominent communist insurgent and Red Siam leader, Surachai is one of the highest-profile lese majeste prisoners. He was an insurgent in the 1970s and was imprisoned in the 1980s.
In February 2012, the then 71-year-old Surachai was sentenced to seven and a half years in prison for defaming the monarchy at a 2010 red-shirt rally in Bangkok in front of his supporters. Surachai has been hospitalised while in prison and is frail.
His wife Pranee has been very persistent and active in calling for the abolition of the lese majeste law.
“I’m so glad and relieved,” Pranee said as she awaited the good news at the prison.
Chulalongkorn University lecturer Suda Rangkupan, a red shirt, tweeted yesterday that the red shirts were expecting Surachai's release and would wait outside the prison until it happened.
Surachai filed a request for the pardon last year, according to Red Shirt chairwoman Thida Thavornseth.
