Navymen 'did not mean to disrespect court'
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Navy personnel who carried weapons into a Phuket Court compound against court regulations last week did it out of inexperience, not disrespect or contempt of court, the junta spokesman said yesterday.
Colonel Winthai Suvari said commissioned officers testifying as state witnesses against vendors allegedly violating a social order campaign were unarmed while in the courtroom.
Those carrying war weapons were non-commissioned officers waiting outside under the shade of a tree, he said.
The fully armed NCOs were returning from duty and entered the court premises just to wait for their superiors outside the courthouse.
While acknowledging court |regulations prohibiting the possession and carrying of weapons, the NCOs could not just hand over their arms to court security personnel after a dispute with a senior judge, as it was against military creed for all military men not to surrender their weapons.
