Lawyer plans march to campaign against military court hearings
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THE AUTHORITIES will closely monitor activities by people "who still do not understand" the junta and will take legal action if they violate the law, a military spokesman said yesterday.
Colonel Winthai Suvari, spokesman for the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO), said that while most people in society understand what the junta is doing and cooperate well, some groups still have no understanding.
The spokesman said that a march planned for this weekend by an activist group calling themselves Resistant Citizens was part of this latter group.
He said the activity was political in nature.
Winthai also questioned the real intention of the group’s leader, lawyer Anon Nampa, in planning the event.
The march is scheduled to start in Nonthaburi’s Bang Bua Thong district today and end outside Pathumwan police station in Bangkok on Monday – if it goes ahead.
Organisers said the 50-kilometre march aimed to campaign for cases against civilians to be heard by ordinary courts – not the military courts.
“Society is still unsure about Anon’s real intention. They don’t know if what’s he’s doing is for his own benefit or for the country’s interest,” Winthai said.
First Army Area commander Lt-General Kampanat Ruddit said yesterday that those who are interested in this group of people should check their background to understand them better.
On Thursday, Anon petitioned Supreme Court president Direk Ingkaninanda |for the right to exercise civil disobedience by not complying with orders from the NCPO.
Anon said he would campaign for the right to stage civil disobedience without fear of being charged with violating martial law.
Anon and four others are scheduled to report to police on Monday accused of violating NCPO orders by carrying out political activities at the Bangkok Art and Culture Centre on February 14.
