International observers urged to monitor students' case

THE THAI Lawyers for Human Rights (TLHR) group yesterday urged the international community to observe military court proceedings against 14 anti-coup students who have been detained since June 26 – in order to ensure transparency and fairness.

The group said the 14, members of the New Democracy Movement, will be taken to the court in order to request that it allows extended pre-trial detention.

“But the students will oppose the request for pre-trial detention, however. If the court approves pre-trial detention, they will be detained for 12 more days.”

In related news, Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha said during his weekly TV address on Friday night that students should not be making a political move at this point in time. Prayut said those calling for democracy should use their altruistic power for the benefit of the country instead.

Prayut warned that if conflicts do not subside then all attempts made by the government would crumble.

“I must request the people and students. We cannot solve all problems at the same time,” said Prayut, adding that instant democracy and peace and order could not be achieved at the same time.

PM’s Office Minister ML Panadda Diskul played down concern that detention of the 14 NDM students may eventually lead to a popular revolt, similar to the one which ousted the regime of Field Marshal Thanom Kittikachorn in 1973, saying the government was talking to others reasonably.

The Prayut administration was not like dictatorships of the old days, he said, and there were attempts to create common understanding with those opposing the government.

He admitted the students were altruistic in their struggle but stressed that national unity was needed now. As for pressure coming from abroad, Panadda said they were looking at Thailand from an outsider’s perspective.

At Bangkok Remand Prison yesterday, about 20 villagers mainly from the Northeast gathered to offer moral support and insisted that the seven Dao Din students from Khon Kaen University were innocent.

The villagers came to Bangkok to attend a meeting held by the National Human Rights Commission on Friday. They told the commission that the students had no political groups backing them and were protesting out of their own free will.

They issued a statement in front of the prison titled “The First Statement of the People behind our Dear Dao Din.” It said the students had been working in the field in the Northeast for many years to fight against injustice along with the villagers.

 

Isaan villagers ‘support Dao Din’

“Today we gather to call for justice for our dear Dao Din [students]. During the hard times, when we were exploited by capitalists and the state, nobody lent a hand, but them, dear Dao Din,” read part of the statement.

“What they have done was not a crime. They were not undermining national security. We believe that they were trying to reflect on problems and frustrations of the people. Today, many groups are accusing them of being backed by political groups or belonging to some particular [political] colour. We confirm that dear Dao Din are with the people and they do not have any political group behind them.”

The villagers said the students should be released unconditionally.

They also sang and performed a play in support of the students. 

The villagers said they were also members of New Democracy Movement (NDM), as it was not limited only to students but open for all people regardless of age, sex or locality.

Dao Din members from Khon Kaen, plus Wiboon Boonpatararaksa, father of Jatupat, who is a detained Dao Din member, were among the villagers expressing support.

In another related development, a small demonstration was held at Northwestern University in Chicago yesterday, calling for the release of the 14.