Academics call for immediate release of seven student activists

The network said the government should promote a free and fair referendum by supporting open campaigns and discussion. 

A group of academics, including Anusorn Unno of the Thai Academic Network for Civil Rights, yesterday read the statement signed by 292 academics from across the nation outside the Bangkok Remand Prison, where the students are being detained.

The students from the New Democracy Movement (NDM) had joined six other activists, including three labour-union members, to distribute anti-draft charter leaflets in Samut Prakan on Thursday evening.

All 13 were arrested and charged with violating the junta’s Order No 3/2558, which bans political gatherings of more than five people. Their alleged anti-charter activities in Bangkok and nearby areas were said to mark the 84th anniversary of the Siam Revolution.

Six of the 13 were released on a Bt50,000 bail, while the seven NDM activists – students and graduates from Thammasat, Ramkhamhaeng and Kasetsart universities – did not ask for bail because they did not believe they had broken the law. Their lawyers are working on filing a new request in court for their unconditional release. 

Anusorn criticised the current atmosphere, which he described as suppressing political freedoms, as well as the Referendum Law’s Article 61, which restricts people’s right to expression. 

He said the group would invite academics living overseas to write e-mails to the government and the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) asking them to respond to their demands. The recent UK referendum “Brexit” should serve as an example because free expression was allowed, network members said. 

Meanwhile, NCPO spokesman Winthai Suwaree told the press yesterday that the NCPO would not change its approach regarding politically motivated activities. He said participants would first be asked for their cooperation, but if their actions violate the law, then normal judicial procedures will follow. 

Authorities would try to take every element into consideration when judging a situation, he said. He added that a recent event, where regime critics attached anti-referendum banners to balloons that were then released, constituted only a partial expression of opinion, but officials believed the action broke the law and had to take action.