FRIDAY, March 29, 2024
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Three NDM members and Prachathai reporter held in Ratchaburi over ‘anti-charter’ leaflets

Three NDM members and Prachathai reporter held in Ratchaburi over ‘anti-charter’ leaflets

FOUR citizens including a reporter for Prachathai have been detained on charges of breaching a ban on campaigning against the charter draft after police searched their car and found leaflets with information against the draft.

The charge under Article 61 of the Referendum Act carries penalties of up to 10 years in jail, a fine of up to Bt200,000 and a five-year suspension of a person’s electoral rights. Article 61 prohibits the dissemination of “false”, “vulgar”, “inciteful”, or “intimidating” information about the referendum in August.
Reporter Taweesak Kerdpoka and three activists from anti-junta group New Democracy Movement [NDM], Pakorn Areekul, Anucha Rungmorakot and Anan Laoked appeared at Ban Pong Police Station in Ratchaburi province yesterday to show moral support for 18 red-shirts who reported to police after receiving a summons.
The 18 have been accused of violating the junta’s ban on political gatherings after they were involved in the red-shirts’ provincial anti-fraud centres aimed at monitoring possible fraud in the referendum on the charter draft.
When the four were about to leave, police searched their car and found leaflets with information against the draft. They were taken to police for interrogation and charged. 
Police did not allow them to seek bail. The four were detained and due to be taken to the provincial court, where they will be able to apply for bail, lawyer Anont Nampa said.

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