FRIDAY, March 29, 2024
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Activist faces charges after stunt at booth

Activist faces charges after stunt at booth

A POLITICAL activist is facing three charges for tearing up his ballot at a polling booth in Bangkok.

Piyarat Chongthep, 25, walked into the polling booth in the capital’s Bang Na district in a T-shirt emblazoned with the words “No Coup”. After receiving the ballot, he shouted “Doom the Dictatorship, Thrive the Democracy!” and tore his ballot into two pieces. 
He was then arrested and sent to Bang Na Police Station. 
Piyarat said he tore the ballot up because he disagreed with the referendum process. 
“I hope my action will go down in history as a record about the illegitimacy of this charter draft,” he said. 
Piyarat also announced in a written statement that he was not insane and said he was ready to take responsibility for what he did.
“I will go to court to underline the abuse of power,” he said, criticising how authorities have taken action against many people for their critical comments on the charter draft.
Piyarat, president of the For Friends Association, is charged with violating the public referendum law, causing property damage, and destroying state documents. 
If convicted of the first charge, he could face up to a year in jail and/or a fine of up to Bt20,000. The second charge carries a punishment of up to three years jail and/or a fine of up to Bt60,000. The third charge, meanwhile, is punishable by up to five years in jail and/or a fine of Bt10,000.
Election Commission member Somchai Srisutthiyakorn said Piyarat’s action was reminiscent of a university lecturer tearing up his ballot during an election a number of years ago. 
“When the university lecturer’s case went to the Supreme Court, he received a guilty verdict,” Somchai said. 
He said the university lecturer got a suspended jail term, lost his electoral rights for five years, plus a fine of Bt2,000. 
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