Opposition leader defiant after Jatuporn sentenced
A RED-SHIRT leader has pledged to continue to fight for democracy even though the chairman of his political movement has been jailed for a year.
“Our hearts sink but when we choose to walk this route in the rain, we know we will get wet and cold. We believe we will be acknowledged by society as we fight for democracy and equality, and we do not intend to take revenge,” Nattawut Saikua, secretary-general of the United Front of Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD), told Peace TV yesterday after UDD chairman Jatuporn Prompan was sentenced to a year in jail for defaming former prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva in 2009.
Nattawut said the UDD was born with a shared political ideology, which meant that individuals were important, but principles were more so.
“The freedom of the UDD leaders is not more important than that of others who have the same ideology. Jatuporn’s freedom has been taken today as has that of our brothers and sisters who also have no freedom,” he said.
Nattawut added that red-shirt supporters’ “hearts were hurt” but they had to persevere and use the pain they felt to continue fighting to the end.