Ratsadon group calls for 'black ribbon' protest after court rejects bail for its leaders
Three leaders of the pro-democracy Ratsadon group -- Panasaya “Rung” Sithijirawattanakul, Jatupat “Pai Dao Din” Boonpattararaksa, and Panupong “Mike” Jadnok -- were denied bail by the Criminal Court on Monday and were transported to Bangkok Remand Prison and Central Women Correctional Institution at around 3.30pm.
They have been charged with violating Article 112 of the Criminal Code or the lese majeste law, for sedition under Article 116 of the Criminal Code as well as the unlawful assembly of 10 or more persons under Article 215 for their role in a political rally on September 19-20, 2020, at Thammasat University and Bangkok’s Sanam Luang area.
Fifteen other protest leaders also face charges under Articles 116 and 215, but the court set their bail amount at Bt350,000 per person.
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Later in the evening, the Ratsadon group posted on its Facebook page inviting people to dress in black and wear a black ribbon "to mourn the death of justice in this country after the judicial power has abandoned the principle of the law".
The Political Science Alumni Association at Chulalongkorn University also posted on its Facebook urging people to dress in black, while demanding the abolition of Article 112 and release of the arrested protesters.