Jailed democracy activist dons graduation robes at Military Circle

Newly graduating from the law faculty, the Pai Dao Din member was unable to join his fellow grads on commencement day as he has been detained at a provincial prison for over a year.
Jatupat had been accused for allegedly violating the lese majeste law and the computer crime bill for sharing a BBC Thai article on his Facebook account last December. They were among a number of charges that the defiant pro-democracy activist is facing for having campaigned against the ruling junta.
Many bail attempts have been made but all were refused.
On Thursday, he was brought from Khon Kaen Special Correctional Institution to provide testimony at the 23rd Military Circle Court together with another seven defendants for a charge of allegedly breaking the junta’s ban of political gathering of five or more people in July 2016.
That court appearance was when Jatupat was given a brief moment wearing his graduation gown. He enjoyed the usual graduation photos taken with parents – and supporters – and smiling before being detained again.
In October, a military prosecutor filed charges against the eight for they organising a public forum at Khon Kaen University to discuss the then-draft charter. The prosecutor deemed the act a violation of the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) order No. 3/2015.
It was a month before the junta-written draft received nationwide approval via a tightly controlled referendum. The “Vote No” campaigners were suppressed or even arrested for breaking the junta order.
The defendants’ lawyer, Yaowalak Anupan, said that she called for the charges to be dropped, not only because the then-active referendum bill endorsed “rights and freedom to express faithful opinions” but also because the activists were merely exchanging thoughts on the Kingdom’s highest law.
“It should not be considered as ganging up for political purposes as accused,” the lawyer said.