Students, MPs turn to court for action against emergency rule
Six law students from Chulalongkorn and Thammasat universities filed a complaint with the Bangkok Civil Court on Wednesday, demanding that the government lift the “severe” state of emergency, which has been in effect from last week.
The students also asked for court injunction from strong measures under the emergency decree.
The students’ court complaint against the government has also won the backing of law organisations such as Thai Lawyers for Human Rights, the EnLAW organisation, the Human Rights Lawyers Association, the Muslim Attorney Centre, Legal Rights and Environmental Protection Association, the Cross Cultural Foundation, the Union for Civil Liberty and Internet Law Reform Dialogue (iLaw).
On Tuesday, Pheu Thai MPs Cholnan Srikaew and Jirayu Houngsub filed a lawsuit against the prime minister for declaring a state of emergency, which they said was unjustified.
Cholnon said they want the court to order a revocation of the two emergency decrees issued on October 15 and 16, as well as grant protection to pro-democracy protesters.
The hearing for this case has been scheduled for Thursday.
Meanwhile, former Democrat MP Watchara Petchthong and former judge Kasem Suphasit are also seeking legal action against Prayut for “unlawfully implementing the state of emergency”.
