THAI activist Somyot Prueksakasemsuk, head of June 24 Democracy group, accompanied by representatives of two other groups gathered at MRT Ladphrao station this morning (July 9) to walk down to the Ratchada Civil Court to file a case for cancellation of the emergency decree, INN News reported.
Leaders of the other two groups, Mr. Nimit Thian-udom of People’s Welfare State Network and Mr. Yingcheep Achchanon of People Go Network, accompanied Somyot on the walk to court at 9.30 a.m. with followers of all three groups holding up placards voicing their objection to the extension of the emergency decree as they did so.
Speaking to INN News Somyot said they are going ask the Civil Court to scrap the emergency decree because it impacts the economy and violates people’s rights and freedom.
He added that while the emergency decree was introduced to control the Covid-19 pandemic, as Thailand has not had any cases for a month now there is no reason to extend it further.
Another unidentified activist who was with Somyot in the video clip posted by INN News said many cases against the emergency decree have been filed but the plaintiffs never win.
That they are filing another case today is to highlight that this decree violates the rights of the people, such as their groups, he added.
People Go Network wrote in the case papers that the emergency decree forbids people from assembling and voicing their opinion on issues that affect the government and as of today 23 people are facing charges of violating this decree.
Somyot was a magazine editor who in 2013 was sentenced to eleven years’ imprisonment for lese majeste against His Late Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej. His sentence drew protest from the European Union and from numerous human rights groups, including Amnesty International, which designated him a prisoner of conscience.
However on April 30, 2018 he was released from jail after serving seven years of his sentence.
CAPTION:
Followers of the three activist groups display placards against the emergency decree as they walk down to the court this morning. Photos: INN News
