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22 February, 2012
Somyot Pruksakasemsuk was once again denied bail on 20 February by the Thai Criminal Court and is still incarcerated at the Bangkok Remand Prison. Somyot, a long-time labour activist in Thailand, was arrested on 30 April 2011 for his activities as a journalist in the run-up to the Thai elections last July.
He is charged with violating Section 112, or the lèse majesté law, a charge of defaming, insulting and threatening the King, Queen and heir apparent. Somyot is also alleged to have resisted arrest. He denies all charges.
Now working as the prison librarian, the Court ruled against bail on the following grounds:
- The trial is high profile and evokes strong reactions from the public;
- That Somyot is likely to escape Thailand if he is released; and
- That Somyot would interfere with the prosecution witnesses if released.
These reasons are not credible to Somyot’s supporters.
Somyot Pruksakasemsuk
Somyot’s son, Panithan Pruksakasemsuk, conducted a well-publicised 112-hour hunger strike that ended on 16 February, to protest against the order of the Criminal Court to deny his father’s bail. The request for bail has been made seven times and sufficient deposit has been offered. His protest is aimed at demanding the right to temporary release of his father.
Prosecutors have relocated Somyot to various provinces of Thailand for hearings by the prosecutor’s witnesses. This has been described as a form of persecution of Somyot as several witnesses live in or near to Bangkok.