On 8 May, Viboon Boonpattararaksa posted in his Facebook page about his son, Jatupat Boonpattararaksa, aka ‘Pai’ that “Good news!, Pai Dao Din is to be released on 10 May 2019. Please share his news as people keep asking me about his. Thank you.”
After being convicted and sentenced to two years and six months of imprisonment for violating the Penal Code’s Article 112, Pai has been incarcerated in jail since December 2017. He was supposed to do his time until 19 June 2019.
Toward the protracted incarceration
Jatupat Boonpattararaksa, aka Pai’, has been held in custody since sharing news from the BBC Thai in the morning of 2 December 2016. Lt. Col Pithakphon Chusri reported the case against him accusing him of defaming the King and violating the Penal Code’s Article 112 and the 2007 Computer Crimes Act. The arrest warrant was issued against him on the same day by the Khon Kaen Provincial Court.
Since then, we have witnessed irregularities in the justice process which symbolize the entrenched problems in Thailand’s criminal proceeding.
- 45 days and the case against Pai Dao Din for sharing BBC Thai’s news
- Chronology of Ongoing Lese Majeste Case of Pai ‘Dao Din’
- 112 days of Pai in Khon Kaen Prison
- Lese majeste cases and the justice shrouded in secrecies
Such irregularities have brought unfairness to Pai. It has led to concern about the human rights violation in Thailand, particularly the use of the Penal Code’s Article 112 to restrict freedom of expression and to create a climate of fear in Thailand. It has led to a campaign to #FreePai during that time.
- Exploring the ’Free Pai’ outcries and how they reflect unfair trial, the rescinding of bail bond, and an unfair denial of the right to bail
- The UN Special Rapporteur’s written inquiry to the Thai government about the alleged rights violation against “Pai” and the Lese majeste case
Pai and the ‘new phase’ of lese majeste prosecutions
The case against ‘Pai’ marked a new phase of the lese majeste prosecutions in the aftermath of the ascension to the throne of HM King Maha Vajiralongkorn Bodindradebayavarangkun, King Rama X on 1 December 2016. After some lese majeste prosecutions in 2017, they have entirely been brought to a halt due to the change of policy later on. There have been no more lese majeste prosecutions, and several of such cases were subsequently dismissed in 2018.
- 1 year of the imprisonment of ‘Pai Dao Din’ and the situation of Article 112 in 2017
- Changes in Thailand’s lese majeste prosecutions in 2018
The injustice against Pai does not end just at the two-year-and-six-month-imprisonment slapped against him. It has extended to his being denied a parole, even though he supposed to serve his term just for another 111 days.
Eventually, Pai will be discharged 41 days sooner than the actual time he was supposed to serve by the virtue of the Royal Amnesty Decree BE 2562 to mark the coronation of HM King Maha Vajiralongkorn Bodindradebayavarangkun, King Rama X.
Still, there are at least eight other defendants convicted in lese majeste cases who remain behind bars pending the trials in the Lower Court (Military Court) including six in the Khon Kaen Correctional Institution For Drug Addicts and two in the Bangkok Remand Prison. They do not afford the amnesty this time as their cases have yet to reach the final verdicts.
There are many other convicts (the exact number of which could not be determined) whose cases had reached the final verdicts, but due to the harsh sentences against them. They are included in this Royal Amnesty Decree, however, will not be released during this period. Still, they benefit from a reduction of the sentencing proportionately to which class of prisoners they belong. (For the updates about the latest lese majeste prisoners as of September 2018, please see She and he who remain incarcerated: At least nine defendants in the lese-majeste cases are denied bail, while fighting charges against them)
ข่าวหรือบทความที่เกี่ยวข้อง
[Analysis] Seven years after the coup: Lawsuits under the NCPO regime as “lawfare” (part 2)
The coup d’état on 22 May 2014 has left greater long-lasting legacies and enduring challenges for the resumption of democratic rule in Thailand than any previous coup over the past few decades. After the junta that launched the coup, the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) ruled the country for five years, one month, […]
admin010
03/06/2564
Cyber vigilante group threatens at least 62 individuals with lese majeste, leaking personal information of over 466 individuals via Google Map
Since early June 2021, the Thai Lawyers for Human Rights (TLHR) has been receiving complaints from a number internet users that members of the Center of Legal Assistance for Victims of Cyberbullying Facebook Page have sent them via private message their personal information and threatened to report them for violating Section 112. The situation has […]
admin010
30/06/2564
“The courtroom has been made into a prison”: Defendants in the 19 September case declare withdrawal of legal representation
On 8 April 2021, a hearing to examine the evidence in the case of the #19 September Return Power to the People protest was held in Room 704 at the Criminal Court on Ratchadaphisek Road. The protest in question was held on 19- 20 September 2020 on the Tha Prajan campus of Thammasat University and […]
admin010
09/04/2564
Overview of cases against youth political activists: At least 43 persons prosecuted
During the protest movement for rights, liberties, and democracy that began in 2020, youths- any persons younger than 18 years old- have played a critical role in organizing and participating in political activities inside and outside their educational institutions. They have also been actively contributing to pushing the limits of public discussion on social and […]