A PAD lawyer said that the red shirts’ petition campaign was a violation of the Criminal Code, subject to many years in jail on charges of assisting a culprit and contempt of court.  He provided a complaint form for people to download from Manager website to press charges against red shirt leaders and others throughout the country.

Suwat Aphaiphak, lawyer for the People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD), said that the red shirts’ petition campaign was improper as it was a political ploy to pressure the King.

This is a crime under Article 189 of the Criminal Code which penalizes those who assist culprits or convicts to avoid punishment with a maximum of two years’ imprisonment or a fine of 4000 baht, or both.

The petition also violates Article 198 on contempt of court, where the punishment is 1-7 years in prison or a fine of 2,000-14,000 baht, or both, Suwat said.

Suwat was preparing to file charges against the red-shirt leaders, as the crimes had already been committed. People can press charges at any police station throughout the country against the leaders or anyone who was found to be involved in the campaign, using the form provided on the Manager website.

The plaintiffs will have to fill out their real names, dates and the police stations where they make the complaints, and submit the red shirt petition as evidence.