Lese majeste witness downplays PAD links
A prosecution witness in the lese majeste trial of Voice of Taksin magazine editor and key red shirt Somyos Prueksakasemsuk testified yesterday that two articles in the magazine allegedly defamatory to the monarchy could be construed as such if the reader is a royalist who - like himself - has "faith" in the monarchy.
Chawan Sae Lim, a 21-year-old law student at Thammasat University, said he was among three former student trainees at the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) who were asked to read the magazine and testify.
When cross-examined by defence lawyer Kamron Polpornkang, Chawan admitted to having joined People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) rallies in the past and having slept at rally sites on two occasions. The witness insisted, however, that he merely went there to learn about the PAD.
When pressed by the defence lawyer to describe the PAD's stance toward the red shirts, the witness told the court that the PAD sees the red shirts as being anti-monarchist.
On Wednesday, another prosecution witness testified that officials from some half a dozen organisations, including the National Security Council, the DSI, the police and the Ministry of Information and Communications Technology, had met to discuss content in various media deemed offensive to the monarchy.
Somyos appeared in good spirits yesterday, although his hair is now mostly grey after almost a year in prison and seven bail rejections. Kamron said a verdict in the trial would likely be delivered by July. He said he hopes to make it clear to the court that while Somyos is the editor of the magazine, he did not write the articles.
One prosecution witness, who used to work with the magazine, earlier testified to the court that he believed the author of articles written under the pen name Ji Polachan is fugitive politician Jakrapob Penkair, although he admitted he had no proof to back up the claim.
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It makes no difference what
It makes no difference what is said at trial. The verdict is known beforehand. The trial is just a formality.
Where's the AG, Pracha Promnok?
He should be there standing up for Somyos, not just because he is Phuea Thai and Somyos is a red shirt, but because justice requires the government to prove its case and it is up to the AG to see that justice is administered by his department ... not by the CRES and 2006 Coup relicts.
They have no case. They just "know", "have faith" in Somyos' guilt.
And Somyos is required to prove his innocence, in direct and flagrant violation of Article 11 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Nor has Somyos had "all the guarantees necessary for his defense".
Imprisoned when charged, he hasn't had any of them.
It makes no difference what
It makes no difference what is said at trial. The verdict is known beforehand. The trial is just a formality.
Oh for goodness' sake stop whining John, of course the verdict is not known before the trial, that's just a crackpot thing to say - even for you. As incompetent as Thais assuredly are, and as much as everything they touch turns to shit in their hands, there are at least minimum standards in Thai jurisprudence. Not to American standards of course, Thailand almost never invades other countries in protection of its self-appointed role as the leader of the free world for example. But minimum standards nonetheless.
They have no case. They just "know", "have faith" in Somyos' guilt.
You have no clue at all do you? You just bang on like a Chinese cracker. You don't know whether they have a case for not, you only have 2nd-hand and probably not accurate information, same as everyone else outside of the prosecution and defence teams. The trial is to decide whether there is a case to answer or not, so please try to shut up more often. A better signal-to-noise ratio, would do everyone here a big favour.
He should be there standing up for Somyos...
Yes, yes. The only thing you seem to understand is how to tell other people what they should and should not do (symptom number one of being an American is believing you're an expert on everything).
You have the greatest volume with the least actual content on Prachatai. Could you not practice a bit of verbal abstinence for a bit? After all, you appear to be a largely intellect-free zone already so you could build a pretty good silence on that.