Weekly Roundup Feb 27

EC sued for ignoring duties
 
Two civic groups on Tuesday filed police complaints at Chiang Mai Police Station, accusing the five Commissioners of the Election Commission for intentionally ignoring their duties. 
 
The accusations are based on Article 157 of the Criminal Code regarding the abuse of power by civil servants, and Article 20 of the 2007 Organic Law on Members of Parliament which states that Election Commissioners who intentionally neglect their duties or intentionally delay the formation of Parliament face 1-10 years in jail. 
 
The groups are “confident that 100 per cent of Thais want to have a new EC” and "New Day". 
 
In the complaints, the groups said since the registration of MP candidates on December 23, which was blocked by anti-government protesters, the EC had not taken any remedial measures for the candidates who could not register. Moreover, the EC did not have any measures to prevent attempts to block the elections. The EC did not file any police complaints against the wrongdoers who obstructed the elections. 
 
“The EC’s behaviour shows that the Commissioners do not want the elections to be held successfully within the legal time frame. The EC has also not tried hard enough to organize the elections for the Thais to exercise their rights to vote.”
 
 
International campaign to free Somyot 
 
International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) on Feb. 21 issued a statement urging the Thai government to release Somyot Pruksakasemsuk, a lèse majesté prisoner, editor and labour activist. 
 
Somyot is a long-time labour activist who later became anti-coup activist and editor of “Voice of Thaksin” magazine. He was sentenced to eleven years in jail in early 2012 for lèse majesté following an article published in the magazine. The case is now before the Appeal Court. Somyot has been repeatedly denied bail. 
 
In the FIDH statement, the Federation also called for the release of other human rights activists, including activists from Iran, Syria and Bahrain. 
 
 
Red Shirts mock Civil Court
 
A group of anti-establishment red shirts on 21 February organized a symbolic activity in front of the Civil Court on Ratchadaphisek road after the Civil Court ruled that the emergency decree cannot be used against the anti-government protesters, reasoning that they were rallying peacefully without weapons. 
 
A woman caricatures Lady Justice in front of the Civil Court building. Her left hand holds a talisman palad-khik, a wooden penis image. Photo courtesy of ASTV-Manager Online. 
 
The event was organized by vocal red-shirt supporters Daranee Kritboonyalai and Sudsanguan Suteesorn. 
 
They also laid a wreath with the message “For the Injustice of the Civil Court”
 
According to ASTV-Manager Online, Daranee said during the red-shirt demonstration in 2010, the group urged the Court to revoke the Emergency Decree, but the Court rejected the request, saying that the Court could not violate the Decree. 
 
 
Reds sell t-shirts to raise funds for police injured during protest
 
After several police were injured during confrontations with anti-government protesters last week, the Red Comrades group has launched a campaign to sell t-shirts to raise funds to help injured police officers. 
 
The image featured on the t-shirt is the moment when Pol. Sen. Sgt. Maj. Thiradet Lekphu tried to kick a grenade away when confronting anti-government People’s Democratic Reform Committee protesters at Phan Fah Leelat bridge. He is now being treated at the Police Hospital. The t-shirt is sold for 250 baht each. 
 
 
Pol. Sen. Sgt. Maj. Thiradet Lekphu tries to kick away a grenade on Feb. 19. 
 
 
The image featured on the t-shirt is the moment when Pol. Sen. Sgt. Maj. Thiradet Lekphu tried to kick a grenade away, with the caption “Side Kick Hero”
 
 

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