Leading Thai political activist jailed for lese majeste

BANGKOK, February 28 (TNA) - The Criminal Court sentenced a leading Thai political activist, Surachai Danwatananusorn, also known as Surachai sae Dan, to 15-year imprisonment without suspension Tuesday, reasoning that his offences are serious. Surachai was charged with lese majeste by public prosecutors for his speeches in previous political demonstrations. The Criminal Court said that Surachai is considered knowing what is right or wrong as he graduated from the Faculty of Political Science faculty, Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University, and was elected as a member of the Nakhon Si Thammarat Provincial Administrative Organization in the Thai South. According to the Criminal Court ruling, Surachai was found guilty of lese majeste on three counts, each of which is liable to five-year imprisonment, but due to his confession, the court halved his jail term to seven years and six months without suspension because his offences are serious. After Thailand's democratic uprising on October 6, 1976, Surachai was a political prisoner for his involvement with the Communist Party of Thailand. He was sentenced to death but later received a royal pardon. Surachai was a failed House candidate and he used to join red-shirt demonstrators who support exiled ex-Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra but later left for hardcore political movements under the name of “Red Siam” instead. (TNA)