ID :
57125
Thu, 04/23/2009 - 20:08
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/57125
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Court dismisses petition to release 3 protest leaders
BANGKOK, April 23 (TNA) – Thailand’s Criminal Court on Thursday dismissed a petition to seek the immediate release of three key leaders of the anti-government United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD), while ruling that the imposition of the state of emergency to quell unrest in the country by Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva is lawful.
The court responded to the team of lawyers representing the trio, led by Karom Poltaklang, asked for the release of their clients because the state of emergency in Bangkok and nearby provinces imposed on April 12 by Mr. Abhisit was unlawful, they said, having not been approved first by the cabinet.
Mr. Karom reasoned that since the state of emergency was not approved by the cabinet within three days of its enforcement, it should be automatically scrapped on April 15, three days after being issued, and that the UDD leaders must be released.
But Cabinet Secretary-General Surachai Phuprasert testified that Prime Minister Abhisit had discussed enforcement of the state of emergency with six Cabinet ministers on April 17 and all agreed to continue enforcing it.
Mr. Karom said he would appeal on Tuesday because the Constitution stipulates that a declaration of state of emergency must be approved by at least half of all cabinet ministers.
The UDD trio -- Veera Musikapong, Natthawut Saikuea and Weng Tochirakarn -- turned themselves in to police and have been detained since April 16 after declaring the end of their three-week protest at Government House, following a riot which left two civilians dead and more than 130 others injured on April 13. (TNA)
The court responded to the team of lawyers representing the trio, led by Karom Poltaklang, asked for the release of their clients because the state of emergency in Bangkok and nearby provinces imposed on April 12 by Mr. Abhisit was unlawful, they said, having not been approved first by the cabinet.
Mr. Karom reasoned that since the state of emergency was not approved by the cabinet within three days of its enforcement, it should be automatically scrapped on April 15, three days after being issued, and that the UDD leaders must be released.
But Cabinet Secretary-General Surachai Phuprasert testified that Prime Minister Abhisit had discussed enforcement of the state of emergency with six Cabinet ministers on April 17 and all agreed to continue enforcing it.
Mr. Karom said he would appeal on Tuesday because the Constitution stipulates that a declaration of state of emergency must be approved by at least half of all cabinet ministers.
The UDD trio -- Veera Musikapong, Natthawut Saikuea and Weng Tochirakarn -- turned themselves in to police and have been detained since April 16 after declaring the end of their three-week protest at Government House, following a riot which left two civilians dead and more than 130 others injured on April 13. (TNA)
