Thai court sends protest leaders back to jail

May 12, 2011, 5:18 GMT

Bangkok - A Thai court on Thursday ruled that two leaders of last year's deadly protests had violated the terms of their bail by making offensive remarks about the monarchy and sent them both to jail.

The Bangkok Criminal Court ruled that Jatuporn Promphan and Nisit Sinthuprai, two core leaders of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD), had violated the conditions of their bail by criticizing the monarchy in public speeches delivered on April 10.

The two were arrested Thursday and held on remand while the investigations into their part in last year's unrest continued.

Jatuporn and Nisit were among a dozen UDD leaders arrested last May, when authorities ended the 69-day demonstration in clashes that left at least 92 dead and parts of the capital in flames.

Jatuporn enjoyed immunity as a member of parliament for the Pheu Thai opposition party, until the house was dissolved Tuesday. He is reportedly to campaign in elections set for July 3 from prison.

Jatuporn's inflammatory calls last year for a 'people's war' against the establishment, and his veiled criticisms of the revered monarchy, could open him to charges of lese-majesty, which carries a 15-year maximum jail sentence.

Hundreds of people have been charged or threatened under the country's lese-majesty laws in the past three years of political instability, raising international concerns about freedom of speech in Thailand.

On Wednesday, Thammasat University professor Somsak Jiamteersakul was charged with publishing an article allegedly criticizing Princess Chulaporn, the youngest daughter of King Bhumibol Adulyadej.

'People who express anything different from the official version of the monarchy face being charged with this obsolete law,' Somsak said after appearing at a Bangkok police station to hear the charge.

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