The 14 embattled anti-junta activists vow to struggle on without bail

The 14 anti-junta activists detained stay adamant on their civil disobedience move and refuse to submit bail request to the military court, saying that the court has no jurisdiction on the case.   

Kritsadang Nujarad, a defence lawyer of 14 anti-junta activists under custody at 1 pm on Friday, 3 July 2015, told the press in front of Bangkok Remand Prison that none of the 14 anti-junta activists will request for bail.

When asked as to why they decided so, he said that they still stand firm on their beliefs on human rights and the principles of democracy which the highest authorities belong to the people.

Kritsadang added that the young activists refuse to acknowledge the authorities of the junta’s National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) and the military court and that they would like to fight the case in the civilian court as they are civilians.

Kritsadang Nujarad, a defence lawyer of 14 anti-junta activists, tell media about the conditions of the activists and the progress on their case in front of Bangkok Remand Prison on 3 July 2015

The lawyer also mentioned that all the 14 are in good spirits. However, Chonticha Jang-rew, the only female activist of the 14 has developed back pain and is now hospitalised in a prison hospital of Bangkok Remand Prison. However, she is also determined to fight on.

As the first custody period of the 14 are about the be expired, the lawyer said that the students will submit a request against the custody permission if the police try to detain them for another period. However, they will not request for bail.       

At 1 pm today, 3 July, the police also started pretrial questioning of the student activists. The next trial of the 14 will be on 7 July 2015 at the Bangkok Military Court.

Bangkok’s Military Court on 28 June granted custody permission to detain 14 student activists who are accused of violating the junta’s National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) Order No. 7/2014, which prohibits any political gathering of more than five persons for holding symbolic events to commemorate the 2014 coup d’état on 22 May.

In addition, the 14 are also charged under Article 116 of the Criminal Code, the law on sedition, for holding anti-junta political activities. If found guilty, the activists might face prison terms up to seven years.

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