From The Thaiger
July 4, 2024
A man who spray-painted an anarchist symbol and the number 112, referencing the lese-majeste law, on the wall of the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, part of the Grand Palace last year has been sentenced to eight months in jail without suspension.
The accused, 26 year old Suttawee Soikham, is appealing the Criminal Court’s ruling and has posted bail.
The Khon Kaen native was observed by two police officers on March 28 last year spray-painting the anarchist symbol and the number 112 on the exterior wall of the temple, which is part of the Grand Palace compound in Phra Nakhon district of Bangkok. The number symbolises Section 112 of the Criminal Code, also known as the lese-majeste law.
Following his act, he was immediately arrested and taken to Metropolitan Police Division 6 for questioning.
This morning, July 4, Suttawee, accompanied by a lawyer, arrived at the court to hear the ruling. Two friends who faced the same charges were present to offer moral support.
Suttawee was found guilty of violating the Ancient Monuments, Antique Objects and National Museum Act and the Cleanliness Act. He was initially sentenced to one year in jail, but the court reduced the sentence by one-third to eight months without suspension due to his confession.
Similarly, cases are still pending against two freelance news photographers who were at the scene during the act of vandalism and took photos of the incident. The Royal Thai Police formally levied charges against them on February 13 this year, despite their alleged non-involvement in the crimes.
Freelance news photographer Nattaphon Phanphongsanon stated after his arrest that he and Nuttaphol Meksobhon, a reporter for an online news outlet, were merely performing their jobs and had no other involvement.
However, the police claim to have CCTV footage of the two journalists and the artist planning the spray-painting incident. However, there is no audio, and it is unclear what the people in the video might be discussing, reported Bangkok Post.
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Reuters report on journalists mentioned
anon (not verified) Mon, 07/08/2024 - 16:02
Thai journalists arrested for news coverage of anarchist graffiti on temple
https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/thai-journalists-arrested-ne…
BANGKOK, Feb 13 (Reuters) - Two Thai journalists have been arrested for their story about an activist spray painting an anarchist symbol and a symbol critical of "lese majeste" laws on a Bangkok temple wall almost a year ago, the police and their lawyers said on Tuesday.
Nattaphol Meksobhon, a reporter from an independent online news outlet Prachatai, and freelance photographer Nattaphon Phanphongsanon were arrested on Monday.
The two were charged with being accomplices to damaging an historical site and public vandalism, said Thai Lawyers for Human Rights, which is representing the men.
The allegations stem from their news coverage last March of an activist spray painting an anarchist symbol and the number 112 with a strike through it on the wall of the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, located within the Grand Palace compound in Bangkok.
The number 112 is a reference to the "lese majeste" law that protects the palace from criticism and carries a maximum jail sentence of up to 15 years for each perceived royal insult, a punishment widely condemned by international human rights groups as extreme.
The graffiti incident was captured on video and widely reported by the media.
Prachatai news editor Tewarit Maneechai said the two journalists went to cover the story without knowing in advance that the activist was going to graffiti the temple's wall.
"They were covering the news as journalists," Tewarit said.
Police Lieutenant Colonel Phawat Wattasupat, deputy superintendent of Phra Ratchawang police station, told Reuters that police had sufficient information to support their arrests.
Tewarit said his colleagues were not aware of the charges prior to their arrest even though the warrant was issued last May.
"Their arrests created fear about news coverage of sensitive issues," he said.
Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin said on Tuesday that the government is "fair" on freedom of the press and said it is up to the police to see what is appropriate.
"Everything depends on the law, there is no harassment," he said.
The court approved bail for the two reporters for 35,000 baht ($980) each after they were detained overnight, their lawyers said.
($1 = 35.7100 baht)
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