ABOVE: Student activists in a photo taken on Friday before their arrest. Photo: Dao Din
Fourteen students facing seven years in jail for rallying against the military government said they reject the military court’s authority to prosecute them, according to their lawyers.
The students remained defiant and demanded immediate release from the Bangkok Remand Prison, their lawyers said yesterday, where they’ve been held since Friday for holding a political gathering in defiance of orders from the military government.
Their lawyers said yesterday none of the students had been questioned since their arrest Friday, which came after two days of rallies in Bangkok against the military government’s legitimacy, according to Thai PBS.
Meanwhile more than 50 academics and activists, as well as Human Rights Watch and a former politician with the Democrat Party have called for their release.
Watchara Phetthong, who was convicted last year of defaming red shirt leader Jatuporn Prompan, said yesterday that Prime Minister Gen. Prayut Chan-ocha should use his special powers to pardon the students, The Nation reported.
On Sunday people gathered at Thammasat University’s Thaprachan campus to stick Post-it notes on a wall in support of the students.
Letters and notes were posted on the wall with messages such as “You are living heroes,” and “Section 44 is not a law, so release our children,” according to Thai PBS.
Photos: Dao Din
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