SIX MONTHS AFTER COUP

Police probe six cases of lese majeste against ousted premier

Police are investigating on six cases of lese majeste against deposed prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, one of which was his interview with CNN in Singapore early this year, Police Chief Pol Gen Seripisut Temiyavej said Tuesday.

Three of the cases were already put forward for consideration to the public prosecutors.

First was when Thaksin talked to a group of taxi drivers on December 5, 2005, second was when he said in his weekly radio talk and when flags with "Long Live the King" were used to receive his visit.

Public prosecutors have asked police to collect and provide more evidences on the cases.

Police still investigated other cases, one of which was Thaksin's interview with CNN in Singapore early this year, Seripisut said.

The police chief was speaking in a press conference to report police's works during six months after the military junta seized the power from Thaksin.

The Nation

Quote:THAILAND: Thaksin accused of insulting the king

Police in Thailand have recommended that former prime minister Thaksin Shinawtra be charged on three counts of insulting the king. The charges, which could put Mr Thaksin in jail for 45 years, come six months since the former leader was ousted in a bloodless coup.

Presenter/Interviewer: Linda LoPresti
Speakers: Noppadon Pattama, Thaksin Shinwatra's lawyer

PATTAMA: We haven't received any charges from the police so I cannot speculate on that.

LOPRESTI: You don't know what the charges relate to at all?

PATTAMA: That's right because the police haven't filed any official charges against Thaksin. They are investigating the matter.

LOPRESTI: You may not know the details of the charges but they are charges of Lese Majeste?

PATTAMA: Yeah that's right.

LOPRESTI: Which are quite rare are they not?

PATTAMA: Right it happens in Thailand, I don't want to repeat the nature of the alleged speech or alleged statement. It would be a criminal offence to repeat that.

LOPRESTI: But Mr Pattama in terms of these charges of Lese Majeste it would be quite easy for political opponents to use this law to accuse each other of offending the monarch?

PATTAMA: That's correct yeah, your understanding is correct. I think the criminal charges are politically motivated and it's just a political tool to discredit the ex-prime minister.

LOPRESTI: Now what about the corruption allegations which have also been levelled against Mr Thaksin? Does he plan to fight those charges?

PATTAMA: Certainly, he will return to Thailand as soon as the official charges have been brought against him in court. He won't return just yet but if the case has been brought to court he would return to Thailand to fight the charges.

LOPRESTI: In the absence of a court summons to testify on any charges Mr Thaksin will continue to stay out of the country, is that his plan?

PATTAMA: Ok the criminal charges has been passed to the Public Prosecutor but the Public Prosecutor has to bring a charge to court. When the case comes to court it is legally required or compulsory under Thai law he is required to appear in person in court. That's why he has to return to Thailand. We are confident that we will be able to fight the charges. We can prove his innocence.

Radio Australia March 22, 2007

Kinda funny that repeating what Thaksin said would constitute a crime by Noppadon but Thaksin is innocent while having said the original.
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