Case History: Baramee Chairat
On 5 August 2015, human rights defender Mr Baramee Chairat appeared at Samranrat police station for interrogation on charges of sedition under Section 116 of the Criminal Code. The charges were brought as a result of his support to 14 student activists who were arrested for peacefully demonstrating against military rule in Bangkok on 24 and 25 June 2015.
Baramee Chairat is a Thai human rights defender and a member of the board of Amnesty International Thailand. He is also the coordinator of the Assembly of the Poor (AOP), a grassroots movement founded in 1995. Widely supported by community organisations and local NGOs, the movement assists local villagers harmed by development and industrial projects in Thailand.
On 5 August 2015, human rights defender Mr Baramee Chairat appeared at Samranrat police station for interrogation on charges of sedition under Section 116 of the Criminal Code. The charges were brought as a result of his support to 14 student activists who were arrested for peacefully demonstrating against military rule in Bangkok on 24 and 25 June 2015.
On 3 July 2015, a summons was issued for Baramee Chairat to appear at the Samranrat police station on 10 July for interrogation. The interrogation was initially postponed until 29 July and eventually took place on 5 August. He was release following his questioning. His lawyer must submit an additional written statement to the police within 10 days. The charges that Baramee Chairat faces, under Article 116 of the Criminal Code, carry a sentence of up to seven years' imprisonment.
Before his interrogation, a crowd of approximately 50 people gathered outside the police station in support of Baramee Chairat.
Human rights defender Mr Baramee Chairat visited the fourteen student activists detained by the Thai government for their peaceful demonstration against military rule. He helped them find shelter for two nights when they faced arrest. Now, the government is accusing Chairat of sedition after showing support for the young human rights defenders.
On 3 July 2015, police issued Chairat a summons for interrogation, which will take place at 9 am on 10 July at the Samranrat Police Station. The summons is based on the accusations of sedition, brought against the human rights defender by Lt Col Phongsarit Pawangkhanan. Chairat faces charges under Article 116 of Thailand’s Criminal Code, and risks up to seven years imprisonment.
The "sedition" accusations are related to the support Baramee provided to the fourteen student activists detained by the Bangkok Military Court in June. Prior to their arrest on 26 June 2015 he visited students and helped them to find a shelter for two nights.
On 8 July 2015, the fourteen student activists, including seven human rights defenders from the Dao Din group, were released after two weeks detention in the Bangkok Remand Prison. On 7 July the Bangkok Military Court ordered their unconditional release and rejected police calls for a further 12-day extension of students' detention. However, the Court did not drop the charges against student activists for the alleged violation of National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO), which forbids political gatherings or assemblies of more than five people.
