A military court has indicted a man for allegedly participating in a campaign against the junta-backed draft charter in late June despite the fact that he merely observed the campaign. He was later released on bail without condition. 

 

On 1 November 2016, Rackchart Wong-arthichart was indicted for violating NCPO Order No. 3/2015, the junta’s ban on political gatherings of five or more persons, and the controversial Referendum Act. The court accepted the case and also granted the authorities custody permission, reported Thai Lawyers for Human Rights (TLHR). 

 

Rachchart, however, requested bail and offered 50,000 baht in cash as surety.  The court released him without condition. 

 

Rackchart was accused of participating in a campaign against the junta-sponsored draft charter on 23 June in Samut Prakan Province by the anti-junta activist group ‘New Democracy Movement’. 13 people were arrested on that day and seven of them had been prosecuted in a military court for allegedly distributing flyers campaigning for a ‘No Vote’ in the 7 August referendum.

 

However, Rackchart did not participate in the campaign at all. He was there just to observe the activity, according to the TLHR.