The Appeals Court, in a significant decision today, has reduced the prison sentences of 18 key members of the former People’s Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC), altering their initial 5 to 9-year terms to a unified 12-month sentence. This follows the court’s confirmation of their convictions by the Criminal Court. Four among them received suspended sentences for two years, while the remaining did not.
The convictions stem from their involvement in extensive anti-government demonstrations spanning November 23, 2013, to May 1, 2014, aimed at challenging the administration of then-Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra. Charges included incitement to strike, criminal association, encroachment on government buildings, and disruption of traffic. Notably, they were acquitted of sedition and terrorism charges, with the court citing the absence of violence during their protests.
Among those implicated are Suthep Thaugsuban, former PDRC secretary-general, along with other prominent figures like Chumphol Julasai, Nataphol Teepsuwan, and several others named in the proceedings. The Appeals Court upheld the Criminal Court’s decision to acquit 19 additional defendants, maintaining the legal outcomes for the majority of the 39 core PDRC members indicted. Two members have since deceased, leaving 37 individuals currently awaiting a court decision on their bail applications.
This ruling marks a pivotal moment in Thailand’s legal landscape, reflecting ongoing deliberations over the ramifications of past political upheavals and the judicial treatment of protest-related charges.
