THAI Lawyers for Human Rights (TLHR) said they had been harassed and threatened for the second day in a row today (Feb. 15) after having filed a request to bail out two activists arrested for honking their car horn at a royal motorcade and arguing with policemen on Feb. 4, Matichon newspaper said late afternoon.
The Criminal Court had yesterday refused to temporarily free Ms. Tantawan Tuatulanond, or Tawan, 22, and Mr. Natthanon Chaimahabud, or Frank, 23, citing the gravity of the charges brought against them and the circumstances.
However, the court did allow Mr. Nophasin Trirayapiwa, or Sainam, to be released on 35,000 baht bail on condition that he does not act in the same manner as the other suspects nor participate in any activities that may cause chaos in the country.
He had been arrested separately on charges related to the incident last March whereby an artist spray-painted an anarchist symbol and the number 112 which was crossed out on the outer wall of the Temple of the Emerald Buddha.
TLHR said on its webpage that in filing a bail request for Tawan and Frank they were today harassed by an unidentified elderly man who came into the office without a prior appointment.
At the front desk he claimed he was a retired civil servant and had legal training and had come to receive some documents. When questioned what documents he wanted he was not able to answer but tried his best to get into the office.
He also tried to get the name of an official who he could contact but was told to contact via the normal channels.
This followed a phone call to TLHR at 2.30 p.m. yesterday by an unknown middle-aged man who hurled verbal abuse and threats in demanding the contact number of the lawyer who applied to bail out Tawan and Frank.
He also warned that his group would be raiding TLHR with weapons.
TLHR said they do not know anything about this group and would closely follow the situation.
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Top and Front Page: Thai Lawyers for Human Rights logo. Photo: Matichon
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