Free Somyot Pruksakasemsuk

Source: Lek Junya

On 30 April 2011, again another political arrest to pro democracy activist/ known labour activist in Thailand..Somyos Phrueksakasemsuk
The person is a long time labor activist who has been involved in the pro democracy movement, who believe that workers rights/movement is un separate able from the struggle for guinea democracy.
On 29 April 2011, he and other members of Democracy Net work had express their stands of submitting the 10,000 signatures to call for abolish of Lese Majeste law , as its against principle of freedom of expression.
It is gathering 10,000 signatures to revoke Article 112 through Parliament as allowed by the constitution
According to Somyot in the press conference that was held yesterday in Bangkok , Democracy Network are campaigning to abolish the lèse majesté law, or Article 112 of the Criminal Code, as it has been politically abused
- As the National election suppose to come soon in June 2011. There are increasing actions of crackdown to dissenting voices since weeks ago:such as:
- 1) closure of the community radio and arrest of the person in charge
- 2) increasing use of Lese Majeste Law/ Criminal code –article 112 to arrest academician , pro democracy activists and also UDD key leaders
- 3) Implementation of curfew in the key areas of protest in Bangkok
All these are signs of the strong signal and intention of the current military back Thai government is not going to respect a free and fair election and also keen on reconciliation for peace. These brutal actions on the crackdown the pro democracy forces has showed that coming election seem to be a :window show” of “democracy” that they want to show to the world.
It is common that all the fascist state in the world, when their power are in threat, they will do all types of suppression before the so called “ democracy-parliamentary election”. In fact, they had put all their opponents either in jail, or force to be in exile or afraid to speak. Therefore, these hostile behaviors had showed that they are not keen to build peace via peaceful manner and respect the rule of democracy.
Hence, it is time for the international community to voices its protest to the arrest of Somyot and also to demand guinea democracy to be in place and military should not intervene in politics and misused of the Lese Majeste law.Also it is time to abolish the Lese Najeste Law/CC Article 112 that against the basic human rights of Freedom of Expression and Thoughts!

Here is the letter from prison written from Somyot- 2 May 2011:
“I would not be the last victim as long as we are still trapped in the rule which is essentially a dictatorship, but is falsely portrayed as a democracy to the world. I shall fight for freedom until my last breath. I may agree to shed my freedom, but not my humanity.” Somyot Pruksakasemsuk Holding cell, Crime Suppression Division, Bangkok 8.30 am, May 2, 2011
Short Bio about Somyot:
Somyot Pruksakasemsuk says:” I wanna sacrifice my liberty, but not my humanity! “ ( the written declaration was being written ,before he was detained on 26 May 2010, Bangkok,Thailand)
Read Here:
Read here, the latest news of arrest of Somyot Phrueksakasemsuk .
Somyos: without freedom, humans are not human
Mon, 02/05/2011 – 14:28 | by prachataiDSI arrests key red-shirt member
Lawyer seeks bail for Somyot
Democracy Network campaign for 10,000 signatures to repeal lèse majesté law
“Fascism” and the Thai state

Arrest of Somyos Pruksakasemsuk
press statement of the 112 (lese majeste law) awareness campaign -a group who call upon the amendment of the law. and stop misused of the LML as a tool to suppress dissenting voices

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