Court acquits nine of sedition

The Bangkok South Criminal Court yesterday acquitted nine activists charged with sedition and holding an illegal protest within 150 metres of a royal palace in January 2018.

The nine were Veera Somkwamkid, secretary-general of the People’s Network against Corruption, Rangsiman Rome, an MP for Move Forward Party, Sirawich Seritiwat, Nutta Mahattana, Anon Nampa, leader of the Ratsadon movement, Ekachai Hongkangwan, Sukrit Piansuwan, Netiwit Chotiphatphaisal and Sombat Boonngamanong.

The protest on Jan 27 in 2018 was to call for a general election after the military regime had postponed polls. At the time, the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) had banned all political gatherings.

The protest at the BTS skywalk near Pathumwan Intersection was also near a royal palace, which was also illegal.

However, according to the court, the protesters were not guilty of…