Thailand: Red Shirt leader given two more years in jail
Leader of the National United Front of Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD), also known as “Red Shirt”, Jatuporn Prompan was sentenced to two years in prison by the Appeals Court on June 10 for slandering former Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva.
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The ruling was to confirm earlier ruling by the Criminal Court that sentenced Jatuporn to two years in jail without delay for accusing Abhisit of ordering the slaughter of Red Shirt protesters during the anti-government protest in 2009.
The Red Shirt leader also accused the ex-Prime Minister of intercepting the attempt to seek the royal pardon for the fugitive premier Thaksin Shinawatra.
The Appeals Court said people have the right to criticise politicians but it must be based on facts and for the sake of peace and order of the country.
Earlier on June 2, the Supreme Court upheld the ruling of the Criminal Court to sentence the Red Shirt leader to six months in prison and a fine of 50,000 THB (over US$1,400) for defaming former PM Abhisit.
