Public seminar on the court and justice in Thailand the case of the article 112 of the Thai criminal code

To whom it may concern

We, the Campaign Committee to Amend the Article 112 (CCAA 112), would like to invite you to our public seminar on “The Court and Justice in Thailand: the Case of the Article 112 of the Thai criminal code” (or well – known as “lèse-majesté law”), on 17 March 2013, at 13.00 – 17.00 hours, at Sriburapha auditorium, Thammasat University, Thaprachan campus.

In 2012, the group, consisting of human rights activists and academics, had gathered altogether 30,383 petition signatures to propose a draft amendment of article 112. However, the draft proposal was rejected by the Parliament on the grounds that it does not fall into the Chapter in the constitution relating to the rights and liberties of the people, but the monarchy. According to the Speaker of the Parliament, such an amendment proposal could not then be made. The CCAA112, in response, appealed against the Parliamentary decisions. Up to now there has been no concrete response from the concerned authority.

With the fact that the law has still continued to be in use and affect the fundamental human rights of those who hold different political opinions in the society, we see the need to organize this public event as an attempt to bring our concerns to the attentions of the relevant authorities and general public.

For those who would like to participate and need Thai – English translation, please make your reservation through this online registration form http://bit.ly/CCAA112_regis so that we could arrange seats and translation equipments for you.

Faithfully Yours,
The CCAA 112 team

For further information, please contact
Mr. Anon Chawalawan tel.0852335316

Public Seminar
“The Court and Justice in Thailand: the case of lese majeste law”
Sunday 17 March 2013, 1.00 pm – 5.00 pm
at Sri Burapha Hall (The Side Hall) Thammasat University, Tha Prachan Campus

Programme

1.00 pm. – 1.15 pm. Opening remarks, followed by the reading of the CCAA 112’s position letter opposing the parliamentary decision regarding the draft amendment of Article 112, proposed by the group
• by Prof Emeritus Charnvit Kasetsiri, the former rector of Thammasat University

1.15 pm. – 3.00 pm. The Court and Justice in Thailand: the case of lese majeste law
•Wad Rawee, Sang Samneuk Writers
•Ms.Sawatree Suksri, Member of the Nitirassadorn Group and the Faculty of Law, Thammasat University
•Dr.Piyabutr Saengkanokkul, Member of the Nitirassadorn Group and the Faculty of Law, Thammasat University
•Mr.Yingcheep Atchanont, Communication Officer for Civil Participation, iInternet Dialogue on Law Reform (iLaw)
•Moderated by Asst Prof Dr.Pitch Pongsawat, the Faculty of Political Sciences, Chulalongkorn University

3.00 pm. – 3.40 pm. Cultural activities
•Kaweerad (People’s Poets)
•Sang Sumneuk Writers

3.40pm. – 4.50 pm. Court as a mechanism for … •Prof Dr. Nidhi Eoseewong, Historian and Social Critics
•Assoc Prof Dr. Worajet Pakeerat, Member of the Nitirassadorn Group and the Faculty of Law, Thammasat University
•Moderated by Assoc Prof Dr.Puangthong Pawakapan, Member of the Santi Prachadham Network and the Faculty of Political Sciences, Chulalongkorn University

4.50 pm. – 5.00 pm. Reading the open letter to the judges and the judiciary
•Mr.Satit Phairoh, the former Vice President of the Supreme Court

Organize by the Campaign Committee to Amend Article 112 (CCAA 112) and its allies ;
The Declaration of Street Justice Group, Kaweerad, Sang Samnuek, 24 June Democracy, iLaw and Nitirassadorn