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Jatupat Boonpattararaksa

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Jatupat Boonpattararaksa
จตุภัทร์ บุญภัทรรักษา
Born1991
Chaiyaphum, Thailand
NationalityThai
Other namesPai
Alma materKhon Kaen University
OccupationSocial activist
Known forSocial activism, political activism

Jatupat Boonpattararaksa (Template:Lang-th), commonly known as Pai Dao Din (ไผ่ ดาวดิน—a combination of his nickname Pai and the student activist group Dao Din) is a human rights defender and activist from Thailand, who was arrested on 3 December 2016 on charges of lèse-majesté, the first such case under King Vajiralongkorn,[1] following which he faced a secret trial and was then imprisoned. Charged and imprisoned multiple times,[2] most recently with sedition on 16 September 2020,[3] Jatupat is presently affiliated with the Free People movement.[4]

Background

Jatupat is from Chaiyaphum, in Northeast Thailand. His father, Viboon Boonpattararaksa, is a community lawyer who has sought to represent villagers assassinated on social justice cases, such as protecting the environment. Prior to his arrest, Jatupat was a law student in Khon Kaen, at the Faculty of Law at Khon Kaen University.[5] Jatupat teaches traditional Northeast Thai musical instruments to school students.[6]

Activism

Jatupat was politically active as part of the Dao Din Group[7] and a founding member in 2015 of the New Democracy Movement. At university, in 2013-2014, Jatupat participated in anti-mining protests in Loei,[8][9] during which he came to the public's attention when a photograph of him pleading with the authorities not to disperse a protest went viral. Subsequently, the Dao Din group was granted an award by Thailand's National Human Rights Commission, which Jatupat accepted on behalf of the group.[5]

Following the 2014 coup, while the military junta (the National Council for Peace and Order; NCPO) was successfully repressing pro-democracy activists with diktats restricting freedom of expression, Pai and other Dao Din members peacefully protested Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha at a function in Khon Kaen by flashing the three-finger Hunger Games salute in front of him.[10]

Jatupat was arrested alongside other members of the Dao Din Group in 22 May 2015 and detained; he was later released pending an investigation. On 6 August, 2016, he was arrested for distributing flyers protesting the new draft charter, which was being put to a referendum, under Article 61(2) of the Referendum Act, which effectively penalised campaigning against the Charter. He went on hunger strike and was released on bail.[11]

On 22 May 2017, for violating the NCPO Head’s Order No. 3/2015 for participating in a gathering of over five people on 22 May 2015 to commemorate the May 2014 coup d’état, Jatupat was taken to the Military Court of Khon Kaen Province for trial together with seven other democracy activists.[12]

Arrest and imprisonment for lèse-majesté

Jatupat was accused of lèse majesté and was arrested on 3 December 2016 for "sharing" on his Facebook page a BBC Thai biography of King Vajiralongkorn as well as distributing material against Thailand's draft constitution. He was the first person to be arrested for lèse majesté during the new King's reign. While over 2,800 people shared the article on Facebook and it was read by millions, he was the only person to be arrested for lèse majesté.[12]

After being bailed, Jatupat immediately posted a satirical Facebook message criticising the authorities.[13] In a landmark bail hearing ruling, the court ruled that "the accused displayed behaviour via social media in a manner which ridiculed the authority of the state without fear of the nation’s laws, causing damage to the nation. The accused also had a tendency of acting in this way repeatedly." His bail was revoked on 22 December.[14]

Jatupat initially pleaded innocent as he wanted to utilize his case to demonstrate to the public the injustices of the judicial process.[15] However, after the court decided on a secret trial, in August 2017, he pleaded guilty and was sentenced to two and a half years in prison, on 16 August.[16][17] Of the 2,600 persons who shared the biography online, Jatupat was the only one prosecuted.[17] Several human rights groups have voiced outrage at the persecution of Jatupat and have initiated movements calling for justice.[18][19][20] While in prison, Jatupat wrote poetry.[21]

On 21 December, 2017, while facing another charge related to holding an activity “Speaking for Freedom”, he testified at the military court at the Sripatcharin Camp of 23rd Royal Army Base while wearing his university graduation gown over his prison uniform.[22]

On 7 January 2018, local villagers in Wang Saphung District, Loei Province, while issuing a statement regarding their struggle to protect the community and environment from gold mining, wore Jatupat masks in a show of solidarity.[9]

He was released shortly before the end of his term as the result of a royal pardon.[23]

Renewed activism

On August 28, as part of the 2020 Thai protests, Jatupat turned himself in following a protest that resulted in a police summons;[24] he has been charged with sedition.[3] On 17 September, police searched a house where Jatupat and fellow activists were staying and seized 17 banners intended to be used for the 19 September protest. Although police refused to let the activist group photograph the search warrant, Jatupat live-streamed the event.[4]

Jatupat was again arrested on 13 October, 2020.[25] He was detained for questioning for up to 12 days and is facing 12 charges, while 19 fellow activists are facing 10 charges.[26] On 19 October, Dusit Kwaeng Court granted Jatupat bail, together with 18 other protesters.[27]

Awards

In 2017 Jatupat, while detained in a military court, was awarded the prestigious Gwangju Prize for Human Rights in recognition of his struggle against military dictatorship.[12]

Analysis

In 2017 Bangkok Post commentator Achara Ashayagachat described Jatupat as a role model for youth.[5]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Thailand: First Lese-Majeste Case Filed Under New King". BenarNews. Retrieved 2020-10-14.
  2. ^ "'Pai Dao Din's 1 year in prison: the written but untrue right to bail for 112 cases". Prachatai English. Retrieved 2020-10-14.
  3. ^ a b "Defiant Thai activist Jatupat to join rally in Bangkok | The Star". www.thestar.com.my. Retrieved 2020-10-14.
  4. ^ a b "Police search activist's house at Khon Kaen, seize banners about coup and monarchy". Prachatai English. Retrieved 2020-10-14.
  5. ^ a b c Ashayagachat, Achara. "'Pai Dao Din' is without question a role model". Bangkok Post. Retrieved 2020-10-14.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  6. ^ "'Pai Dao Din's 1 year in prison: the written but untrue right to bail for 112 cases". Prachatai English. Retrieved 2020-10-14.
  7. ^ "Understanding the social environment determinants of student movements: A consideration of student activism in Thailand and the Thai "social cage"". INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ASIA PACIFIC STUDIES. 2019-01-02. doi:10.21315/ijaps2019.15.1.3. Retrieved 2020-10-14.
  8. ^ "Nong Bua Lamphu declared victory over mining amidst remaining threats". Prachatai English. Retrieved 2020-10-14.
  9. ^ a b "Leoi villagers wear masks of 'Pai Dao Din', call for end of gold minings". Prachatai English. Retrieved 2020-10-14.
  10. ^ "'Pai Dao Din' is without question a role model". Bangkok Post. Retrieved 2020-10-14.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  11. ^ "Hunger striking activist released on bail". Prachatai English. Retrieved 2020-10-14.
  12. ^ a b c "Pai Dao Din accepts human rights award at military court". Prachatai English. Retrieved 2020-10-14.
  13. ^ "Loneliness and love under Thailand's junta". Prachatai English. Retrieved 2020-10-14.
  14. ^ "'Pai Dao Din's 1 year in prison: the written but untrue right to bail for 112 cases". Prachatai English. Retrieved 2020-10-14.
  15. ^ "Monday review: youngest lèse majesté suspect and 25 August". Prachatai English. Retrieved 2020-10-14.
  16. ^ "Jatupat's action like 'destroying democracy'". The Nation. 2017-08-23. Retrieved 2018-01-05.
  17. ^ a b Rojanaphruk, Pravit (2017-08-15). "Student Activist Jailed 2 and a Half Years for Lese Majeste". Khaosod English. Retrieved 2018-01-05.
  18. ^ "Thailand: Lèse-majesté verdict must be quashed". Amnesty International. 2017-08-15. Retrieved 2018-01-05.
  19. ^ "ONGOING DETENTION OF JATUPAT BOONPATTARARAKSA". Front Line Defenders. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
  20. ^ "Pai Dao Din awarded prestigious South Korean human rights prize". The Nation. 14 April 2017. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
  21. ^ "Jatupat 'Pai' Boonpattararaksa". Prachatai English. Retrieved 2020-10-14.
  22. ^ "'Pai Dao Din's 1 year in prison: the written but untrue right to bail for 112 cases". Prachatai English. Retrieved 2020-10-14.
  23. ^ "Thai student activist released on royal pardon". BBC News. 2019-05-10. Retrieved 2020-10-14.
  24. ^ "15 Activists Summoned by Police Turn Themselves In". Khasod English. Retrieved 2020-10-14.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  25. ^ "Anti-Gov't Protest Plans Complicated by Royal Itinerary". www.khaosodenglish.com. Retrieved 2020-10-14.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  26. ^ "Protesters vow to stay 3 days at Govt House to oust Prayut". Bangkok Post. Retrieved 2020-10-14.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  27. ^ Bangprapa, Mongkol; Tortermvasana, Komsan. "Media groups warn govt". Bangkok Post. Retrieved 2020-10-20.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
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