The network said those charged included members of MBK 39, a group of 39 activists, students and journalists who gathered on January 27 to urge the NCPO to move ahead with the long-delayed election. Members of the academic network also turned up to observe as MBK 39 members reported to the Pathumwan police station in Bangkok. Nine of the 39 activists are also charged with alleged sedition under the Criminal Code’s Article 116. “This also curbs people’s fundamental rights to peacefully assemble.”The group also collected donations to help post bail for the activists. They are also seeking academics to be bailsmen as “no one should be detained simply because they expressed political opinions”.

Source: The Nation Bangkok February 08, 2018 07:41 UTC