BANGKOK, 30 January 2014 The Civil Court has agreed to deliberate a motion submitted by a core leader of the People’s Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) against government officials for illegitimately imposing the emergency decree to control protesters.
PDRC core leader Thaworn Senneam today appeared at the Civil Court to hear the court’s decision whether to accept his motion against Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, Chief of the Center for Maintaining Peace and Order Chalerm Yubamrung and National Police Chief Adul Saengsingkaew for their excessive use of power in declaring the state of emergency.
The motion seeks a court order to deactivate the emergency law and a temporary injunction against a protest crackdown.
According to their verdict, the judges saw fit to accept the motion for deliberation. They elaborated that although the law authorizes the administrative body to impose the emergency decree to resolve emergency situations, the people are, by no means, to be deprived of their rights and freedom when the decree is in place.
The defendants are required to submit their clarifications within three days while a trial to hear their defense statements will take place on February 6 at 9 am. However, since it is a civil case, the defendants will not need to appear before the court by themselves.
As for the requested temporary injunction, the court has already summoned Mr Thaworn and former Secretary-General of the National Security Council Thawil Pliensri for testimony. The judges will deliver their verdict on January 31 at 3 pm.
