BANGKOK, 27 January 2014 The People’s Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) has petitioned the Civil Court for an order to have the emergency decree withdrawn as well as an injunction against a protest crackdown by the government.
Accompanied by a team of attorneys, PDRC core leader Thaworn Senneam today traveled to the Civil Court to file charges against Prime Minister and Defense Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, Chief of the Center for Maintaining Peace and Order Chalerm Yubamrung and National Police Chief Adul Saengsingkaew for declaring the state of emergency in Bangkok and nearby provinces without legitimate reasons.
The core leader considered the emergency decree superfluous, claiming that the PDRC’s protests had not been violent. He also cited the Constitutional Court’s assessment that the situation had been peaceful and the gatherings were free of weapons.
Therefore, the Civil Court was asked to issue an order for the government to revoke the special law. A temporary injunction was also requested so as to prevent the protesters from any dispersal attempt by state officials.
As a result, the Court decided to accept the case for deliberation. On the same day, Mr Thaworn was also summoned for testimony in an urgent hearing.
