People’s Alliance for Democracy
Announcement 2/2008
Retaliation to Illegal Attempt to Obstruct Dissemination of Information
by Minister of Interior
The People’s Alliance for Democracy had issued Announcement 1/2008 on Civil Disobedience, dated June 8, 2008. A part of that announcement had warned some provincial governors, police officers, and state officials to stop their abuse of power in trying to prevent community radio stations, satellite television, and local cable operators in broadcasting the fight of the PAD.
On Friday, June 13, 2008, Interior Minister Police Captain Chalerm Yoobumrung held a press conference to threaten, intimidate, set up a study team, and order provincial governors and police officers to prosecute local cable operators, the PAD, the ASTV network, and those involved in the live broadcast of the PAD rally to end the broadcast. This resulted in local cable operators being forced to cease their broadcast of the activities on the PAD stage.
The PAD insists that its peaceful, non-violent, and unarmed protest is a basic right of the public in expressing their opinions according to the 2007 Constitution’s Article 63. According to Article 69, Thai nationals have a right to protect their Constitution while Article 70 states that Thais have a right to protect the nation, religion, and the monarchy and the Constitutional Monarchy system.
Moreover, the broadcast of the PAD rally via the ASTV network, local cable operators, or community radio stations is a right protected by the 2007 Constitution’s Article 36, 45, and 46, and these articles have authority over any other law that goes against the Constitution.
The PAD sees fit to announce retaliatory measures, as follows:
1. The PAD will file a lawsuit against the Interior Minister to the Administrative Court for the revoking of this unjust order and will seek a temporary injunction for local cable operators to be able to broadcast the PAD rally.
2. The verbal order that threatened and intimidated by Police Captain Chalerm Yoobumrung is considered an abuse of state authority and a violation of the Constitution, which resulted in local cable operators being forced to cease their broadcast of the PAD rally. The PAD, therefore, calls on senators to gather names to impeach Police Captain Chalerm Yoobumrung from the Interior Minister post immediately.
3. The PAD reiterates that provincial governors, provincial police commanders, and state officials, who abuse their authority by ordering local cable operators and community radio stations to cease their broadcast of ASTV’s signal, have betrayed the country and the people and have not acted as state officials under His Majesty the King. They have violated the Constitution and the law and must be prosecuted to the fullest extent.
Members of the public who have been affected by the effort of state officials to block the broadcast of the PAD rally are invited to act as plaintiffs with the PAD in filing complaints with the National Counter Corruption Commission and the Administrative Court to prosecute traitors of the nation to the fullest extent, according to number 3 in the PAD’s Announcement 1/2008.
4. The PAD would like to support local cable operators who are on the public’s side to fight this unjust order of the Interior Minister. Any local cable operator who is threatened or intimidated should file a complaint with the NCCC and the Administrative Court immediately.
5. The PAD would like to call on all Thai nationals who have been affected by this abuse of power and illegitimate order and have not been able to watch the live broadcast of the PAD rally, as well as members of the public who seek justice in society, to show their opposition against the puppet government by taking part in the PAD rally at Makawan Bridge on Ratchadamnoen Nok Avenue immediately.
June 13, 2008
People’s Alliance for Democracy
