Jon, Supinya convicted for 2007 parliament protest

The Supreme Court yesterday found the group guilty of an assembly of more than 10 people, sedition, offences regarding national security, and an offence violating the public peace during their protest in December 2007. 
However, all of the activists walked free yesterday as the court handed them two years suspended sentence. 
The 2007 action came as Jon and many other activists protested against the National Legislative Assembly, backed by the former junta, which had hastily passed many laws including the Internal Security Act to restrict people’s rights. 
The assembly functioned as the legislative house after the 2006 coup toppled Thaksin Shinawatra’s government.“What I did in 2007 was meant to restore the legitimacy of the lawmaking process,” Jon told reporters after the court session yesterday. “Laws that restrict the basic rights of the people should not be passed in a rushed manner. 
“It’s better to have representatives of the people make the law,” he said.
Asked if he would protest against the current National Legislative Assembly under the present-day junta, Jon said: “I am tied by the court’s verdict.” 
Supinya said on her Facebook page that the ruling had legal implications regarding her position as a commissioner of the NBTC. Supinya added that she had asked the NBTC to suspend her duties pending an interpretation of the verdict. 
“I respect the court’s verdict and accept its consequences,” she said. “As the court found me guilty, despite no punishment, the ruling might have some legal impact on my qualifications as a commissioner.
“If the NBTC’s legal department decides I am disqualified, I have to end my position completely. Otherwise I will resume work,” she said. 
The other eight convicted activists in the case are Sawit Kaewwan, leader of State Railway of Thailand trade union; Sirichai Maingam, Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand’s trade union leader; Pichit Chaimongkol and Nasur Yeemah, former members of the New Politics Party; farmer Anirut Kaosanit; Amnart Palame, deputy secretary-general of the State Enterprise Worker Relations Confederation; Saree Ongsomwang, a member of National Reform Steering Council; and lawyer Pairoj Polphet.