Jiew’s trial adjourned until September for further witness testimony
Organisation:
The trial of the news website Prachatai’s editor, Chiranuch Premchaiporn, has been adjourned until 1 September with the agreement of her lawyers.
As it has been taking longer than expected to hear the testimony of the prosecution witness, the court decided to postpone the hearings planned for 15, 16 and 17 February. The nine prosecution witnesses will now be heard in September, and the defence witness will give their evidence in October.
Better known as Jiew, Chiranuch is facing up to 70 years in prison on charges of lèse-majesté and violating the Computer Act. Reporters Without Borders reiterates its appeal to the Thai judicial system to acquit her.
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News website editor to go on trial this week
1.02.2011 Chiranuch Premchaipoen, the editor of the news website Prachatai.com, is to be tried on 4 February on a lèse-majesté charge under articles 14 and 15 of the Computer Act, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. Widely known as Jiew, she is also facing a possible 50-year jail sentence in a separate lèse majesté case under article 112 of the criminal code. Reporters Without Borders calls on the Thai authorities to show clemency towards Chiranuch and follow the example taken in the case of Bento, an Internet user who had been facing a jail term on a charge of insulting the monarchy in a comment posted online until the prosecution was abandoned. A similar decision in Chiranuch’s case would be seen as a clear commitment by Thailand to freedom of expression. Chiranuch was just doing her job as a journalist and should not be taken to court for that. Reporters Without Borders calls for her acquittal in the trial beginning this week and the withdrawal of the other charges against her. Chiranuch is receiving a lot of support both from Thai civil society and internationally. Her arrest in September on her return from a conference in Budapest prompted worldwide protests. She is receiving support in blogs (http://digitaldemocracy.chipin.com/free-jiew), online petitions and the Twitter hashtag @jiew.
1.02.2011 Chiranuch Premchaipoen, the editor of the news website Prachatai.com, is to be tried on 4 February on a lèse-majesté charge under articles 14 and 15 of the Computer Act, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. Widely known as Jiew, she is also facing a possible 50-year jail sentence in a separate lèse majesté case under article 112 of the criminal code. Reporters Without Borders calls on the Thai authorities to show clemency towards Chiranuch and follow the example taken in the case of Bento, an Internet user who had been facing a jail term on a charge of insulting the monarchy in a comment posted online until the prosecution was abandoned. A similar decision in Chiranuch’s case would be seen as a clear commitment by Thailand to freedom of expression. Chiranuch was just doing her job as a journalist and should not be taken to court for that. Reporters Without Borders calls for her acquittal in the trial beginning this week and the withdrawal of the other charges against her. Chiranuch is receiving a lot of support both from Thai civil society and internationally. Her arrest in September on her return from a conference in Budapest prompted worldwide protests. She is receiving support in blogs (http://digitaldemocracy.chipin.com/free-jiew), online petitions and the Twitter hashtag @jiew.
Published on
Updated on
20.01.2016
Thailand
