Jatupat Boonpattararaksa

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Jatupat Boonpattararaksa , also known by his nickname “Pai” (means “bamboo” in Thai) or “Pai Daodin” is a Thai human rights and pro-democracy activist.

Life

Jatupat Boonpattararaksa is a law student at Khon Kaen University, Northeast Thailand . He is currently in jail in Thailand after being sentenced to two and a half years in prison for lese majesty on August 16, 2017 for sharing a certain BBC article on Facebook.

He is known for his peaceful, public activities to defend and uphold political and civil rights after the military coup in May 2014. Pai and six other students were arrested on the first anniversary of the coup (May 22) after they participated in the democracy Memorial in Khon Kaen held a peaceful protest against the military government.

Pai became an activist in 2010 when he joined Dao Din, a student organization at Khon Kaen University. In German translation, ao Din means "stars that live on earth". The term is meant to express that ordinary people do extraordinary things to help others. With Dao Din, Pai gave support to neighboring communities in northeast Thailand that had problems with development projects. Among other things, he helped educate the villagers about their land and water rights , and he organized campaigns for communities at risk. Pai had previously been arrested and beaten in connection with protests against development projects near communities.

After the military coup in 2014 , Pai and Dao Din joined the movement that was directed against the military government and fought for the restoration of democracy in Thailand. On December 3, 2016, Pai was arrested again. He had posted a link on his Facebook page to a BBC article that was viewed as critical of the new king, who took the throne on December 1st. According to the arrest warrant, Pai was arrested on the basis of a complaint from an army officer who accused him of violating Article 112 of the Criminal Code. Article 112 is the law on libel of majesty . The article Pai posted on his Facebook page has been shared by thousands. The fact that there was no effort to investigate or even arrest suggests that the military targeted Pai specifically.

His admission of guilt in a closed hearing led to a reduction of the prison sentence to two and a half years.

Amnesty International is committed to his release and to improving the exercise of democratic rights in Thailand.

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Thai student jailed over king's profile . In: BBC News . August 15, 2017 ( bbc.com [accessed October 27, 2017]).
  2. ^ Student Activist Jailed 2 and a Half Years for Reading Majeste . In: Khaosod English . August 15, 2017 ( khaosodenglish.com [accessed October 27, 2017]).
  3. ↑ Feliz Solomon: Thai Activist Dealt 2.5 Years in Prison for Facebook Post. Retrieved October 27, 2017 .
  4. ↑ Thailand: Lèse-majesté verdict must be quashed . In: Amnesty International Canada . August 15, 2017 ( amnesty.ca [accessed October 27, 2017]).
  5. ↑ Thailand - Jatupat "Pai" Boonpattararaksa | Amnesty International. Retrieved October 27, 2017 .
personal data
SURNAME Boonpattararaksa, Jatupat
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Pai Daodin
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Thai law student
DATE OF BIRTH 20th century