Homeless people in Chiang Mai are being arrested and having lawsuits filed against them for “leaving their homes” during curfew hours, according to Thai Lawyers for Human Rights.
They described two case examples, Tui and Chat (both aliases), in the report – both of whom push vegetable carts for a living at Warors Market and also live in the market behind the vegetable stalls.
Tui and Chat were arrested by the police as they were walking back to their vegetable stalls. Tui was returning from the toilet across the street, while Chat was coming back from meeting with friends who never showed up.
Tui was arrested on April 12 and Chat’s arrest was on April 13. Both were made to confess to violating the curfew without a lawyer present and were sent to Chiang Mai Kwang Court to be prosecuted. They were told their verdicts by a TV screen.
Tai’s case was ruled as guilty with the punishment of imprisonment for six months with a fine of 1,500 baht. The sentence was suspended because it was a first-time offense and he was warned by the court not to break curfew again.
Chat was fined 3,000 baht and he has to report to the parole office at the end of April. His fine was, however, covered by a police officer that knew him.
During his verdict, Chat said that a man in a yellow shirt walked into the room and told him, “next time, don’t leave your home after 10pm.”
Similar cases are being reported throughout the country.
