Each of Somyot's trail dates is being held in various locations across Thailand and as a result his is constantly being moved from one prison to another, preventing him from having regular access to his lawyers, family and supporters. He continues to be denied bail.
For a prisoner to be moved around the country in this way is unusual and his supporters believe it is another tactic to increase the pressure on political prisoners to plead guilty and keep supporters away from the trial. So far this tactic isn't working and Somyot's suipporters were out in force on the first day of his trial. You can read a report of day one of Somyot's trial at http://freesomyot.wordpress.com/2011/12/04/summary-of-somyots-first-court-hearing/
The second trial day is to be heard on the 19th December 2011 in Petchabun Province. Once again international observers and local supporters plan to attend. Live updates will be posted at http://freesomyot.wordpress.com
UN speaks out against Lese Majeste
On December 9th 2011 a spokesperson for Navi Pillay, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, put forward a strong statement that the human rights office was "concerned about Thailand’s laws of lèse majesté – where anyone deemed to have defamed, insulted or threatened the King and several other senior royals can be jailed for up to 15 years."
For more information see http://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=11704&LangID=E
