Thai activist gets convicted, but walks out of jail

Weerayuth Kongkanathan, 49, was given a one-month suspended jail term after being found guilty of violating a ban on political gatherings, the first anti-coup activist to be convicted a military takeover in late May. He was originally sentenced by Bangkok’s Pathumwan Municipal Court to 2 months in jail and fined 6,000 baht ($185), but both were reduced by half when he pleaded guilty. Weerayuth vowed to join protests again, even if he faces the threat of getting imprisoned if he participates in further demonstrations. He said he would just “have to avoid being arrested again.” Since the junta ousted the kingdom’s caretaker government, political assemblies of more than 5 people have been banned.

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