Thailand's Unification Church Leaders Finally Exonerated

    GREENBELT, MD, September 23, 2011 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Thailand means "Land of the Free," and the country took a step toward living up to its name this month as a significant religious liberty case was finally resolved by the Thai Supreme Court. On September 1, the Court exonerated Unification Church leader Dr. Lek Thaveetermsakul and seven other Unificationists who had been accused of major crimes, ranging from trying to overthrow the government to racketeering and breaking up families. According to Thai law, treason is subversion against the monarchy and the nation, and its penalty is life imprisonment or execution.

Between 1991 and 1993, nine UC members were charged and jailed, including Dr. Lek and his wife, the movement leader at the time, without the normal option for bail. As a result of the charges, church founders Rev. and Mrs. Sun Myung Moon, who were named in the original list of defendants, could not enter the country as it was presumed they would be arrested upon arrival. In 1993 the court ruled to allow bail and the members were released following their extended incarceration period. There was never a guilty verdict against them, but the prosecutors appealed at every level whenever the members were acquitted.

Between 1991 and 1993, nine UC members were charged and jailed, including Dr. Lek and his wife, the movement leader at the time, without the normal option for bail. As a result of the charges, church founders Rev. and Mrs. Sun Myung Moon, who were named in the original list of defendants, could not enter the country as it was presumed they would be arrested upon arrival. In 1993 the court ruled to allow bail and the members were released following their extended incarceration period. There was never a guilty verdict against them, but the prosecutors appealed at every level whenever the members were acquitted.

The case languished in the Supreme Court for almost seven years. Finally, after repeated appeals to the Justice Ministry, the Court finally acquitted Dr. Thaveetermsakul, and seven others.

Background

In January 1991, a coup occurred over national security concerns and a military government was installed. Shortly thereafter in May of 1991, the Unification movement was attacked in the media, largely instigated by a small group of parents of church members. One was a strong legal activist. In the post-coup environment, a case was hastily built around the trumped up charges of a threat to national security.

Thai police conducted extensive raids on church centers looking for evidence to support the government charges. Mrs. Genie Kagawa, an American missionary who moved to Thailand with her husband in 1989 recounts:

"We had 300 full-time members who were dispersed because of the center raids. However, the police got hold of their names at our Headquarters, and called them in for questioning one by one. They tried to trick our members into saying something derogatory against the monarchy, but not one member could be enticed to say anything negative. Associate members and parents were then called in one by one for questioning. They were looking for disloyal and treasonous statements, but again, they found none."

According to a press report announcing the Supreme Court ruling, Dr. Lek said he was "happy that justice was finally served." The verdict confirmed that the group was not involved in criminal actions or inciting disunity as accused, he said.

Thailand rates three stars ("needs improvement") on ICRF's five-star rating scale. ICRF president Dan Fefferman commented: "We congratulate Thailand for finally clearing the name of people who were clearly innocent of these trumped up charges, which carried a capital sentence. However, Thailand still needs improvement on religious freedom."

Theravada Buddhism obtains considerable support from the Thai government. The 2007 Constitution requires that the monarchy be Buddhist and declares that the state must "protect Buddhism as the religion observed by most Thais." A law forbids any form of insult towards Buddhism.

The International Coalition for Religious Freedom is a non-profit, non-sectarian, educational organization dedicated to defending the religious freedom of all, regardless of creed, gender or ethnic origin.

Website: http://www.religiousfreedom.com

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