The Songkhla Provincial Court on Thursday acquitted 15 local protesters against a coal power plant project in Songkhla's Thepha district, but two of them were ordered to pay a penalty for violating the public gathering law.
The protesters said this was great victory against the military regime.
The court spent almost a year in delivering the verdict after the prosecutor in January of this year filed the case.
The protesters were charged with violating the public gathering law, obstructing and physically attacking officials, and blocking traffic.
Krissada Khunnarong, the defendants' lawyer, said the court found that they had fully exercised rights guaranteed to them by the constitution in expressing their opinion against a project which affects them, especially since their complaint had never been verified by various agencies.
"The court said it is a gathering without any harmful weapons and doesn't create any disturbance. So, the gathering can be held under the constitution. They all have been found not guilty of holding a gathering. But two of them made the mistake of not acquiring the proper permit. They will have to pay a penalty of 5,000 baht each," he said.
However, he added that he would discuss with the locals whether to appeal the verdict regarding the penalty payment.
A group of local people last year staged a walking campaign, raising public awareness of their opposition to a coal power plant project in Thepha district.
They wanted to submit a protest letter to Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha while he and his cabinet held a mobile meeting in Songkhla province in Dec 27 last year.
A small clash between local protesters and police took place in which several people were slightly injured. Seventeen local villagers were arrested and the case was also taken to court.
The locals were unhappy with the project due to fears of its impact on the environment and health of the community.
Moreover, they were worried that a deep-sea port which transported a massive amount of coal to the plant would destroy their fishing communities. The group said it would carry on with its fight.
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