Appeals have been allowed in the military court since April 1, the date martial law was officially lifted in most of the country, except in restive border areas.
Cases filed with the court before that date, however, cannot be appealed, since the offences were committed when the situation was not normal, said Col Thamrongsak Vivattanavanich, a military court judge.
Under the 1955 military court act, the court allows appeals and has three tiers like courts of justice. But when martial law is in effect, appeals are not allowed and the ruling is considered final to ensure full military discipline during critical times.
Maj Gen Panomthep Vesaratchanan, another military judge, said the court regarded the situation today as normal because martial law had been lifted so appealing was allowed since April 1.
Lt Cdr Surachai Saramateh, another judge, said according to Bangkok military court statistics from May 25, 2014 to March 31, 2015, there were 148 cases of detention requests involving 172 people. The court accepted 85 of these cases and 52 of them were decided.
Another 45 cases are in the detention process and 18 cases were returned. Arrest warrants were issued for 80 people and search warrants were issued in two cases.
The court did not say how many of the defendants or suspects were civilians amid growing international calls for an end to trials of civilians in the court. Among them are former education minister Chaturon Chaisang, Thammasat University lecturer Prof Worachet Pakeerut and activist Sombat Boon-ngam-anong.
Col Thamrongsak said an amendment to the military court act had already been passed by the National Legislative Assembly to lengthen the appeal period to 30 days from 15 for the military court of first instance's verdicts. The bill, however, has yet to be promulgated.