ID :
117038
Fri, 04/16/2010 - 15:27
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http://m.oananews.org//node/117038
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Police storm hotel to arrest Red Shirt leaders; Activists free leaders
BANGKOK, April 16 (TNA) – Thai police early Friday stormed a hotel on the outskirts of Bangkok after reports that protest leaders were hiding there, and the Centre for the Resolution of the Emergency Situation (CRES) ordered 60 ex-politicians and prominent businessmen believed financing protesters to report.
The lightning attack on the SC Park Hotel immediately followed CRES security chief Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban TV appearance, charging that terrorists have mingled with United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) Red Shirt protesters occupying Ratchaprasong, Bangkok’s prime business area, demanding Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva to step down immediately.
Three top UDD leaders, including charismatic singer-activist Arisman Pongruangrong, Suporn Attawong and Payap Pankate, were in the hotel during the raid, but Mr Arisman climbed outside the hotel to escape. Hundreds of protesters in front of the hotel cheered as he slid down from a third-story ledge of the hotel.
Other leaders also successfully escaped from police custody. They later arrived Ratchaprasong intersection, with four police detained by Red Shirt protesters.
Security officials storm the hotel when the UDD opted to present complaints to management of all TV stations in the capital later Friday, charging them with unfairly telecasting the Ratchadamnoen Avenue violence last Saturday. They claimed the telecasts were one-sided and favoured the government.
According to the Erawan Medical Centre on Thursday, 24 people died and 216 others were still being treated at 15 Bangkok hospitals following the day-long clashes.
Mr Arisman, with an outstanding arrest warrant, was expected to lead the protesters to TV stations where security has been tightened since Thursday.
Embattled Prime Minister Abhisit is scheduled to speak Friday afternoon on actions he will take in dealing with the protest and on his attempts to restore peace in the country, according to Mr Suthep.
Some 60 former politicians and prominent businessmen must report to CRES for questioning Friday. Warrants for their arrest will be issued if they do not appear.
Panithan Wattanayagorn, Mr Abhisit’s deputy secretary-general, said late Thursday that the ex-politicians and businessmen include Pongsak Raktapongpisal, former deputy transport minister, Songkram Kitlertphairoj, ex-deputy commerce minister and owner of the Imperial Department Store, a UDD base in central Bangkok, and Pol Lt-Gen Chat Kuldilok, a former commander of the Central Police Investigation. (TNA)
The lightning attack on the SC Park Hotel immediately followed CRES security chief Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban TV appearance, charging that terrorists have mingled with United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) Red Shirt protesters occupying Ratchaprasong, Bangkok’s prime business area, demanding Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva to step down immediately.
Three top UDD leaders, including charismatic singer-activist Arisman Pongruangrong, Suporn Attawong and Payap Pankate, were in the hotel during the raid, but Mr Arisman climbed outside the hotel to escape. Hundreds of protesters in front of the hotel cheered as he slid down from a third-story ledge of the hotel.
Other leaders also successfully escaped from police custody. They later arrived Ratchaprasong intersection, with four police detained by Red Shirt protesters.
Security officials storm the hotel when the UDD opted to present complaints to management of all TV stations in the capital later Friday, charging them with unfairly telecasting the Ratchadamnoen Avenue violence last Saturday. They claimed the telecasts were one-sided and favoured the government.
According to the Erawan Medical Centre on Thursday, 24 people died and 216 others were still being treated at 15 Bangkok hospitals following the day-long clashes.
Mr Arisman, with an outstanding arrest warrant, was expected to lead the protesters to TV stations where security has been tightened since Thursday.
Embattled Prime Minister Abhisit is scheduled to speak Friday afternoon on actions he will take in dealing with the protest and on his attempts to restore peace in the country, according to Mr Suthep.
Some 60 former politicians and prominent businessmen must report to CRES for questioning Friday. Warrants for their arrest will be issued if they do not appear.
Panithan Wattanayagorn, Mr Abhisit’s deputy secretary-general, said late Thursday that the ex-politicians and businessmen include Pongsak Raktapongpisal, former deputy transport minister, Songkram Kitlertphairoj, ex-deputy commerce minister and owner of the Imperial Department Store, a UDD base in central Bangkok, and Pol Lt-Gen Chat Kuldilok, a former commander of the Central Police Investigation. (TNA)
