CRES ponders leniency for some Red Shirt protesters

BANGKOK, June 11 (TNA) - Thailand's Centre for the Resolution of Emergency Situations (CRES) has instructed the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) to study the legal aspects of spare some anti-government Red Shirt protesters prison sentence after the end of the recent period of violence.

Friday's CRES meeting chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban was attended by senior officers of security concerned agencies such as Defence
Minister Prawit Wongsuwan, top military brass and the DSI head.

During the meeting, CRES, as the government's top security agency, reportedly instructed the DSI to review legal possibilities and precedents for a special law to omit punishment for some Red Shirts who were arrested earlier and are facing jail terms of six months to two years.

CRES is considering the possibility of issuing a special law to help them.

However, the agency is determined to impose stiff punishment on those people who are under terrorism charges as their actions are considered to have been a threat to national security.

The agency also asked DSI to review the legality of giving legal protection to law enforcement officials who were on duty during the implementation of Emergency Decree.

DSI Director General Tharit Pengdit reported the meeting about the progress regarding terrorism-related cases saying that more than 100 people will soon be charged with terrorism.

As for the Red Shirt leaders who are still on the run, CRES ordered police, military and the DSI to speed up their investigations to arrest them for fear that they would incite their supporters to cause further anti-government movements.

Mr Suthep reportedly raised the idea of lifting the Emergency Decree at the meeting, saying it affected the daily life of some groups of people.

However the armed forces insisted the decree must remain in place as it is necessary to control situation. (TNA)