ID :
142248
Wed, 09/15/2010 - 19:00
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/142248
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Court dismisses arrest warrant request for 45 PAD members for their roles in airports seizure
BANGKOK, Sept 15 -- Thailand's Criminal Court on Wednesday dismissed a Crime Suppression Division (CSD) request to issue arrest warrants for 45 members of the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) who have not reported to answer charges related to their seizure of Thailand's two main airports -- Don Mueang and Suvarnabhumi -- nearly two years ago.
The CSD originally summoned 79 PAD 'Yellow Shirt' leaders and activists accused in the two cases of leading thousands of demonstrators to occupy and shut down Don Mueang and Suvarnabhumi airports in November 2008 to report to the police on August 26 to hear the charges
PAD core leader Sondhi Limthongkul led other PAD leaders to hear their charges at CSD headquarters, including Maj-Gen Chamlong Srimuang, Somsak Kosaisuk, Suriyasai Katasila, Tul Sittisomwong, Anchalee Paireerak and Sarocha Pornudomsak.
Only 34 reported to the police, while 45 leading PAD members did not appear at CSD headquarters, causing the agency to seek court approval for arrest warrants.
The CSD said the reason for requesting the warrants -- including the 45 suspects who defied or ignored the summonses, intentionally evading reporting to police -- had violated criminal law.
However the Court said that many of the suspects had applied for a postponement to meet the police and many others were identified in the summonses only by their nicknames, which meant that they were not properly identified for receiving a summons before.
The Court added that even though the suspects did not report to the police as summoned, the police investigation would not be delayed by the move.
Therefore, the Court rejected the police request for arrest warrants.
The 45 suspects who did not report to police on or since August 26 included Chaiwat Sinsuwong, Veera Somkwamkid, Pramote Nakornthap, actress Sirilak Pongchoke, Karun Sai-ngam, and Somboon Thongburan.
They were reportedly presented at the Court, waiting for the verdict.
The Yellow Shirts who opposed ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra protested in 2008 in actions that led to a nine-day blockade and occupation of Bangkok's airports. The siege left more than 300,000 tourists and business visitors stranded, denting the kingdom's tourist-friendly image.
The yellow-shirt protesters besieged the airports to oust the then government of Somchai Wongsawat whom they considered as a proxy of deposed prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.(MCOT online news)
The CSD originally summoned 79 PAD 'Yellow Shirt' leaders and activists accused in the two cases of leading thousands of demonstrators to occupy and shut down Don Mueang and Suvarnabhumi airports in November 2008 to report to the police on August 26 to hear the charges
PAD core leader Sondhi Limthongkul led other PAD leaders to hear their charges at CSD headquarters, including Maj-Gen Chamlong Srimuang, Somsak Kosaisuk, Suriyasai Katasila, Tul Sittisomwong, Anchalee Paireerak and Sarocha Pornudomsak.
Only 34 reported to the police, while 45 leading PAD members did not appear at CSD headquarters, causing the agency to seek court approval for arrest warrants.
The CSD said the reason for requesting the warrants -- including the 45 suspects who defied or ignored the summonses, intentionally evading reporting to police -- had violated criminal law.
However the Court said that many of the suspects had applied for a postponement to meet the police and many others were identified in the summonses only by their nicknames, which meant that they were not properly identified for receiving a summons before.
The Court added that even though the suspects did not report to the police as summoned, the police investigation would not be delayed by the move.
Therefore, the Court rejected the police request for arrest warrants.
The 45 suspects who did not report to police on or since August 26 included Chaiwat Sinsuwong, Veera Somkwamkid, Pramote Nakornthap, actress Sirilak Pongchoke, Karun Sai-ngam, and Somboon Thongburan.
They were reportedly presented at the Court, waiting for the verdict.
The Yellow Shirts who opposed ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra protested in 2008 in actions that led to a nine-day blockade and occupation of Bangkok's airports. The siege left more than 300,000 tourists and business visitors stranded, denting the kingdom's tourist-friendly image.
The yellow-shirt protesters besieged the airports to oust the then government of Somchai Wongsawat whom they considered as a proxy of deposed prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.(MCOT online news)
