Thailand’s red-shirt detainees to remain in prison

BANGKOK, Dec 22(TNA) - Thailand's anti-government red-shirt protesters who have been detained on charges of violating the emergency decree will remain in prison despite the revocation of the state of emergency in Bangkok and adjacent provinces--which took effect Wednesday (Dec 22).

Tharit Pengdit, Director-General of the Thai Department of Special Investigation(DSI), confirmed the policy, saying the anti-government red-shirt hardliners need to complete their jail terms as they had committed serious crimes threatening national security.

In response to the proposal raised by a government panel tasked with seeking truth and national reconciliation in the wake of Thailand's political unrest earlier this year on the temporary release on bail of 104 red-shirt detainees charged with minor offences, initially approved by the Cabinet Tuesday, Tharit said his agency is working with the Office of the Attorney General and the Royal Thai Police to seek court approval for some.

The DSI chief said even leading red-shirt detainees who had not been charged with violating the emergency decree could now seek bail for their temporary release as the national situation had begun to improve. (TNA)