DSI to charge red shirt protest leaders with lese majeste

BANGKOK, April 12 (TNA) - The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) will charge Thai red shirt protest leader Jatuporn Prompan and over 10 co-leaders with lese majeste due to their speeches and gestures on stage during their rally on April 10.

DSI director-general Tharit Pengdit said the DSI was gathering evidence including the speeches and gestures of Jatuporn and other red shirt protest leaders, including Natthawut Saikua, Suporn Atthawong, Korkaew Pikulthong and Dr. Weng Tojirakarn, to back its lese majeste charge. Authorities will also examine the recorded speech of Jatuporn during the Songkran holidays.

Tharit added that Pol. Lt. Col. Thawal Mangkhang, a DSI interrogator handling a terrorism case that involves red shirt protest leaders, would ask the attorney-general on Monday to revoke the bail of Jatuporn and other red shirt protest leaders. The DSI will also consider revoking the bail of the red shirt protest leaders who received bail from interrogators as they have violated conditions for their temporary release including an order for them not to repeat previous wrongdoing.

Tharit said the DSI was only doing its duty and the final decision would rest with the court. (TNA)