Thursday, 17 February 2011

Yellow Shirt leaders ordered to hear ISA charges


A series of posters calling on Thais to fight back are hung at a rally in Bangkok. The "Yellow Shirts" are calling on Thailand not to loose any more territory to Cambodia. -- PHOTO: AP

Feb 16, 2011

THAILAND - TEN Yellow Shirt leaders were summonsed by police on Tuesday to formally hear charges next week of violating the Internal Security Act in connection with their ongoing protest at Government House.

Leaders of the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) - Chamlong Srimuang, Sondhi Limthongkul, Piphob Dhongchai, Praphan Khoonmee and others - were required to meet investigators at the Metropolitan Police Bureau by next Tuesday, Police Maj-General Prawut Thawornsiri, spokesman for the Centre for Administration of Peace and Order (CAPO).

CAPO was established when the Internal Security Act was imposed last week in seven districts in central Bangkok, with key political sites such as Government House, Parliament and Democracy Monument.

The Yellow Shirts have been occupying roads around Government House for weeks to demand tougher actions in response to the border conflict with Cambodia. They want the government to cancel a memorandum of understanding with Cambodia on dealing with boundary disputes, to withdraw from the World Heritage Committee, and for Cambodians to be evicted from disputed land near Preah Vihear temple.

Maj-Gen Prawut said on Tuesday that violators of the ISA could face up to a year in jail and a fine up to Bt20,000 (S$832). But he warned the penalty could multiply for repeated offences.

'If the 10 PAD leaders do not report themselves to the first appointment, police will summons them again after three to seven days. If they fail to show up again to hear the charges, police will seek court permission to issue arrest warrants,' the spokesman said. -- THE NATION/ANN

No comments: