POLITICS
POST REPORTERS
Daranee: Police singled me out |
Metropolitan police yesterday arrested Daranee Charnchoengsilpakul, alias ''Da Torpedo'', a key leader of the United Front of Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD), on lese majeste charges following her speeches on a UDD rally stage late last week.
Police from Chana Songkhram police station detained Ms Daranee, 51, at her house in Bangkok's Chatuchak district yesterday after the Criminal Court issued a warrant for her arrest.
According to Pol Lt-Col Banyong Daengmankhong of Chanasongkram police station, Ms Daranee has been charged with disrepecting Their Majesties the King and Queen twice. The first insult came during her speech on Friday night and the second early Saturday morning.
Pol Lt-Col Banyong told the court Ms Daranee denied all the charges while police sought approval from the Criminal Court to take her into custody for 12 days without bail.
Pol Lt-Col Banyong said police opposed bail for Ms Daranee for her own safety as her offence was one that could result in violent attacks on her by members of the public.
Ms Daranee was remanded at Bang Khen Central Women's Prison yesterday.
Earlier, at a press conference held by the Metropolitan Police Bureau, Ms Daranee insisted she told the truth at the UDD rally and that police had singled her out for prosecution.
Metropolitan Police chief Pol Lt-Gen Aswin Kwanmuang said police followed legal procedures in all lese majeste cases.
Somkiat Pongpaiboon, a People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) leader and Democrat MP, also faces a lese majeste charge for referring to the monarchy during his speech at a PAD rally .
Pol Lt-Gen Aswin said that in lese majeste cases, police can arrest the accused without anyone filing a complaint.
Meanwhile, at the Attorney-General's Office, the public prosecutor in charge of indicting 15 core UDD members for allegedly causing unrest in front of the Si Sao Thewes residence of Privy Council president Gen Prem Tinsulanonda on July 20 last year said his team expects to indict the 15 by the end of next month.
Among the 15 suspects in the case are former Prime Minister's Office minister Jakrapob Penkair, People Power party MP Jatuporn Phromphan, deputy government spokesman Nathawut Saikua, and former national human rights commissioner Jaran Ditha-apichai.
Also yesterday, the Women for Democracy Group yesterday submitted a letter to Abhisit Vejjajiva, the Democrat party leader, urging him to sack Mr Somkiat from the party.
Clad in red tops, the colour of anti-PAD groups, they said Mr Somkiat should be fired now that the Criminal Court has already issued a warrant for his arrest.
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