Police to arrest UDD leader

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Police to arrest UDD leader

  • Published: 22/11/2009 at 03:12 PM
  • Online news: Breakingnews

Police will ask the court to approve an arrest warrant for red-shirt core member Petchawat Wattanapongsirikul after he made a threatening comment to Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva.

United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) leader Petchawat earlier said on a community radio station that Mr Abhisit could be killed in a car bomb attack during his visit to Chiang Mai to attend the provincial chamber of commerce meeting on Nov 29. The anti-government group later defended Mr Petchawat, saying he was only joking and there was no assassination plan against the premier.

The police will submit the evidence to the provincial court to seek an arrest warrant for Mr Petchawat on Monday, Chiang Mai deputy governor Phairoj Sangphuwong said on Sunday.

"This is a state criminal case that does not require a prosecutor, as officials can file charges against the guilty party," Mr Phairoj said. "However it would be difficult to shut down the community radio station since the province has no authority and there are no clear regulations on this."

Mr Petchawat has more than 10 pending cases against him, the deputy governor said.

During Mr Abhisit's visit to Chiang Mai next weekend, officials from all districts of Chiang Mai and the Interior Ministry had asked people not to join the red-shirt rally following the news on potential violence.

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  • ricefieldradio

    Discussion 32 : 24/11/2009 at 12:31 AM32

    Bubba - The broadcast can be heard at http://bit.ly/6cqniB thanks to ASTV.

    There is also a transcript in Thai.

    The court however rejected the arrest warrant.

    Akara - Do not feel bad it happens to all of us. One has to remember the Post and other media outlets have the final say in what they publish or broadcast. You probably won't find many pro Abhisit comment on Northern Community radio stations either. I also think it depends on who is the editor on shift. Some strong comments I have made have been published when I thought the would not be and some very mild have been axed.

  • Bubba

    Discussion 31 : 23/11/2009 at 11:29 AM31

    THIS GUSTED #9: That pretty much its the nail on the head.

    The PAD carried out violence (and in fact they did also provoke it verbally) but nothing happened and nothing will.

    The whole thing is again another sham. The actually broadcast in question can not be heard.

    You accuse someone, ban the evidence and convict someone without the people ever knowing what really happened.

    You just tell the people they cannot read or hear something for reasons of state security, etceteras. It worked for decades here and although the military is losing its grip in some parts of the country it is still the most powerful force to be reckoned with.

    I am surprised there is not the usual huge amount of anti-Taksin rhetoric here.

  • pongsiri

    Discussion 30 : 23/11/2009 at 11:20 AM30

    Divisiveness spreads like fungus. It attacks not only Thais but also farangs. Now we have red and yellow farangs.

    "I saw people standing in the rain and get soaked. I can't do anything to dry them, but at least I'm inside, dry and warm."

  • Akara

    Discussion 29 : 23/11/2009 at 10:44 AM29

    I sent many post on Thai political. I noticed that when my comments criticized Abisit the Bangkok post never accept mine, but once i try ti criticized on Thaksin the post quick accepted it and post within a minute. WHY? is the bangkok post is now standing for A bisit? has has has poor Thaksin. Good man never die anyway. I will keep eyes open whether this comment would be post or not.

  • Rodent

    Discussion 28 : 23/11/2009 at 10:23 AM28

    To all the genius mind out there, if someone plan to kill a person, they dont go out and publicized their plan, they keep it a secret and execute when the time comes. Much like the assassination attempt on Sondhi L or the 2006 coup detat.

    Now, what happened to the exactly the same threat that the PAD made throughout their 3 years of terror movement?

  • boonisback

    Discussion 27 : 23/11/2009 at 08:36 AM27

    Khun Opposite View

    I did not have the attitude of "what about the PAD, you didn't spake them" when I commented or give my opinions and conmentaries here. Law must be enforced without fear and favour. We simply do not see it happening at the moment. If you want our legal system counted and respected by Thais and international business communities, then cases committed by PAD and those who used them as tools must be included in opinions and comments.

    The examples you brought out here on police summoned PAD to answer charges are cases that should be dealt with immediately and do not required a prosecutor for their arrest. These were criminal activities in broad day light. Just like a rape crimainl case committed before the eyes of the wgole world.

    I do not use abusive words and phrases to describe peoples who care to give their opinions and comments here.

  • Truth Seeker

    Discussion 26 : 23/11/2009 at 08:25 AM26

    It seems like Police want Red leader to escape. Why announce the anticipated arrest days ahead of time? This will only give Petchawat time to pack his bags and cross the border to Cambodia, which is the promoter and harborer of Thai fugitives.

  • boonisback

    Discussion 25 : 23/11/2009 at 08:16 AM25

    Khun Breda2thebone

    I was not comapring.Just asking the law enforcement agencies a question. Laws should be enforced equally without fear or favour. If you want Thailand legal system respected and counted by Thais and interneational business communities, then we better arrest whosoever that have committed crimes and go against the constitutiion and charged them. Many crimes do not required prosecutor - violent invasion of government house, airports, armed intrusiion of TV station as examples.

  • josh

    Discussion 24 : 23/11/2009 at 02:07 AM24

    It is funny how quickly they are able to arrest a simple minded red shirt leader, while the government never seem to be willing to follow up on the real car bomb that went off during a yellow shirt demonstration. That was wiped pretty quickly under the carpet. Do I smell two sets of rules. Both should be handled even handed.

  • Opposite View

    Discussion 23 : 22/11/2009 at 11:49 PM23

    To This gusted (Discussion 21).

    1. I can read pretty well, thank you.

    2. I stand by my statement. While you may have denounced the announcer in your discussion 9, you immediately followed on with a rant about the PAD overthrowing an elected government, thus validating my contention in the posting.

    3. I do live in the Kingdom and I am certainly not naive. I may have a difference of opinion on the PAD than you do, but I don't continually bring that opinion to every forum as the cause of all the ills that beset Thailand today.

    4. It's know, not no.

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