Arisman surrenders, goes to jail | Bangkok Post: learning

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Red-shirt core member Arisman Pongruangrong spent the night at the Bangkok Remand Prison after the Criminal Court denied his request to be released on bail.

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United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship core member Arisman Pongruangrong talks to a huge gathering of local media members at the Department of Special Investigation yesterday where he surrendered to fight charges of terrorism. TAWATCHAI KEMGUMNERD

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Firebrand Arisman denied bail

King-Oua Laohong, Aekarach Sattaburuth & Manop Thip-Osod

The Criminal Court has denied a request for the release on bail of red shirt leader Arisman Pongruangrong after he surrendered to authorities yesterday following 18 months on the run.

The United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) core member surrendered to officers of the Department of Special Investigation, saying he would fight terrorism charges brought against him.

The DSI handed him over to special cases prosecutors who then filed a case with the Criminal Court.

The prosecutors took Mr Arisman to the court and charged him with instigating an insurrection against the Abhisit Vejjajiva government.

They accused him of intimidating Mr Abhisit into dissolving the House and calling an election, and of leading red shirt demonstrators to lay siege to several places such as the Election Commission and Parliament as well as storming Chulalongkorn Hospital.

During the unrest, M79 grenades were fired at several government buildings, including the Defence Ministry, the Public Health Ministry and the Internal Security Operations Command, prosecutors said. Mr Arisman has denied all charges.

Prosecutors raised no objection to Mr Arisman being released on bail on the grounds that he surrendered voluntarily.

Wasuthep Srisoda, Mr Arisman's lawyer, applied for bail, offering 1.2 million baht as a cash surety. However, the court denied bail, reasoning the terrorism charges against Mr Arisman carry a high penalty and he had been on the run for a long time before he turned himself in.

Mr Arisman is also wanted in many other cases and could flee again or try to meddle with evidence if he was released on bail, the court said.

Mr Wasuthep said he would lodge an appeal today and would raise the bail surety being offered to 2 million baht.

Leaving the courtroom, Mr Arisman was taken to the Bangkok Remand Prison for detention. Earlier in the morning, Mr Arisman said during a radio interview that the government should reinstate the 1997 constitution.

The former pop singer admitted to having fled the country after the UDD ended its protest on May 19 last year and to living in Cambodia.

Mr Arisman said he did not surrender earlier because he had no confidence in the judicial process and also feared he would be hunted down or kidnapped. He claimed he had narrowly escaped arrest many times.

He had decided to surrender because he now had new confidence in the justice process and believed he would be safe.

He said the UDD had achieved 50% of its goals and it was now up to the government of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra to fulfil the other half.

He also said he will lodge a petition with the Constitution Court to rule if the charges brought against him were too severe.

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United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD) – the group originally formed to demonstrate against the 2006 coup and which supported the Somchai Wongsawat government against the PAD and which led the fight against the Abhisit government. They are known for wearing red shirts แนวร่วมประชาธิปไตยต่อต้านเผด็จการแห่งชาต
core member – one of the most active or most important members of a group แกนนำ
gathering – an occasion when many people come together as a group การรวมตัว, การประชุม
local – in or related to the area that you live, or to the particular area that you are talking about  ท้องถิ่น
media – newspapers, television, radio, etc. สื่อ
(DSI) Department of Special Investigation – a police department investigating serious crimes involving influential people, organised crime, or crimes using highly sophisticated technology กรมสอบสวนคดีพิเศษ
surrender – to give yourself up ยอมจำนน
charge – an official statement accusing someone of committing a crime ข้อหา
terrorism – the use of violence to achieve political aims การใช้ความรุนแรงเพื่อข้อเรียกร้องทางการเมือง
firebrand – someone who has strong feelings, especially about politics, and wants to change things or encourage other people to feel the same ผู้ปลุกระดม, นักปลุกระดม
deny bail – (of a court) to not to allow someone to go free on bail ไม่ให้ประกันตัว
release – to allow someone or something to go free ปล่อย
authorities – the police or people in official organisations who have the legal power to make people obey laws or rules เจ้าหน้าที่ (ตำรวจ หรือผู้มีอำนาจ)
prosecutor – a lawyer whose job is to prove in court that someone accused of a crime is guilty อัยการ
file – to take official action like making a complaint  ยื่นคำร้อง
Criminal Court – a court which hears criminal cases, i.e., cases where people are accused of breaking a law and where punishment involves going to jail. ศาลอาญา
instigate – to cause something bad to happen ก่อให้เกิด, กระตุ้น
insurrection – an attempt by a large group of people to take control of their country by force การกบฏ
intimidate – to attempt to frighten someone in order to get them to do something ทำให้กลัว, ข่มขู่
dissolve the House – to end a parliament, normally to call a new election ยุบสภา
demonstrators – people who march with other people in public to show that they support or oppose something ผู้ชุมนุมประท้วง
lay siege to – (of a group of people) to surround (go around all sides of) a building or place in order to protest about something or to force the people on the inside out เข้าห้อมล้อม เข้ายึด
storm – to use force to enter a place and take control of it บุกกระหน่ำ
unrest – angry or violent behaviour by people who are protesting or fighting against something สถานการณ์ที่ไม่สงบ
grenade – a small bomb that someone throws or fires from a gun ลูกระเบิดเล็ก
Internal Security Operations Command (Isoc) – a unit of the Thai military devoted to national security issues กองอำนวยการรักษาความมั่นคงภายใน (กอ.รมน.)
deny – to say that you did not do something that someone has accused you of doing ปฏิเสธ
objection – an expression of opposition to or dislike of something or someone การไม่เห็นด้วย
grounds – reasons for saying or doing something เหตุผล
voluntarily – done because you choose to do it rather than because you have to ด้วยความสมัครใจ
lawyer – an attorney ทนาย
cash – money in the form of notes or coins เงินสด
surety – money given as a promise that you will pay a debt, appear in court, etc การค้ำประกัน
reason – to form a judgement about a situation by considering the facts and using your power to think in a logical way สรุป, ชี้แจงเหตุผล
penalty – a punishment, or the usual punishment, for doing something that is against a law โทษ
flee – to leave a place or person quickly because you are afraid of possible danger หนี อพยพ
meddle – to become involved in a situation that you have no right to be involved in ก้าวก่าย แทรกแซง
evidence – facts statements or objects that help to prove whether or not someone has committed a crime หลักฐาน
lodge – to formally make something such as a complaint or a claim  ยื่น (คำร้อง)
appeal – a request to a court to change a decision by a lower court อุทธรณ์
remand prison – a place where people are kept while they wait for the date of their trial สถานที่ขังระหว่างรอการพิจารณาคดี
detention – forced officially to stay in a place การกักตัว
reinstate – to cause something to exist again นำกลับมาใช้อีก
constitution – the set of laws and basic principles that a country in governed by รัฐธรรมนูญ
admit – to agree that something is true, especially when you are unhappy, sorry or surprised about it  ยอมรับ
confidence – the quality of being certain ความมั่นใจ
judicial process – the actions taken, usually in court, to settle a legal matter  การดำเนินการคดี
kidnap – to take someone away and make them a prisoner, especially in order to get money, freedom for someone else, etc. ลักพาตัว
arrest – (of the police) taking someone to a police station because they are believed to have committed a crime การจับกุม
goal – aim; purpose เป้าหมาย จุดมุ่งหมาย
fulfil – to do or have what is required or necessary บำเพ็ญ
petition – an official document in which you ask a court to take legal action คำร้องต่อศาล
severe – very serious and unpleasant รุนแรง

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