POLITICS
PAD leaders to hear charges
- Published: 25/02/2009 at 12:00 AM
- Newspaper section: News
Police will issue summonses, not arrest warrants, for 21 leading members of the People's Alliance for Democracy for occupying Government House and blockading Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang airports last year.
National police chief Patcharawat Wongsuwon yesterday denied a report that police would issue warrants for the arrest of 21 PAD members who protested against the governments headed by the now-defunct People Power party.
Pol Gen Patcharawat said police would adhere to legal procedures which require them to first issue summonses so the suspects could hear the charges being levelled against them. He denied any politician had ordered police to delay arresting the PAD members.
Bangkok police chief Worapong Chewpreecha yesterday said the summonses had not yet been issued. He refused to reveal if those facing being summonsed included Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya, who took to the PAD stage several times.
It was not appropriate to name names before the court accepted and considered the request for summonses, Pol Lt-Col Worapong said.
PAD coordinator Suriyasai Katasila said there was a 50-50 chance Mr Kasit would face arrest. He did not think the Democrat party planned to let Mr Kasit be prosecuted simply to distance itself from problems.
Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban yesterday denied the accusation by Natthawut Saikua, a leader of the anti-government United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship, that the government was pressuring Mr Kasit to resign.
Even if Mr Kasit faced arrest, he would not have to resign right away. He remained innocent until such time as there was a court ruling, Mr Suthep said.
Mr Suriyasai, speaking of other matters, said the repeated proposal for a national government made up of the Democrats, its coalition partners and the opposition Puea Thai party showed that convicted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra was running out of options in fighting the government.
The PAD would have to decide what to do if the coalition parties accepted the proposal, he said..
