Bangkok Post : Police hunt fleeing protest leaders

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Police hunt fleeing protest leaders

Published: 15/04/2009 at 02:29 PM
Online news: Local News

Two wanted leaders of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) remained at large on Wednesday - Jakrapob Penkair and Jatuporn Pompan - as order returned to riot-hit Bangkok.

Police said they had arrest warrants for the two men and were confident they would be arrested.

There was no evidence the two men had fled the country to join their exiled leader and outlawed politician Thaksin Shinawatra, he said.

Three other core members of red-shirt uprising surrendered to police on Tuesday after arrest warrants were issued - Veera Musikhapong was later sent to a Border Patrol Police base in Pathum Thani province, Nattawut Saikua to Naresuan military base in Prachuap Khiri Khan and Weng Tojirakarn to a border police station in Kanchanaburi.

Bangkok Metropolitan Police chief Worapong Chewpreecha confirmed police had arrest warrants for former prime minister's office minister Jakrapob and opposition Puea Thai MP Jatuporn. He was confident investigators would find them.

Reports said the intelligence services were actively involved in the hunt for the two men.

Pol Lt-Gen Worapong said investigators were compiling evidence to back applications to the court for arrest warrants for minor leaders who played a part in instigating the chaos of the weekend and Monday riots.

Arrest warrants would also be sought for protesters who had destroyed property and injured civilians, including those who shot two people dead.

A warrant has also been issued for the arrest of Thaksin Shinawatra, the fugitive former prime minister who exhorted his UDD supporters by phone and video-link to rise up against the government. He is accused of inciting unrest.

Thaksin fled the country to avoid a conviction and jail sentence for abuse of power while prime minister. He was removed from power by a coup in September 2006 amid a storm of corruption allegations.

From abroad, he has repeatedly called on his red-shirt followers to overthrow the government.

The latest protest, which began on March 26, escalated with the storming of a regional summit in Pattaya on Saturday, forcing its closure, before a showdown in Bangkok between demonstrators and troops on Monday. The protest collapsed on Tuesday.

Security checkpoints were still in place on Wednesday around the capital, which was quiet as residents enjoyed a final day of Buddhist New Year, or Songkran, celebrations ahead of an extra two days of public holiday for government employees announced in the wake of the riots. Water-splashing festivities were also extended for two days in tourist areas of the city.

The unrest began with a red-shirt protest on March 26. Demonstrators demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and members of the privy council who Thakskin accused of being behind the 2006 coup. The council is an advisory body to His Majesty the King and claims to be above politics.

The protesters dispersed from their main camp in Bangkok on Tuesday amid threats of further military action.

A court issued warrants Tuesday for Thaksin and 12 supporters, three of whom have been charged, for breaching the state of emergency put in place Sunday, threatening acts of violence and inciting others to break the law.

Soldiers used tear gas and fired automatic weapons to disperse demonstrators who sent buses hurtling towards troops and tried to torch a government ministry with petrol bombs on Monday.

Calm returned to the capital on Tuesday after the army fenced protesters into their main protest site at Government House, threatening to advance. They decided to abandon the rally and go home.

Several countries have advised tourists not to travel to Thailand or to exercise caution if already there, while the US State Department condemned the "unacceptable violence" by the protesters.

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Knight

Discussion 12 : 16/04/2009 at 01:45 PM12
Thailand is one of the great nation in asia., I hope Thai people will get united from now on.
Billy ROBERTS

Discussion 11 : 16/04/2009 at 07:22 AM11
Its good to note that the BMP chief is hunting down for Jakrapob & Jutuporn and, assures they will be caught !!!! Why are't his intelligence service not actively involved in hunting down Taksin !
ONG

Discussion 10 : 16/04/2009 at 04:07 AM10
Those are 2 different governments. During Yellow shirt protested, Government was lead by Mr. Somchai Wongsawat. Red shirt protested to Mr. Abhisit's Government. The current government is prosecuting the existing protesters.
Although, yellow shirt protested peacefully and marched through the airport to block the airport entrance. That was a mistake from PAD.

Red shirt blocked Victory Monument and caused traffic chaos in Bangkok and destroyed public utilities such as buses, public phones.

But for all Thai citizen, this is NOT a victory to anyone but to the losses of every THAIs.

Our Government invites all groups to discuss political solutions for our country to move forward and the benefit of everyone in our society. It is time we restored our country. We will have to overcome all of the difficulties together. THIS IS WHAT WE NEED TO FOCUS.
Abishit

Discussion 9 : 16/04/2009 at 03:47 AM9
Well, the Abishit government has to compile the necessary evidence to prosecute the PAD leadership. It takes time to be thorough and we must be sure that we got the right people and what their crimes are . . . blah blah blah . . .
For the UDD, well, they threaten national security, and has tarnished the image of the country. We have proof, lots of proof and that's why we can move so fast! We're not biased against the UDD, but when you threaten my government, I have to act. The PAD is in the past, and they are part of my government, so they are no longer a threat to national security. We've taken cared of that by giving them ministerial posts to placate them. The PAD can walk free until we have enough evidence to convict them.

Hahaha . . . . what a load of crock!
Bernd

Discussion 8 : 16/04/2009 at 02:16 AM8
Kaweeka, perfect comment!!! I am sure that the fight will go on a few years.
dolly

Discussion 7 : 16/04/2009 at 01:07 AM7
PAD protests did not go out and burned down the city, neither did they shot innocent people. Clueless and Braindeads are those who allow Thaksin to divide the country while he and his clan are no where in sight. Atleast this government is doing something. People should stop whining and criticize others unless they can actually DO something for the country before badmouthing others! It's not the time to be pointing fingers or criticizing others but to help lend a hand in uniting the country for prosperity!
wantmymoney

Discussion 6 : 16/04/2009 at 12:17 AM6
Democracy is about giving every citizens equal rights and equal voice. No one is born privilege or above the law. By equal means responsibility of every citizen must be shared, so you cannot punish one and turn a blind eye to another. Such a dangerous precedent will only fuel future violence and break off of the country.Thaksin knows he cant win so he is pushing the envelope for the world to see and what better ways then the Asean Summit in Pattaya. The world knows there is riots in Thailand, the world will also know how the current government treats its own citizen. Abhisit is now caught in-between, he is effectively "check-mate". Its not over yet so dont pop out the champange, its only the begining of the end.
hae

Discussion 5 : 16/04/2009 at 12:05 AM5
Why persecute the REDS only, and not the YELLOWS????????????????????????????????

Double standards!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
mewn

Discussion 4 : 16/04/2009 at 12:05 AM4
i agree that it does seem very biased, but the reds did not get what they wanted yet, so the reds are the main threat. to avoid that threat, reds must be arrested asap. yellows don't seem to be the problem at the moment so arresting them can come later.

it is highly possible the yellows won't get arrested by the current govt, but that's another problem. the main problem thailand is facing is k.thaksin's necessity to prove himself innocent and get his dinero back. and he is using the wrong means to acheive his goals.

yellows aren't any better, they have broken the law, and the rumors have it that k.sonthi sour deal with k.thaksin led to the PAD protests. but please don't forget that k.thaksin is more of an enemy to thailand than k.sonthi at the moment.
Naveen

Discussion 3 : 15/04/2009 at 10:46 PM3
How can the current government prosecute the red-shirt when nothing was done for the yellow shirt organisers. This show impartiality in the current government. Those who are guilty should be prosecuted fairly. I am dissapointed to see Thailand go this part of problems. The people suffer.