PAD leaders vow to sue PM, police over charges

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News » Local News

AIRPORT BLOCKADES

PAD leaders vow to sue PM, police over charges

• Published: 10/07/2009 at 12:00 AM
• Newspaper section: News

Leaders of the yellow shirt movement are vowing to take police and Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva to court for incriminating them on terrorism and criminal charges over their blockade of Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang airports last year.

November-December 2008

Lawyer Suwat Apaipak yesterday said the accused would file criminal and malfeasance charges against the police and Mr Abhisit.

Police last week said they would charge 36 People's Alliance for Democracy leaders and key supporters for occupying the two airports from Nov 25 to Dec 2 last year in an attempt to overthrow the Somchai Wongsawat government.

The 36 PAD leaders and supporters, including Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya, will face terrorism charges.

They have been ordered to report to police next Thursday. Mr Kasit reported to the police on Monday and denied all charges.

Mr Suwat said the accused found the charges to be baseless because the siege of the two airports "caused no damage to aviation".

The rest of the accused PAD members will deny the charges when they report to police and then lay criminal charges against the police investigation team and Mr Abhisit, he said.

The prime minister was included because he allowed the police to proceed with the action. Mr Abhisit and the police will face criminal charges for malfeasance and false incrimination, the lawyer said.

Core PAD leader Chamlong Srimuang yesterday insisted he and his colleagues were not worried about the charges because they were the product of a false allegation.

"We believe the charges are exaggerated and disproportionate for actions of ordinary citizens like us," Maj Gen Chamlong said. "We're determined to take legal action against everyone involved in this move against us."

National police chief Patcharawat Wongsuwon said the PAD had every right to file a countersuit against the police.

However, he insisted the police had exercised their utmost prudence in considering witness accounts and evidence before deciding to press terrorism charges against the PAD leaders.

The cabinet yesterday approved 8 million baht in compensation for state agencies and private companies which helped passengers stranded during the airport closures, deputy government spokesman Supachai Jaisamut said.

The Transport Ministry initially had proposed the government endorse about 678 million baht in compensation for affected businesses.

But the cabinet said airlines, including Thai Airways International, and Airports of Thailand had to seek compensation from those who caused the damage to their business.

The cabinet also acknowledged a report of total losses of 19 billion baht to the aviation industry as a result of the airport closures.

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Writer: SURASAK GLAHAN and PRADIT RUANGDIT

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• Protocol eco

  Discussion 25 : 10/07/2009 at 10:27 PM25

  When the PAD was demonstrating at Suvarnabhumi airport, last year, I was there, but I don’t have seen the protesters so dangerous as true terrorists!
  I thought that the Airport Authority was following the Kyoto Protocol!
  -Airports closed!
  -Planes grounded!
  -Less gas emissions in the atmosphere!

• RicefieldRadio

  Discussion 24 : 10/07/2009 at 09:19 PM24

  Joan Reyes - You have obviously not read the Montreal Protocol on airport safety signed by Thailand or you would understand what the law stipulates and what does and does not constitute an act of terrorism at an international airport.
  
  While most of the PAD protested peacefully there were groups of PAD guards that were armed, that assaulted people, including the police, and took over the control tower and diverted aircraft, you will find that permission was not freely given. This constitutes a terrorist act under international law under the Montreal Protocol. Thus the ring leaders have been charged with said crimes.
  
  The AOT under the Montreal Protocol had to close the airport as the occupation was a threat to civil aviation.
  
  You have fallen for all the spin, read the protocol.

• Joan Reyes

  Discussion 23 : 10/07/2009 at 07:21 PM23

  Proxy governments Samak-Somchai had received orders from they boss Mr. T. to modify the constitution, in the aim to clear the Thaksin’s corruptions cases, and so, to avoid to face justice! And the PAD was against!
  During the final term of the 193 days of political protest, PAD has been more and more killed and injured every day by military weapons without police/government protection while PAD may not let this proxy government of Thaksin to continue!
  This is the reasons, why PAD increased the pressure of protest to Don Muang and Savarnabhumi.
  
  Don Muang is an airport with no or very little air traffic. On 24 Nov 2008 there was government cabinet meeting in this place. So, the first reason to go to this airport was to demonstrate and to pressure on the government to resign, and not for to close a NO significant airport. At this time, Somchai was in Peru. He missed this meeting because his flight was delayed, due to technical problems.
  On 25 Nov 2008, PAD moved to Savarnabhumi airport, for waiting Somchai, who was expected to arrive from Peru.
  Why Somchai could not have a “welcome comity”, as Thaksin had during the Samak regime, when he came back from exile?
  So, where is the logic to go to Savarnabhumi, for -waiting the arrival of Somchai’s flight, -and to close the air traffic????
  A possible explanation is that the airport manager, who is good friend (family) of Thaksin, Somchai and UDD-DAAD red shirts, decided to close the airport for to facilitate the Somchai’s flight to be diverted to Chiang-Mai, and so avoiding the PAD peaceful demonstration!!!!
  If it was not the PAD who instructed to close the airport, then, it was probably the AIRPORT AUTHORITY who should assume his responsibility!!! And we had heard bizarrely very little from them…tongue-tied…The airport authority is possibly not very clear in this story, and wanted to report every things on PAD!
  
  PAD was demonstrating peacefully at the airports without crossing in the safety zones. They went to the tower with authorization, after the airport was closed on management's order. Also, no degradation had been reported on the buildings by the PAD. Only broken glasses reported at Don Muang, done by a grenade lunched by pro-Thakin-Somchai red shirts side, which killed and injured PAD peaceful demonstrators.
  So, saying that “PAD are terrorists”…, “PAD are responsible of the airports closure”…, are only slogans for easily brain-washable paid red-shirts pro-Thaksin!

• Alain Tabruyn

  Discussion 22 : 10/07/2009 at 04:29 PM22

  Thailand Government !!! Please Please stop this ridiculous fight !! You make yourself stupid towards the whole world !!! Don't you see that yourself ???
  @ PAD : The ENTIRE world saw how you cause billions and billions loss to the Thai economy . How can you say that nothing happened ??? I cannot believe !! I suppose you think that cooking on tv (Samak) is a terrorist act ? My god my god . Thailand needs a STRONG leader !!!
  When the government and local governments will start to improve EDUCATION for the Thai students ? INVEST in modern technology for the students ??? Upgrade the level ?? But i guess this is not what you are after ...

• benkie

  Discussion 21 : 10/07/2009 at 02:25 PM21

  I am saddened by the childish behaviour of the PAD leaders. All of us need to be responsible for our actions. I was one of those who was affected by the closure of the airport. You can never imagine the anxiety and frustration I had to put up with. How can the PAD leaders deny the charges when what they did was shown on TV all over the world?
  
  Maj Gen Chamlong said it was wrong for the police to file charges on ordinary citizens like them. Ordinary citizens live an ordinary life and are more interested in feeding their families. Unfortunately, the people who organised the seizure have extra-ordinary agenda. As a result, companies badly hit by the closure of the airport had to retrench staff in order to survive. Ordinary people's livelihood were affected.
  
  Why is everyone pointing their fingers at the PM? Poor Abhisit.
  
  To the PAD leaders, if you dare to do it, then admit it. In this way, you will still have the respect of the people. Or else, you are just COWARDS!

• David too

  Discussion 20 : 10/07/2009 at 02:04 PM20

  One has to laugh !!! Th PAD occupation of the Airports was an act of Terrorism , peaceful , causing no material dammage , whatever ; brought industry , tourism , the country to a standstill . The PAD who speak of creating New Government , No Corruption ; now seek to use curruption to their own advantage . The PAD leaders should have been locked up long ago ; only the weakness of government and all Thai institutions has allowed them to remain free .

• Some food for thoughts?

  Discussion 19 : 10/07/2009 at 12:59 PM19

  1) The "reds" have been accusing the current government of double standard & shielding the PAD by dragging its feet on legal case against PAD for last December airport seizure. Now that the PAD is being charged for terrorism, etc., SO what have the "reds" to say now about their own constant accusation?
  
  2) If the PAD is charged and subsequently convicted, we can expect the "reds" will be next on the chopping board with their engineered "Songkran Riots 2009", plus their "mastermind" who is now in exile and hoping from one Pacific island to another. Likely charges??? Terrorism, revolt and treason!!! With all the other corruption charges added, one can bet that "square-face"'s dream of returning to Thailand will become even glimmer.
  
  Finally, all these are just some parts of the jig-saw puzzle to restore Thailand back to normalcy, and the Thai people back to some sanity!!!
  
  Thailand is "gravely sick" for the recent many years, BUT will Thai people be brave, wise and humble enough to take these "bitter pills" in order for their country and people to recover ultimately??? This is a question only the Thai people themselves must face-up to honestly, and then act sensibly for the future good of the country and its people.

• Gerd

  Discussion 18 : 10/07/2009 at 12:47 PM18

  Ramon: Your conclusion is that the airport siege was an outstanding crime that should be punished immediately. However, your questions are why now and only after the PAD has become a political party?
  
  Your legal analysis is wrong since the Somchai government was investigated for election fraud and vote rigging (some of its members) but the PAD claimed that it was a proxy for the previous Thaksin government. Since the Somchai government was removed by the courts because it found the allegations true does not imply that the PAD was right by saying it was a Thaksin proxy government. Certainly the courts did not approve of the PAD and the action it took to overthrow the Somchai government. If they judges would approve of the occupation of the airports they would end up in a foreign court for helping and supporting terrorists.

• boon

  Discussion 17 : 10/07/2009 at 12:18 PM17

  Those responsible for keeping law and order should also be charged according to the law. The generals have defiled orders and allowed the airports incidents to take place. Don't forget that the PAD also invaded other airports earlier on elsewhere in the country.

• BangkokRay

  Discussion 16 : 10/07/2009 at 10:49 AM16

  ThePAD members should have been in jail 8 months ago. They should have already been charged and be serving a very long sentence by now. Kasit should have been locked up when he reported to police. Lock them all up and deny bail. After all, they are charged with terrorism.

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