Justice Minister Chaikasem Nitisiri on Monday warned the people against taking part in the "Operation Bangkok Shutdown" planned by People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) leader Suthep Thaugsuban, saying they risk violating several laws with statutes of limitation of up to 20 years.
Mr Chaikasem voiced the warning via a Television Pool of Thailand programme. He asked people who planned to join the PDRC-led protest to change their minds. The PDRC hopes to topple the caretaker government and ensure national reform before the next general election, presently planned for Feb 2.
"Those who take part in this wrongful conduct led by Mr Suthep and other PDRC leaders may be construed as supporting rebellion, thus risking violating several laws with a statute of limitations of up to 20 years," he said.
The minister said the special cases committee, which comprises investigators from the Department of Special Investigation and Royal Thai Police Office and prosecutors, had issued summonses for Mr Suthep and other PDRC leaders to report to the authorities to hear charges against them. So far none of them had responded.
The committee would subsequently rerquest the Criminal Court to issue warrants for their arrest, he said.
Mr Chaikasem said joining the PDRC-led protest would not only be a violation of the law, but also an infringement on the rights of other people. This could not only cause damage to the country but also harm to other people's lives and cause damage to property.
Meanwhile, caretaker Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul said the number of overseas absentee ballot applications for the coming polls indicates that expatriate Thais support the Feb 2 general election.
Mr Surapong, also head of the Centre for the Administration of Peace and Order (Capo), said 143,800 expatriate Thais have registered to cast votes from abroad. This was 2,862 people fewer than the figure for the 2007 elections.
The largest number is in the United Statest (14,985), followed by Singapore (10,356), Germany (8,868) and the UK (5,239).
The number of Thais who have applied to vot is about 13.8% of the 1.04 million Thais registered as living abroad.
"The registered number for the two general elections is quite close, showing that Thais living overseas understand democracy and want the polls on Feb 2 to take place," he said.
Mr Surapong said the total was tallied from information provided by consulates around the world. All applications had been verified by the Election Commission.