A woman dessert vendor has been arrested in Chon Buri province for allegedly making and distributing T-shirts for the anti-monarchist "Thai Federation" movement, Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon confirmed on Thursday.
He also said the Laos government was looking for more associates of the movement.
Jinda Achariyasilp, 55, was apprehended on Wednesday at her residence in tambon Nong Bon Daeng of Ban Bung district with 16 T-shirts bearing the emblem of the movement, white and red ribbons and fabrics for the production of the emblem. She also had a list of T-shirt deliveries, 10 unaddressed parcels and script drafts for phone-ins to a programme run by a man known as Lung Sanam Luang, believed to lead the pro-republic movement.
Officials said the woman had delivered T-shirts to members in Chon Buri and nearby provinces and had joined a "Thai Federation" group in the Line chat application.
They said Ms Jinda confessed to joining the movement and producing the T-shirts for sale to other people in the same chat group. She was taken to the 11th Military Circle in Bangkok for further interrogation.
Gen Prawit, also the defence minister, on Thursday confirmed her arrest and said that Lao authorities were looking for other members of the movement, which had many networks in Laos.
Meanwhile, authorities were asking the arrested suspect to help them find her boss, he said.
T-shirts, fabrics and ribbons seized during the arrest. (Photo supplied)