Leaders of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) say they will respect a Supreme Court ruling that they must pay an estimated 30 million baht in damages over the 2010 red-shirt protest in central Bangkok.
UDD chairman Jatuporn Prompan said yesterday he and two other red shirt co-leaders, Nattawut Saikuar and Arisman Pongruangrong, will comply with the order to pay 19.3 million baht plus 7.5% interest for damage from an arson attack on a commercial building on Ratchaprarop Road, which occurred as the red-shirt protest at nearby Ratchaprasong intersection was being dispersed by security forces.
The compensation amount works out to around 30 million baht, he said.
"We wholeheartedly respect the court's decision, regardless of whether we agree with the ruling or not," Mr Jatuporn said.
The ruling, which is final, took him and other red-shirt co-leaders by surprise as they were not summonsed to hear the verdict handed down last Thursday.
The compensation payment will be shared equally among the three red-shirt co-leaders, according to Mr Jatuporn.
Mr Jatuporn also said he was concerned the ruling could be political.
The case was filed with the Civil Court by Nuchathip Bangjongsilp, Sirichet Sukprasongdee, Manasanan Sukprasongdee and the ULC Software company, who had links to shops at the building which were set on fire.
Earlier, a lower court had acquitted eight other defendants but refused to accept the case against the three red-shirt co-leaders.
The Appeal Court upheld the lower court's ruling, before the Supreme Court reversed the decision and awarded the plaintiff the 19-million-baht compensation to be paid by Mr Jatuporn, Mr Nattawut and Mr Arisman.
The court found the co-leaders had incited the arson attack.