Warrants Sought For Yellow Shirts Over Bangkok Airport Sieges

[webfact]

Warrants sought for yellow shirts over airport sieges

By The Nation

Police yesterday sought court permission to issue arrest warrants for five more yellow-shirt leaders for allegedly taking part in the blockade of two Bangkok airports in 2008.

The suspects failed to show up following two earlier summonses for them to face formal charges, according to a source familiar with the police investigation into the case.

The wanted yellow-shirt leaders were identified as Chaiwat Sinsuwong, Veera Somkwamkid, Tonkwan Sang-athit, Somchai Wongwej, and Somboon Thongburan.

The police move followed arrest warrants issued with court permission on Wednesday for two other yellow shirt leaders - retired Army General Pathompong Kesornsuk and actress Sirilak "Joy" Pongchoke.

Both were charged with leading an illegal gathering under a state of emergency, threatening or committing assault, and inciting unrest.

Arrest warrants were issued after they failed to act following summonses for them to meet with police to be informed of formal charges against them.

The investigators also issued warrants for 22 more yellow shirt supporters to be informed of the formal charges by today, according to the source.

In late August, top leaders of the yellow-shirts' People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD), including Sondhi Limthongkul, showed up to hear formal charges against them in connection with the airport occupation.

Yesterday, PAD lawyers for Pathompong and Sirilak submitted their petition with the Criminal Court protesting issuance of the arrest warrants and requesting their cancellation.

PAD lawyer Nitithon Lamlua said documents were produced to support the suspects' argument that police investigators unfairly pressed charges against them.

Pathompong said yesterday he was surprised that only he and Sirilak faced arrest warrants as many people took part in the 2008 incident. He challenged the police to arrest him at his home. "I have no fear. During my military career, I was in the battlefield, which was more serious than this," he said.

Sirilak said she was still "baffled by what happened". She would consult with her lawyer what to do next.

Pathompong's lawyer Nattaporn Toprayoon said yesterday the Criminal Court would issue its order this morning regarding the request for cancellation of the arrest warrants.

-- The Nation 2010-10-08

[asiawatcher]

Why don't the police just get on - apprehend the most recent red perpetrators and then worry about the sour case against the yellows? Or is the deal, let two years lapse then go after the reds? Or are the BiB only running two years behind in investigation in their work load? Perhaps if they were reassigned from controlling (screwing up) traffic jams by manually controlling traffic lights (unbelievably stupid), or soliciting bribes from passing motorists, everything could move forward in a timely manner. It seems this is just more politicking and trying to justify existence to show 'something' is being done.

[Bagwan]

Pathompong said yesterday he was surprised that only he and Sirilak faced arrest warrants as many people took part in the 2008 incident. He challenged the police to arrest him at his home. "I have no fear. During my military career, I was in the battlefield, which was more serious than this," he said.

Up to me neck in muck and bullets, mate. That's what it was. All muck and bullets. (Arthur Haynes 1914-1966)

Edited October 8, 2010 by Bagwan

[Buchholz]

Why don't the police just get on - apprehend the most recent red perpetrators and then worry about the sour case against the yellows? Or is the deal, let two years lapse then go after the reds? Or are the BiB only running two years behind in investigation in their work load? Perhaps if they were reassigned from controlling (screwing up) traffic jams by manually controlling traffic lights (unbelievably stupid), or soliciting bribes from passing motorists, everything could move forward in a timely manner. It seems this is just more politicking and trying to justify existence to show 'something' is being done.

Actually it would seem they are running more than three years behind as they are just now getting around to processing the case against the Red Leaders for their violent riot in July 2007 that injured hundreds.

[random]

Pathompong said yesterday he was surprised that only he and Sirilak faced arrest warrants as many people took part in the 2008 incident. He challenged the police to arrest him at his home. "I have no fear. During my military career, I was in the battlefield, which was more serious than this," he said.

Up to me neck in muck and bullets, mate. That's what it was. All muck and bullets. (Arthur Haynes 1914-1966)

I wonder which battlefield he was in

[hammered]

Why don't the police just get on - apprehend the most recent red perpetrators and then worry about the sour case against the yellows? Or is the deal, let two years lapse then go after the reds? Or are the BiB only running two years behind in investigation in their work load? Perhaps if they were reassigned from controlling (screwing up) traffic jams by manually controlling traffic lights (unbelievably stupid), or soliciting bribes from passing motorists, everything could move forward in a timely manner. It seems this is just more politicking and trying to justify existence to show 'something' is being done.

Actually it would seem they are running more than three years behind as they are just now getting around to processing the case against the Red Leaders for their violent riot in July 2007 that injured hundreds.

Good to see someone point out the facts and not just some mythologically false meme as normal.

[hoaker]

This is plitical games that they play in court. The warrants for red shirts will be issued in 2015, after the blue color has occupied Ratchaprasong intersection. These warrants and inciting laws are all made up within past year or so just to criminalize these yellow shirts. These court terms have never been brought up against the red shirts before, itis now though. When the warrants come out for the red, it will be another hocus pocus law. In the end, warrants are useless, the law is hear say, and these people will be released. Nothing changes............

[chantorn]

The police will get into trouble doing this. The Yellow are purely doing it for the country and nation.

[monkfish]

Why don't the police just get on - apprehend the most recent red perpetrators and then worry about the sour case against the yellows? Or is the deal, let two years lapse then go after the reds? Or are the BiB only running two years behind in investigation in their work load? Perhaps if they were reassigned from controlling (screwing up) traffic jams by manually controlling traffic lights (unbelievably stupid), or soliciting bribes from passing motorists, everything could move forward in a timely manner. It seems this is just more politicking and trying to justify existence to show 'something' is being done.

Actually it would seem they are running more than three years behind as they are just now getting around to processing the case against the Red Leaders for their violent riot in July 2007 that injured hundreds.

Could that be because charges weren't even filed against the reds for this until 2 months ago? I wonder why they waited so long?

Is it so the yellows could say hey look the reds have a longer outstanding case than us? mmmmm could be!!

[yesterday]

Why don't the police just get on - apprehend the most recent red perpetrators and then worry about the sour case against the yellows? Or is the deal, let two years lapse then go after the reds? Or are the BiB only running two years behind in investigation in their work load? Perhaps if they were reassigned from controlling (screwing up) traffic jams by manually controlling traffic lights (unbelievably stupid), or soliciting bribes from passing motorists, everything could move forward in a timely manner. It seems this is just more politicking and trying to justify existence to show 'something' is being done.

Actually it would seem they are running more than three years behind as they are just now getting around to processing the case against the Red Leaders for their violent riot in July 2007 that injured hundreds.

Could that be because charges weren't even filed against the reds for this until 2 months ago? I wonder why they waited so long?

Is it so the yellows could say hey look the reds have a longer outstanding case than us? mmmmm could be!!

This is Thailand .

[Phuket_Brad]

WHAT ABOUT THE AIRPORT SEIZURE AND CLOSING IN PHUKET? THE CURRENT BANGKOK ELITES ONLY CARE ABOUT THEIR AIRPORT IN BANGKOK?

[peecee]

The police will get into trouble doing this. The Yellow are purely doing it for the country and nation.

Can't quite make out iff they are rose tinted speck's you've got on?

[jayjay0]

The police will get into trouble doing this. The Yellow are purely doing it for the country and nation.

Try putting both oars in the water.

[whybother]

WHAT ABOUT THE AIRPORT SEIZURE AND CLOSING IN PHUKET? THE CURRENT BANGKOK ELITES ONLY CARE ABOUT THEIR AIRPORT IN BANGKOK?

I thought it was the Bangkok elites that are being charged.

[rametindallas]

Why don't the police just get on - apprehend the most recent red perpetrators and then worry about the sour case against the yellows? Or is the deal, let two years lapse then go after the reds? Or are the BiB only running two years behind in investigation in their work load? Perhaps if they were reassigned from controlling (screwing up) traffic jams by manually controlling traffic lights (unbelievably stupid), or soliciting bribes from passing motorists, everything could move forward in a timely manner. It seems this is just more politicking and trying to justify existence to show 'something' is being done.

I'm not sure but I think it is the pace of the prosecutors. Two years seems to be the magic number for bringing formal charges and then another year of two to go to trial. Look at how long it took to bring charges in the land deal with Khunying Potjaman or some of the charges against Dr. Taksin. Everybody has ample opportunity to leave the country gracefully and save clogging up the court docket.

We have a saying in the States, "Justice delayed is justice denied'.

[SomTumTiger]

Slow and steady gets the most bribe money.

[Buchholz]

Why don't the police just get on - apprehend the most recent red perpetrators and then worry about the sour case against the yellows? Or is the deal, let two years lapse then go after the reds? Or are the BiB only running two years behind in investigation in their work load? Perhaps if they were reassigned from controlling (screwing up) traffic jams by manually controlling traffic lights (unbelievably stupid), or soliciting bribes from passing motorists,

everything could move forward in a timely manner. It seems this is just more politicking and trying to justify existence to show 'something' is being done.

Actually it would seem they are running more than three years behind as they are just now getting around to processing the case against the Red Leaders for their violent riot in July 2007 that injured hundreds.

Could that be because charges weren't even filed against the reds for this until 2 months ago? I wonder why they waited so long?

The Red Leaders were arrested, jailed, and charged on July 26, 2007:

The charges against the nine, all members of the United Front of Democracy against Dictatorship, include causing a public disturbance, damaging state property, and obstructing the work of, and injuring, officials. Most of the nine were leading members of Thaksin's now-disbanded Thai Rak Thai political party in Thailand.

http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Thai+protest+leaders+ordered+jailed-a01611377128

[Utley]

The police will get into trouble doing this. The Yellow are purely doing it for the country and nation.

How sad!

[hughben]

The police will get into trouble doing this. The Yellow are purely doing it for the country and nation.

How sad!

Yes it is a myopic view.

And I support neither side.