Two Yellow-Shirt Leaders Arrested For Seizure Of Two Bangkok Airports

[webfact]

Two yellow-shirt leaders arrested

By THE NATION

Chaiwat Sinsuwong and Somboon Thongburan, two former yellow-shirt leaders facing terrorism charges over the seizure of two Bangkok airports in 2008, were arrested yesterday during a protest against the jailing of seven Thais in Cambodia.

Crime Suppression police nabbed the two after Chaiwat had earlier dared the police to arrest him.

It was unclear why Chaiwat was taken into police custody while leading the street rally at Government House to demand the unconditional release of the seven Thais detained in Cambodia.

Since December 29, Chaiwat and Somboon have spearheaded the protests under the banner of the Thai Patriots Network.

The group split from the mainstream People's Alliance for Democracy after a tactical disagreement. The PAD will begin its own rally on Tuesday.

In the morning, the network marched from Government House to the Royal Household Bureau to submit a petition seeking royal assistance for the seven Thais.

Afterwards, Chaiwat made a speech challenging assistant National Police chief Lt-General Somyos Phanphummuang to take him into custody. He said he was on his way to the police headquarters to "see if Somyos will have the courage to arrest me".

As the protesters returned to Government House, Chaiwat and Somboon stopped by for lunch on Rama I Road.

About 30 police showed up to apprehend the two and take them in for booking. A group of protesters led by retired admiral Bannawit Kengrien held a brief rally at the Crime Suppression headquarters to show support for the two.

Bannawit said his presence might prevent any police brutality against the two.

The pair are among 11 suspects with arrest warrants out for them because they refused to report to acknowledge the charges like the other PAD leaders. Four of the 11 have already surrendered while five remain at large.

During the booking of the two, Somyos arrived, saying he wanted to ensure compliance with prescribed procedures. He also said police were willing to let them off before the court's indictment hearing.

Before entering his cell, Chaiwat said he would not request release on bail, as it would mean he is yielding to the legal process of the case while he regarded the terrorism charge against him was exaggerated.

"I insist on denying all charges and will not apply for bail," he said.

-- The Nation 2011-01-19

[Siam Simon]

"A group of protesters led by retired admiral Bannawit Kengrien held a brief rally at the Crime Suppression headquarters to show support for the two."

Sounds like quite the Peoples' Movement, this Patriots Network .

[Ricardo]

Sounds like equal-justice to me.

Just a pity that it all takes so long to happen, whether for the PAD or for a certain former-PM, but at least they didn't delay things by running-away.

[cjars]

Sounds like equal-justice to me.

Just a pity that it all takes so long to happen, whether for the PAD or for a certain former-PM, but at least they didn't delay things by running-away.

About time the yellow shirts got what's due. <br>The red shirts were made to stand trial, and so should the PAD. <br>Anyone would think they had royalist/government support the way they have gotten away for so long! <br><br>

[aperturebkk]

What about the snake Sondhi, why is he still walking the streets a free man ? All involved in the closures of both airports have shammed Thailand and the world will never forgot. You have cost the country billions of dollars, ruined thousands of businesses and contributed to the divide of Thailand. The seven Thai men knowingly crossed into Cambodian soil and should be punished according to Cambodian law - i watched the video they foolishly took of themselves. Who are these people to think they should be released without being charged ? Imagine seven Cambodians crossing into Thailand with intention to survey the land - just image the outcry ? Cambodia will have it's day again as Thailand is sinking and it deserves to.

[Buchholz]

Sounds like equal-justice to me.

Just a pity that it all takes so long to happen, whether for the PAD or for a certain former-PM, but at least they didn't delay things by running-away.

About time the yellow shirts got what's due. The red shirts were made to stand trial, and so should the PAD. Anyone would think they had royalist/government support the way they have gotten away for so long!

Actually, the Reds haven't stood trial for any of their transgressions for 2007 or 2009 or 2010.

[random]

What about the snake Sondhi, why is he still walking the streets a free man ? All involved in the closures of both airports have shammed Thailand and the world will never forgot. You have cost the country billions of dollars, ruined thousands of businesses and contributed to the divide of Thailand. The seven Thai men knowingly crossed into Cambodian soil and should be punished according to Cambodian law - i watched the video they foolishly took of themselves. Who are these people to think they should be released without being charged ? Imagine seven Cambodians crossing into Thailand with intention to survey the land - just image the outcry ? Cambodia will have it's day again as Thailand is sinking and it deserves to.

It is a good question about Sondhi since he has also been found guilt of two cases of defamation and received a prison term for both, he is out on bail while he appeals, lets remember he is CONVICTED, yet people bemoan jatuporns bail while he is yet to stand trial, they say his bail should be revoked for re-offending, well Sondhi has also re-offended by breaching the emergency decree, I am not sure if he answered the Police summons regarding the terrorism at the airport and the illegal trespass and GH yet, but yes, it is about time this sname was behind bars.

[Buchholz]

What about the snake Sondhi, why is he still walking the streets a free man ? All involved in the closures of both airports have shammed Thailand and the world will never forgot. You have cost the country billions of dollars, ruined thousands of businesses and contributed to the divide of Thailand. The seven Thai men knowingly crossed into Cambodian soil and should be punished according to Cambodian law - i watched the video they foolishly took of themselves. Who are these people to think they should be released without being charged ? Imagine seven Cambodians crossing into Thailand with intention to survey the land - just image the outcry ? Cambodia will have it's day again as Thailand is sinking and it deserves to.

Actually, there's another thread just for your Cambodian comments, but there wasn't much of an outcry when 199 Cambodians who crossed the Thai border and have been working in Thailand for an indeterminate amount of time and were then subsequently repatriated.

[random]

Sounds like equal-justice to me.

Just a pity that it all takes so long to happen, whether for the PAD or for a certain former-PM, but at least they didn't delay things by running-away.

About time the yellow shirts got what's due. The red shirts were made to stand trial, and so should the PAD. Anyone would think they had royalist/government support the way they have gotten away for so long!

Actually, the Reds haven't stood trial for any of their transgressions for 2007 or 2009 or 2010.

but they will, and until then they are sat rotting in a prison cell while the yellow terrorists walk free,

[Buchholz]

What about the snake Sondhi, why is he still walking the streets a free man ? All involved in the closures of both airports have shammed Thailand and the world will never forgot. You have cost the country billions of dollars, ruined thousands of businesses and contributed to the divide of Thailand. The seven Thai men knowingly crossed into Cambodian soil and should be punished according to Cambodian law - i watched the video they foolishly took of themselves. Who are these people to think they should be released without being charged ? Imagine seven Cambodians crossing into Thailand with intention to survey the land - just image the outcry ? Cambodia will have it's day again as Thailand is sinking and it deserves to.

It is a good question about Sondhi since he has also been found guilt of two cases of defamation and received a prison term for both, he is out on bail while he appeals, lets remember he is CONVICTED, yet people bemoan jatuporns bail while he is yet to stand trial, they say his bail should be revoked for re-offending, well Sondhi has also re-offended by breaching the emergency decree, I am not sure if he answered the Police summons regarding the terrorism at the airport and the illegal trespass and GH yet, but yes, it is about time this sname was behind bars.

Actually, an even earlier conviction of Potjaman with an even longer sentence and we're still waiting for her to enter prison as she is out on bail.

[Buchholz]

Sounds like equal-justice to me.

Just a pity that it all takes so long to happen, whether for the PAD or for a certain former-PM, but at least they didn't delay things by running-away.

About time the yellow shirts got what's due. The red shirts were made to stand trial, and so should the PAD. Anyone would think they had royalist/government support the way they have gotten away for so long!

Actually, the Reds haven't stood trial for any of their transgressions for 2007 or 2009 or 2010.

but they will, and until then they are sat rotting in a prison cell while the yellow terrorists walk free,

Actually, not all of them are incarcerated.

[random]

Actually, not all of them are incarcerated.

I am aware of this, but none of yellows are incarcerated, while some of the reds are. It is about time a concerted effort was made to arrest the yellows that are refusing to attend the police station, rather than them baiting the police and daring them to arrest them, I am sure the police can find them and arrest them, or are they being instructed not to.

One of the issues is inequality, and when there is glaring inequalities such as this you can't help feeling the reds have a point, and will no doubt use such matters in the upcoming election.

[rubl]

It is a good question about Sondhi since he has also been found guilt of two cases of defamation and received a prison term for both, he is out on bail while he appeals, lets remember he is CONVICTED, yet people bemoan jatuporns bail while he is yet to stand trial, they say his bail should be revoked for re-offending, well Sondhi has also re-offended by breaching the emergency decree, I am not sure if he answered the Police summons regarding the terrorism at the airport and the illegal trespass and GH yet, but yes, it is about time this sname was behind bars.

K. Sondhi answered police summons together with a few other yellow-shirts months. He was freed on bail, or just freed. Some people seem less likely to flee the country than others. The convictions are for defamation, one even against k. Thaksin.

Don't know where you found the 'Sondhi breached the emergence decree'.

Now to paraphrase your own words 'be a good boy and dig up some proper facts'

[animatic]

Sounds like equal-justice to me.

Just a pity that it all takes so long to happen, whether for the PAD or for a certain former-PM, but at least they didn't delay things by running-away.

About time the yellow shirts got what's due. The red shirts were made to stand trial, and so should the PAD. Anyone would think they had royalist/government support the way they have gotten away for so long!

Actually, the Reds haven't stood trial for any of their transgressions for 2007 or 2009 or 2010.

but they will, and until then they are sat rotting in a prison cell while the yellow terrorists walk free,

The only reds in jail are for 2010, and many of them were already out on bail for 2007 and 2009.

In 2010 much of Bangkok was set a light. I don't remember seeing Suvarnabhumi going up in flames.

Yes the Yellow leaders do need prosecution for taking the airports, but to impute that Reds 2010 were not far and beyond the Yellows violence and malevolence at GH and the airports, is an argument not supported by observable facts.

And It was obviously reds, or their support minions, using violence against the yellows at GH, that caused them to move to the airport. Cause and effect. I would never have imagined forcing PAD from GH with regular grenade attacks, would mean they would just go home quietly. So there is a argument that the reds instigated the PAD upping the ante by their violence, which caused the airport takeovers indirectly, but as a logical end game to counter the violence.

Is any of this 'right'? of course not, nutters on all sides, nationalists, greedy scum and amoral nutcases, but some do much greater viciousness in their actions than others, and that is a very pertinent point for all charges against all sides when read in court.

[paymaster]

[quote name='Buchholz' timestamp='1295410048' post='4160548'

Sounds like equal-justice to me.

[jayjay0]

Chaiwat says

""I insist on denying all charges and will not apply for bail," he said."

Like as if he couldn't deny all charges if he was out on bail.

Sounds like the little kid continually acting out and saying I will not stop unless you give me a brand new computer.

Hope he enjoys his stay and I hope it is a long one. It is far over due.

Edited January 19, 2011 by jayjay0

[colinscarr]

And It was obviously reds, or their support minions, using violence against the yellows at GH, that caused them to move to the airport. Cause and effect.

From memory, the yellows first occupied Don Muang in an attempt to prevent PM Somkid from returning to Bangkok. He returned anyway, and then quickly headed for Chiang Mai.

[truethailand]

Sounds like equal-justice to me.

[truethailand]

The question is this. Why did the army move in against protestors who shut a shopping district but the rest of the city functioned and they didnt move in against an airport sitin(plus 5 months at GH) that abosolutely crippled this country and cost billions of dollars. Secondly if Thaksin funded the reds debacle, who funded the near six month yellow shirt protests.

[animatic]

The question is this. Why did the army move in against protestors who shut a shopping district but the rest of the city functioned and they didnt move in against an airport sitin(plus 5 months at GH) that abosolutely crippled this country and cost billions of dollars. Secondly if Thaksin funded the reds debacle, who funded the near six month yellow shirt protests.

Because the airport was only one week.

Expensive and inconvenient, and no doubt illegal to do.

And they left voluntarily and quietly. And the leaders turned themselves in to the court system.

Government house was loud, but peaceful, except when they were attacked from outside.

and didn't disrupt anyone except the government some, Somchai proved a total wimp at this time,

until

a ) Oct 7th and they government tried to shoot PAD like fish in a barrel at Parliament.

World wide images of carnage against citizens for which many police and Team Thaksin leaders have been charged. So don't say they didn't move against them, the police screwed up royally trying this. Bringing on a new stupid tactic.

b ) The 'Red friends', 'predicted by Sae Dang in advance',

started lobbing deadly grenades at them at night.

After these acts of aggression hardened the PAD, and they determined to go all out.

Without this gross miscalculations from team Thaksin, the PAD would have remained,

a very annoying, and loud, barking dog, instead they morphed into a hardened militant group.

But not a semi military group trying to cause deaths and destruction.

You say the rest of the city functioned... well some places yes, other places no,

and for months people lived in fear of what was obviously to come. (and did)

Functioning and functioning NORMALLY are two very different things.

The Red rally disrupted the whole of Bangkok in major ways for months,

and the knock on effects of it are still resonating in several industries and economic segments,

including many people just not going near the place, since no one could tell when it would blow up.

Edited January 19, 2011 by animatic

[animatic]

Actually, not all of them are incarcerated.

I am aware of this, but none of yellows are incarcerated, while some of the reds are. It is about time a concerted effort was made to arrest the yellows that are refusing to attend the police station, rather than them baiting the police and daring them to arrest them, I am sure the police can find them and arrest them, or are they being instructed not to.

One of the issues is inequality, and when there is glaring inequalities such as this you can't help feeling the reds have a point, and will no doubt use such matters in the upcoming election.

Well considering that this OP is about to of these 'refusers' being arrested, and not with kid gloves, you point is holding much less water.

[gatorsoft]

Am I the only one to whom this looks like the government saying we will not protect you anymore if you're gonna turn on us? It sure seems like Abhisit is letting the yellows know that he still got power and they better not go against him.

[Siam Simon]

cut// a ) Oct 7th and they government tried to shoot PAD like fish in a barrel at Parliament.

World wide images of carnage against citizens for which many police and Team Thaksin leaders have been charged. So don't say they didn't move against them, the police screwed up royally trying this. //cut

The only shooting going on around parliament on Oct 7 2008 was by PAD members. The police discharged some crappy military tear gas canisters purchased from China. The only people who should be facing charges in regard to the tear gas injuries are the people who purchased the crappy tear gas, but, oh, look, there goes a flying pig!

"tried to shoot PAD like fish in a barrel" What a nonsense. The police were clearly out of their depth all ends up. We should be thankful that the army chose not to get involved (due to it's political leanings ), otherwise there really would have been carnage on that day.

Edited January 19, 2011 by Siam Simon

[mca]

In 2010 much of Bangkok was set a light.

It was Bangkok not Dresden mate.

[Buchholz]

cut// a ) Oct 7th and they government tried to shoot PAD like fish in a barrel at Parliament.

World wide images of carnage against citizens for which many police and Team Thaksin leaders have been charged. So don't say they didn't move against them, the police screwed up royally trying this. //cut

The only shooting going on around parliament on Oct 7 2008 was by PAD members. The police discharged some crappy military tear gas canisters purchased from China. The only people who should be facing charges in regard to the tear gas injuries are the people who purchased the crappy tear gas, but, oh, look, there goes a flying pig!

"tried to shoot PAD like fish in a barrel" What a nonsense. The police were clearly out of their depth all ends up. We should be thankful that the army chose not to get involved (due to it's political leanings ), otherwise there really would have been carnage on that day.

hundreds and hundreds injured...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EJclibwcBHA&feature=related

with the result being...

OCTOBER 7 CRACKDOWN

Somchai, Chavalit and Patcharawat to face criminal charges

National anti-graft commission will file criminal charges against ex-Premier Somchai Wongsawat, ex-deputy PM Gen Chavalit Yongchaiyudh, and Police Chief Police General Patcharawat Wongsuwan for their involvement in the October 7 crackdown on yellow shirted protesters.

Wicha Mahakun, a commissioner of National Anti-Corruption Committee (NCCC), said the commission recommended severe disciplinary action against Patcharawat.

Wicha said Somchai and Chavalit would be charged with malfeasance in violation of Article 157 of the Criminal Code.

[Buchholz]

In 2010 much of Bangkok was set a light.

It was Bangkok not Dresden mate.

Hard to compare anything with a World War involving aerial bombing by multiple nations, but nonetheless, the Bangkok skyline on that day:

Edited January 20, 2011 by Buchholz

[mca]

Obviously our definitions of " much of " differ quite a lot then.

[Siam Simon]

In 2010 much of Bangkok was set a light.

It was Bangkok not Dresden mate.

Hard to compare anything with a World War involving aerial bombing by multiple nations, but nonetheless, the Bangkok skyline on that day:

This is only a small part of the Bangkok skyline "on that day". Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't that the CTW fire as seen from the park? There is more than a little speculation about who actually created this particular fire. I kept asking you for some proof after you offered speculation about the cause, but all you could provide was more speculation. Have you got any further with this?

[webfact]

Court okays detention of yellow-shirt pair

By THE NATION

Duo refuse to apply for bail after being arrested for airport seizures

The Criminal Court yesterday approved the detention of two former yellow-shirt leaders on terrorism charges related to the seizure of Bangkok's two airports in 2008 - and struck down a defence argument that the remand warrant under which they were being held was unjustified.

Chaiwat Sinsuwong and Somboon Thongburan were placed in cells at Bangkok Remand Prison after they refused to apply for bail. The two acted in defiance of the prosecution, which branded them as terrorists.

The defence did not seek their temporary release, despite the prosecution not planning to oppose it.

"My two clients are willing to be held in remand" awaiting trial, defence lawyer Sakchai Khemthong said, pointing out that the bail applications, if submitted, would be tantamount to admitting the terrorism offence.

Police nabbed the two on Tuesday after Chaiwat dared them to arrest him. Before his arrest, Chaiwat was leading a protest under the banner of the Thai Patriots Network, a splinter group of the mainstream yellow shirts, the People's Alliance for Democracy.

Remand chief warden Sophon Thitithammapruek said Chaiwat and Somboon would be segregated from the seven red-shirt leaders also held in the same facility.

The red shirts will be allowed to see visitors in the morning and the afternoon is set aside for visits to the yellow shirts, Sophon said, to avoid the rival groups confronting each other.

He said he would recommend that the Corrections Department hold the yellow shirts at a separate remand facility in Thon Buri.

In a related development, the Thai Patriots Network's Bannawit Kengrien filed a complaint alleging police had used excessive force in arresting Chaiwat and Somboon.

Bannawit said the arresting officers failed to complete the reading of charges faced by the two and they assaulted Chaiwat's aide, Chokpisit Worapatthanachai.

Chokpisit was attacked when police mistakenly identified him as Somboon, he said. Police later charged Chokpisit with obstructing justice as a diversion for their brutality, he added.

Porntiva Supatanakul said she was a witness when police used excessive force to arrest the two. She too sustained bruises as police forced her out of the way while charging at the two yellow shirts, she said.

Police spokesman Maj-General Prawuth Thawornsiri said a probe would be launched to look into the complaint although he understood the arresting officers had shown the warrants of arrest to the two in accordance with prescribed procedures.

After the arrest of their leaders, about 200 protesters remained encamped at the rally site near Government House.

Despite dwindling crowds, rally organisers insisted on closing part of the traffic lanes on Phitsanulok Road, citing the arrests as another reason for protesting.

Protesters have camped out since December 29 to demand the release of the seven Thais detained in Cambodia for allegedly entering the country illegally.

-- The Nation 2011-01-20

[Buchholz]

Obviously our definitions of " much of " differ quite a lot then.

In the absence of 800 bomber planes coupled with Bangkok being 605 square miles, I guess so.

Nonetheless, much of the city center was set alight. That's not smog in the photo.