PAD leaders ordered to hear ISA charges

By The Nation

Ten yellow-shirt leaders were summonsed by police yesterday to formally hear charges next week of violating the Internal Security Act in connection with their ongoing protest at Government House.

Leaders of the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) - Chamlong Srimuang, Sondhi Limthongkul, Piphob Dhongchai, Praphan Khoonmee and others - were required to meet investigators at the Metropolitan Police Bureau by next Tuesday, Police Maj-General Prawut Thawornsiri, spokesman for the Centre for Administration of Peace and Order (CAPO).

CAPO was established when the Internal Security Act was imposed last week in seven districts in central Bangkok, with key political sites such as Government House, Parliament and Democracy Monument.

The yellow shirts have been occupying roads around Government House for weeks to demand tougher actions in response to the border conflict with Cambodia. They want the government to cancel a memorandum of understanding with Cambodia on dealing with boundary disputes, to withdraw from the World Heritage Committee, and for Cambodians to be evicted from disputed land near Preah Vihear temple.

Prawut said yesterday that violators of the ISA could face up to a year in jail and a fine up to Bt20,000. But he warned the penalty could multiply for repeated offences.

"If the 10 PAD leaders do not report themselves to the first appointment, police will summons them again after three to seven days. If they fail to show up again to hear the charges, police will seek court permission to issue arrest warrants," the spokesman said.

He said that while PAD protesters had resisted police orders for them to vacate roads, they had shown signs of cooperating by agreeing to allow use of some occupied roads during rush hours. "But there has been no clarity about this."

Prawut said he learned that certain state agencies began filing petitions to the courts to get orders to move the PAD off public public thoroughfares.

The PAD has said they have a constitutional right to gather in public and occupy roads. They claim the ISA was imposed without sufficient reason and is thus unlawful.

Suthep Thaugsuban, the deputy premier in charge of security, said yesterday police were enforcing the law, albeit carefully in order to avoid being accused of abusing their power. "The police need to seek permission from courts to issue any necessary warrants," he said.

The 10 PAD leaders summoned by police

1. Chamlong Srimuang

2. Sondhi Limthongkul

3. Praphan Khoonmee

4. Parnthep Puapongphand

5. Rak Rakspong (layman's name of Santi Asoke abbot Samana Bhodhirak)

6. Suriyasai Katasila

7. Therdpoom Jaidee

8. Piphob Dhongchai

9. Amorn Amornratananond, aka Rachayut Sirayodhinphakdi

-- The Nation 2011-02-16

He said that while PAD protesters had resisted police orders for them to vacate roads, they had shown signs of cooperating by agreeing to allow use of some occupied roads during rush hours. "But there has been no clarity about this."<BR sab="375"><BR sab="376">

So they broke the law but only little bit When this country gonne grow up.

By the way there must be one of the leaders with a split personallity ( actually the all have) since I see only 9 names on the list of 10 leaders summoned.

Edited February 16, 201115 yr by janverbeem

The PAD has said they have a constitutional right to gather in public and occupy roads.

More reason and logic from the Land of Smiles.

<snip>

By the way there must be one of the leaders with a split personallity ( actually the all have) since I see only 9 names on the list of 10 leaders summoned.

"9. Amorn Amornratananond, aka Rachayut Sirayodhinphakdi"

Someone just counted the names.

I wonder why they're so petty-minded as to use Samana Bhodhirak's lay name, Rak Rakspong?

Samana Bhodirak separated from the State-approved and maintained Sangha many years ago and hence is not addressed (except informally) as "Phra", but is perfectly legally referred to as "Samana Bhodhirak" (samana = renunciate).

He hasn't been known as Rak Rakspong for 40 years.

I guess when these leaders have some spare time or nothing better to do, they might toddle off down to the police station to hear the charges lol.