Absconding Red Shirt Leaders To Surrender: Jatuporn

[webfact]

Absconding red leaders to surrender: Jatuporn

By The Nation

Red-shirt leaders who are still on the run will surrender to the authorities by the end of next month to fight legal cases against them, red-shirt leader Jatuporn Prompan said yesterday.

He said that after Tuesday's temporary release of seven red-shirt leaders detained in connection with last year's political unrest, it was agreed that the movement's key figures now in hiding in other countries should return to Thailand to fight the charges against them.

"I will bring those people back to fight court cases in Thailand, said Jatuporn, who is also an MP for the opposition Pheu Thai Party. "They will surrender and should get bail so they can join the red-shirt movement's fight."

"They are likely to come back soon, possibly before the concert at Bonanza," he said, referring to a "home-coming" party for the released red-shirt leaders scheduled for March 26 at the Bonanza Khao Yai Resort in Nakhon Ratchasima.

Among the red-shirt leaders still on the run are Arisman Pongruangrong, Suporn Atthawong and Adisorn Piengket. They refused to give in to police after the red shirts' 10-week anti-government rally ended on May 19 last year. Instead, the hard-line leaders fled Thailand and were later spotted in a neighbouring country.

Jatuporn said there would also be a campaign for some 100 ordinary red shirts being detained in prisons, mostly in the Northeast.

Many of those protesters took part in arson attacks on government buildings, allegedly on the orders of red-shirt leaders in Bangkok.

The seven released leaders will join a merit-making ceremony on Sunday at Wat Pathum Wanaram for red shirts killed during the unrest, according to red-shirt spokesman Worawut Wichaidit.

On March 12, the first anniversary of the day the red shirts began their 10-week anti-government rally, the released leaders will also attend a memorial ceremony at Democracy Monument. On March 26, there will be a "home-coming" concert in honour of the released leaders, he said.

The red-shirt movement is also planning a charity golf competition titled "Golf 4 Freedom" on Saturday at the Dynasty Golf and Country Club in Nakhon Pathom. The winners will receive trophies donated by former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, Deputy House Speaker Apiwan Wiriyachai, Jatuporn and Natthawut Saikua.

Kanit na Nakorn, chair of the Truth and Reconciliation Committee, said the temporary release of the jailed red leaders was a step in the right direction, paving the way for reconciliation.

Kanit said parties concerned must cooperate with one another in order to achieve reconciliation.

But New Politics Party secretary-general Suriyasai Katasila disagreed.

He slammed the government's push for reconciliation with the red shirts, saying it risked undermining the judiciary.

"If the release of red leaders is part of the reconciliation process, then this is an unforgivable mistake," he said.

Suriyasai said the government could not deny it had orchestrated state witnesses, including Deputy Prime Minister Sanan Kachornprasart, to testify in favour of bail for the jailed reds.

The government had exploited the judiciary for political expediency, appeasing the reds for the sake of survival, he said.

-- The Nation 2011-02-24

[whybother]

They're clearly a flight risk. Why would they get bail?

[Ricardo]

the movement's key figures now in hiding in other countries should return to Thailand to fight the charges against them

Including Dear Leader in Dubai ? I doubt it somehow.

[Buchholz]

Given the context and content of his words in that he obviously knows of their whereabouts, in addition to his multiple pre-existing charges, the Red Shirt Leader can also be charged with aiding and abetting fugitives?

Regarding the fugitive Arisaman, an interview conducted while he's been on the run:

And what about more specific threats towards you from either the government or the PAD?

It’s pretty clear that the government want to get rid of us because they believe that the Red Shirts are moving towards being armed. In reality, we don’t have any arms. We only have 670,000 registered members of the democracy development organisation that was set up by the People’s Power Party (PPP). That is why the government is quite concerned because they are afraid we will ask people to fight for democracy. We are not violent but the government has proved they are as they have attempted to kill us. For example, when they tried to arrest me at the SC Park hotel by throwing stun grenades and shooting 33 live rounds into my room this reveals that they really want to kill me. At that time I successfully escaped (pictured right) and they’ve tried a few more times to kill me as well. The PAD has no reason to threaten me. It’s only the government who want me to disappear. The DSI [Thai version of FBI] have employed a special unit to attempt to assassinate me. They’ve been seen at hotels where I’ve been staying.

Do you have any concrete evidence that the DSI are trying to assassinate you?

There is no solid evidence but my lawyer recognised members of the DSI at the hotel where I was staying overseas.

During the time when the Red Shirts occupied the Ratchaprasong area you made a speech threatening to burn down the city - do you regret this?

The purpose of my speech was to attempt to dissuade the army from either attacking us or staging a coup. If there was a coup I wanted the army to be warned that people might fight back by using petrol against heavily armed troops. That they wouldn’t just be able to just kill us. I don’t regret giving this speech because I wasn’t provoking people to burn down the city for no reason but only as a defensive action because the Red Shirts had no arms.

Do you think violence will be necessary to change Thailand and Thai politics?

These days the government is using violence against the people so, of course, one day the people will have had enough and will use violence against the government. I believe in the theory that nowhere changes in a completely peaceful way. This has never happened anywhere on this planet. It just doesn’t exist. If we are not armed we will lose because we can’t fight back. Actually, the Red Shirts never wanted to harm anybody, we just called for a new election and to amend the constitution via a parliamentary process. We just want people’s votes to be respected.

http://illinoisredshirts.blogspot.com/2010/12/interview-with-thailands-most-wanted.html

Edited February 24, 2011 by Buchholz

[Bagwan]

A golf tournament? How many poor people play golf? Could afford to play? Could afford to lose a days pay?

[virtualtraveller]

Lock them up and throw away the key...cowards. Lots of big talk but when it's time to sit in jail for a while they do a runner while their comrades do the right thing and turn themselves in. What's the conviction for evading arrest (no bail?).

[timekeeper]

Lock them up and throw away the key...cowards. Lots of big talk but when it's time to sit in jail for a while they do a runner while their comrades do the right thing and turn themselves in. What's the conviction for evading arrest (no bail?).

they took their cue from Thaksin, the biggest coward of them all............

[silp1979]

They're clearly a flight risk. Why would they get bail?

wake up ...please

(what kind of stuff you are smoking?)

[Macmundi]

Arisman.. the slippery little sh*t.. You think he waited all this time for his comrades to come to his rescue and bring him back where he will be safe? Yes, he will be safe in JAIL, alongside Jamlong and all these people stirring up the nation.

[Macmundi]

They're clearly a flight risk. Why would they get bail?

wake up ...please

(what kind of stuff you are smoking?)

Whatever he's smoking is not working.. Otherwise he would have joined the reds. (or even the yellows) so many jobless protesters, they must get paid by the grammes....

[PoorSucker]

A golf tournament? How many poor people play golf? Could afford to play? Could afford to lose a days pay?

All Issan farmers is registered in their local country club.

[jayjay0]

Lock them up and throw away the key...cowards. Lots of big talk but when it's time to sit in jail for a while they do a runner while their comrades do the right thing and turn themselves in. What's the conviction for evading arrest (no bail?).

Good idea as soon as the renegades turn them selves in revoke the bail on the other 7 and lock them all up.

But the reality is that no one is going to turn themselves in.

If they did it would mean that Jatuporn was being honest.

Now we can't have that can we.

[khaowong1]

Trophys donated by Thaksin? Isn't it ever other week we read where he says he is no longer associated with the "red shirts"? Jeez, he can't stay out of the spotlight. What a weasel.

[Buchholz]

Three red fugitives come in from the cold

Three red fugitives, Aree Krainara, Wisa Kanthap, and Paijit Aksornnarong, surrendered on Friday to the Department of Special Investigation to face charges in connection with the last year's riots.

Following the booking, three were released on bail under the precedent as applied to Adisorn Piengket who was freed on Thursday.

Aree, the head of red guards, will face charges for terrorism and related violations in connection with the riots.

Wisa and Paijit are to charged for offences related to the blockade and raid of Parliament.

-- The Nation 2011-03-11

[Buchholz]

Red-Shirt Guard Chief Turns Himself In

The head of the red-shirt guards turned himself in to the Department of Special Investigation to acknowledge terrorism charges filed against him.

The charges stem from his involvement in last year's unruly red-shirt protests.

Head of the red-shirt guard team, Ari Krai-nara, has denied all the charges and petitioned to submit his defense argument in writing to the Department of Special Investigation, or DSI.

The DSI currently handles all the cases concerning red-shirt protests last year.

Ari has been released on bail after posting 600,000 baht as collateral.

Conditions for his bail are similar to those of other red-shirt leaders.

Ari and the red-shirt key leaders, who were recently released on bail, are not allowed to participate in a gathering that could incite chaos.

They are also prohibited from leaving the country without the court's permission.

Together with Ari, reporting to investigators today were two red-shirt key elements Wisa Khanthapand his wife Paijit Aksorsnarong, who fled after the group's protests came to an end in May last year.

The DSI has already forwarded its investigation report over the case against Ari to the Department of Special Litigation.

The red-shirt guard chief will be presented to the public prosecutors on March 29.

-- Tan Network 2011-03-11

[Buchholz]

3 UDD fugitives report to DSI in terrorism case

BANGKOK, 11 March 2011 (NNT) – Three members of the United Front of Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD) have traveled to the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) to hear their charges related to terrorism.

This morning, UDD guard chief Aree Krainara and UDD members Wisa Khanthap and Paijit Aksornnarong were accompanied by their lawyer as they reported themselves to investigative officials at the DSI. The three acknowledged their terrorism charges but denied wrongdoing.

The authorities viewed that it was not necessary to petition the court for the detention of the suspects as they were not under arrest warrants and had already turned themselves in. They were released on conditions that they refrain from instigating social unrest, provoking others to violate the law and leaving the country without the court’s permission. The trio is scheduled to be questioned by the prosecutor on 29 March.

As for other UDD core leaders still at large, such as Mr Arisman Pongruangrong and Mr Suporn Atthawong, reports suggest that they might decide to surrender some time next week.

-- NNT 2011-03-11

[rubl]

From the OP:

Red-shirt leaders who are still on the run will surrender to the authorities by the end of next month to fight legal cases against them, red-shirt leader Jatuporn Prompan said yesterday.

Erhm ... I vaguely remember both k. Jatuporn and k. Nattawut mentioned late March, this year as well. What happened ? Someone checked with a Mor Do and late April was better ?