UDD Coordinator detained at Suvarnabhumi Airport for 2010 unrest

[webfact]

UDD Coordinator Detained At Airport For 2010 Unrest
By Khaosod Online



BANGKOK: -- Miscommunication between police forces is said to be behind the brief detention of a leader of the United Front of Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD) at Suvarnabhumi Airport today.

Ms. Pratheep Ungsongtham Hata said she was about to board a 08.00 flight to Osaka, Japan, at the airport when she was approached by a group of immigration police, who reportedly told her they had to detain her for questioning due to an arrest warrant requested by Tha Rua Police in 2010.

She said the arrest warrant was issued for her role during the May 2010 military crackdown on the Redshirt protesters, in which she organised a rally in Khlong Toey district to criticise the operation of the security forces at the time.

The police later charged Ms. Pratheep with violating the Emergency Decree announced by then-Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiv, which banned political gathering of any kind.

However, Ms. Pratheep said the police action at Suvarnabhumi greatly surprised her because the warrant had been withdrawn by the police shortly after the Emergency Decree was lifted, and it has been three years since her alleged wrongdoing.

"I′ve been in and out of country for at least 9 times," Ms. Pratheep said, "I never had any problem until today".

When Suvarnnabumi police contacted Tha Rua Police Station, they were told that her warrant had indeed expired, and that there has been communication error in the police database. Ms. Pratheep was later allowed to board another plane to her destination after a detention that lasted for 3 hour.

Ms. Pratheep said she was traveling to Japan for a charity event for poor children.

She added that she will ask Pheu Thai Party and her lawyer to file a request to the Royal Thai Police, asking the officials to make sure that other UDD leaders who had been charged with offences during 2010 riots will not face the same problems at the airport due to errors in police database.

Source: http://www.khaosod.co.th/en/view_newsonline.php?newsid=TVRNNE5qZzBNVFF4TUE9PQ==


-- Khaosod English 2013-12-12

[Spare]

From WiKi:

Prateep Ungsongtham Hata (Thai: ประทีป อึ้งทรงธรรม ฮาตะ, born 9 August 1952) is a Thai activist noted for her work with slum dwellers in the Khlong Toei District of Bangkok, Thailand. Among her supporters, she is known as Khru Prateep ("Teacher Prateep"), the "Angel of Khlong Toei" or "Slum Angel". She was awarded the Ramon Magsaysay Award for Public Service in 1978, founded and became the Secretary General of the Duang Prateep Foundation. She was one of the leaders of the 1992 oppositional movement. In 2000, she was elected to the Senate, representing Bangkok.

I suppose Khun Suthep can just march through the airport, and no immigration officer will notice.

[steveromagnino]

I suppose Khun Suthep can just march through the airport, and no immigration officer will notice.

You mean like a convicted fugitive former PM who swans around the world, and apparently can issue orders via phone ins, but is in no way running the country even though his party ran on the message 'Thaksin Thinks, Puea Thai Does', he chooses the cabinet, and he regularly communicates directly with elected officials during their official business time, including those whose official duty requires them to enforce the law to go and catch him?

Or do you mean more like Arisaman type characters who back in 2010 requests his followers to come to Bangkok with a litre of petrol, to burn the city of their countrymen/women to the ground (which some did indeed subsequently try to do) - to huge applause and who currently enjoys trying to continue his singing career, held back slightly by the fact that he is tone deaf, and is so stupid he believes Thai students are only joining the rallies because they are taught by stupid teachers (maybe he wishes we all got to attend redshirt university 555555)?

Welcome to Thailand, hub of rhetoric and hot air.

Edited December 12, 2013 by steveromagnino

[tingtongteesood]

steveromagnino - You have just made my Christmas card list, excellent comment !