Police allowed to detain key protest leader 12 days

Written by changthai11 on Tuesday, October 7th, 2008

Police allowed to detain key protest leader 12 days

BANGKOK - After considering the case for over four hours, Thailand’s Criminal Court on Monday permitted police to detain People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD) core leader retired Maj-Gen. Chamlong Srimuang for 12 days and ordered the investigating police officers to accelerate their interrogation.

Gen. Chamlong was arrested Sunday after casting his ballot to vote in Bangkok’s gubernatorial election, two days after another PAD core leader, Chaiwat Sinsuwong was nabbed in the first presentation of any of the arrest warrants issued more than one month earlier for nine of the group’s leaders on charges of insurrection, conspiracy, illegal assembly of more than 10 persons and refusing orders to disperse.

The warrants imposed on the nine leaders spelled out serious criminal charges punishable by death or life imprisonment.

The court ruled that as an appeal by Gen. Chamlong and other PAD leaders is still awaiting action by the Appeals Court, and the police interrogation is still incomplete, the police have the right to detain him for 12 more days which is in line with the law.

It will consider Tuesday afternoon requests for his temporary release.

Like another detained PAD colleague, Gen. Chamlong told people who turned up at the court to offer moral support that he would not seek bail.

He was later taken to Bangkok Special Prison where Mr. Chaiwat is being detained. (TNA)