Back on stage

Written by Writer on Thursday, October 9th, 2008

Back on stage

The Appeals Court on Thursday dropped insurrection charges against all PAD leaders, and core leaders Chamlong Srimuang and Chaiwat Sinsuwong won bail to return to the protest stage at the People’s Alliance for Democracy.

The Appeals Court maintained two of the original five charges against the nine PAD leaders, but dismissed the controversial treason charge.

Sondhi Limthongkul and fellow PAD leaders said they would now surrender to the court. They had refused to report to authorities after the government filed charges last month.

“We have never accepted the charges of insurrection and stockpiling of weapons in the first place so I am grateful that the court revoked them,” Mr Sondhi said from the Government House protest stage after the court verdict.

“We will report to the police for the rest of the charges. But we will not leave the Government House until they come to disperse us.”

The two remaining charges against the nine men are inciting public disturbance and illegal assembly.

Both refer to the PAD street protest which blocked traffic and access to public areas including schools. The maximum penalty on the two laws are seven and three years in prison, respectively.