PAD leaders fail to show up, warrants sought
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Public prosecutors yesterday threatened to seek arrest warrants for yellow-shirt leaders after they failed to turn up to acknowledge charges related to the anti-Thaksin Shinawatra protests in 2008.
Sondhi Limthongkul, a co-leader of the People’s Alliance for Democracy, and 20 other leading members of the group did not show up at the Office of the Attorney-General so public prosecutors could officially file three cases against them with the Criminal Court. The public prosecutors seek to sue:
l Sondhi for defaming Thaksin during a PAD rally in 2008;
l Sondhi and 20 key PAD members for besieging the Parliament building on October 5-7, 2008;
l PAD co-leader Chamlong Srimuang and five other leaders for leading protesters to storm into and seize Government House from August 26-31, 2008.
PAD lawyer Nitithorn Lamlua told the public prosecutors that the PAD leaders wanted to postpone the arrangement because some were busy with other activities and did not want to confront red-shirt leaders who were appearing at court for other cases.
Prayuth Sattayarak, a special prosecutor for criminal cases, said he had told police to summon the PAD suspects to face charges, adding that they should obtain arrest warrants for them.
Meanwhile, public prosecutors have postponed making a decision on two other cases against PAD leaders to February 7, PAD lawyer Puangthip Boonsanong said.
In one of the cases, 114 people, including PAD leaders, were charged with seizing Don Mueang and Suvarnabhumi airports. In another case, Sondhi and eight other PAD leading members were charged with committing sedition against the government.
