Apiwan's body due back here tomorrow

His funeral rites are due to begin on Sunday.

Somkid Chua-kong, a former Pheu Thai MP for Ubon Ratchathani, denied that the military junta had barred people from receiving the body of Apiwan, who was a red-shirt leader and had been accused of committing lese majeste (defaming the monarchy).

Somkid said the delay was caused by the need to get paper work in order and his body was due to arrive at Suvarnabhumi International Airport via Thai Airways International flight TG621 at 3.20pm. 

He said it was expected that up to 400 people would be at the airport to receive Apiwan’s body but there would not be any political activity.

Jatuporn Prompan, of the red shirt group the United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship, in a note on his Facebook page yesterday urged red shirts to pay their last respects to Apiwan at Bang Pai temple in Nonthaburi.

In a related development, Internal Security Command spokesman Colonel Banphot Poonpien refused to provide details about the so-called “under current” of anti-government elements. 

Banphot was asked about the matter by reporters after Deputy Prime Minister General Prawit Wongsuwan said there were still anti-government elements in the community. The spokesman acknowledged, however, that the ISOC received reports on a daily basis and added that the issue of whether or when martial law would be lifted was up to the Prayut Chan-o-cha administration.