Hundreds more face arrest over Facebook posts on scandal

Pol Colonel Burin Thongprapa said police were waiting for the Bangkok Military Court to issue an arrest warrant for Thanakorn Siripaiboon who is already in police custody for allegedly violating Articles 112 and 116 of the Criminal Code and the Computer Act. The warrant was reportedly approved as of press time yesterday.
Burin said military officials would detain the man for seven days before proceeding with prosecution.
A source said police were also planning to arrest hundreds of other people who are members of the National Red Shirts Institute Facebook page. One of the members is Anon Nampa, a lawyer who accompanied student activists led by Sirawit Serithiwat, who was detained by military officials at Ratchaburi’s Ban Pong train station on Monday.
Soon after that, the following message was posted on the Facebook page: “Urgent, please share and tell those who are listed as members of this group to flee because military officials will press lese majeste charges on everyone. This page is a trap created by officials.’’
Also yesterday, another group of students said they planned to make a trip to the Hua Hin park soon to protest against what they described as irregularities involving the park’s construction.
Rangsiman Rome, of the New Democracy Movement, and three other activists revealed the plan at a press conference at Thammasat University. He said his group agreed with what Sirawit did and that its members would “stand beside him forever”.
He said his group would discuss the planned trip to the park with Sirawit.
Justice Minister Paiboon Koomchaya, meanwhile, has told Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha that the corruption allegations over the construction of the Rajabhakti Park have grounds, Government Spokesman Maj-General Sansern Kaewkamnerd said yesterday.
Paiboon apparently phoned Prayut after United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) leaders Jatuporn Promphan and Nuttawut Saikuar forwarded the information to Paiboon.
Sansern said the government was ready to accept evidence of corruption from all sides. “We want to know who are involved and how they are corrupt,’’ he said.
However, he said Paiboon had said that though the information provided by Nuttawut and Jatuporn was not in depth, it would still be useful for further investigation. The Army and the National Anti-Corruption Commi-ssion had earlier claimed that the corruption allegations related to the park were baseless.
Meanwhile Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam said yesterday that if the money used in the construction of the park had not been solicited by the Army, but was actually donations sought by a foundation, then the project would not come under the PM’s 2015 directive.
A committee controlling the solicitation of contributions by state agencies revealed that the Army did not solicit funds to build the park.
“If the foundation sought donation, then it is different from soliciting contribution by state agencies, as this matter does not have to abide by the PM’s directives,” he said.
“The two activities are similar though. Soliciting contribution will mobilise huge funds and the money may be moved or transferred causing confusion. We need to have clear accounts for it, as both are subject to different laws,’’ Wissanu said.
Corruption allegations related to the park have rocked the Prayut government and Deputy Defence Minister Udomdej Sitabutr is coming under growing pressure to step down despite efforts to clear him of allegations.
The Pheu Thai camp and the UDD have grabbed this opportunity to grill the government and moves to rally at the park have been met with stiff action.