FRIDAY, March 29, 2024
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Supreme Court jails ‘yellow-shirt’ leaders including Chamlong

Supreme Court jails ‘yellow-shirt’ leaders including Chamlong

The Supreme Court on Wednesday upheld jail terms for six leaders of so-called yellow-shirt protests held against then prime minister Samak Sundaravej in 2008.

Supreme Court jails ‘yellow-shirt’ leaders including Chamlong

The six defendants who were leaders of now-defunct People's Alliance for Democracy movement, were Chamlong Srimuang, 83, Sondhi Limthongkul, 70, Pipob Thongchai, 72, Somkiat Pongpaibul, 68, Somsak Kosaisuk 72, and Suriyasai Katasilam, 45.
The court found them guilty of jointly invading and damaging government property, including Government House.
They led rallies at Democracy Monument on Rachadamnoen Road with an aim to pressure Samak to resign.
The protesters used tools to destroy locks on the Government House gates before occupying the compound from August until December. 

Supreme Court jails ‘yellow-shirt’ leaders including Chamlong
The damage was estimated at about Bt5 million.
Yellow-shirt protesters also occupied the ministries of finance and agriculture and cooperatives.
The Supreme Court ruled that their demonstrations were not conducted in a peaceful manner, as claimed by the defendants, so it decided to uphold the jail term of eight months for each defendant.

Supreme Court jails ‘yellow-shirt’ leaders including Chamlong

The First Court convicted them each for two years but the Appeals Court decreased it to eight months.
After the ruling, the corrections department brought the five defendants, except Sondhi, to Bangkok Remand Prison. Sondhi, who was being jailed in other cases, was present at the court and taken back to Klong Prem Central Prison after the ruling.

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