3 replies to this topic

[Sexpat]

"Police have summonsed 80 key leaders and supporters of the People's Alliance for Democracy to face charges over the occupation of Government House and the seizure of Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang airports in 2008. They are asked to report to police between July 28 and Sept 6.The charges brought against the 80 PAD members include causing a public disturbance, occupying others' property, violating an emergency decree, disrupting airport services and terrorism, among others.

Surapong Chaiyanam, a former ambassador to the US and PAD supporter, said yesterday he received his summons on Thursday.Mr Surapong called the charge against him and the other PAD members "absurd".He said he had appeared on the PAD stage at Suvarnabhumi to educate the protesters and support the alliance's peaceful campaign.Mr Surapong said the police action was an attempt by the government to counter claims of double standards made by red shirt leaders during their recent protest and others following the arrest of the group's leaders.

Samran Rodpetch, a spokesman for the New Politics Party and a key member of the PAD, said the charges against the alliance were politically motivated and intended to stunt the growth of his party.The NPP's secretary-general, Suriyasai Katasila, said he believed the charges were intended to undermine the party and the PAD.He said the yellow shirt PAD rallies differed completely from the red shirt movement because the alliance had never supported armed militants.

PAD supporters stormed and occupied the Government House compound on Aug 26, 2008, in a bid to force out the Samak Sundaravej administration, which they believed was backed by fugitive former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.Samak was stripped of the prime ministership by the Constitution Court on Sept 9, 2008, for violating the constitution by hosting two commercial cooking programmes on television.

On Oct 7, 2008, PAD leaders led thousands of supporters in laying siege to parliament and blocking MPs from attending the house session to debate the Somchai Wongsawat government's policy statement. Thousands of PAD supporters invaded and occupied Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang airports from Nov 25 to Dec 4, 2008, in a bid to force the Somchai government from office.

The PAD demonstrators left Government House on Dec 2, 2008, after the Constitution Court dissolved three coalition parties, including the ruling People Power Party, and banned their executive members from politics for five years. Prime Minister Somchai was forced to resign his office."

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/local/1859...es-over-rallies

[B.I.G.]

You can bet money that no PAD leader will ever spend a day in jail, whether the charge is terrorism or urinating on the sidewalk. The leisurely schedule set for the appearance of the defendants buys time to arrange an amnesty which will be extended to all PAD demonstrators but not the leaders of the red shirts. It's been planned that way all along. PAD members go free on bail as these cases finally get scheduled, while red shorts rot in jail without bail.

By the time the cases are ready for trial, which could be years, there will be an amnesty for all "demonstrations" which will extend to all PAD leaders but which will be denied to Red Shirt leaders on the basis that they committed acts of terrorism. It's classic Abhisit; double standards abound.

[Harold]

There's another example of the double standards that's not mentioned in the posts above. The cases against the Red Shirts are being handled by DSI on a fast tract basis, with all bail denied in the meantime, while the cases against PAD are being handled as ordinary police work that's now taken over two years and all the defendants have either never been arrested or immediately released on bail. Abhisit's claims that this isn't double standards are ridiculous.

[Garcia]

This one takes the cake:

"The chief investigator for the cases against the People's Alliance for Democracy has explained to the group's attorney that police can only call in two to three suspects for testimonies each day due to concern over a mass turnout of the group's supporters. . .

Somyos assured that he is carrying out the summoning process under due protocol. He explained that his gradual approach is being used in light of heavy support each of the charged individuals is expected to receive. He added if all the 79 are to be called in at once, there could be commotion from the gathering of their sympathizers."

http://www.thailandoutlook.tv/tan/ViewData...?DataID=1032311
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I wonder if the chief investigator is aware that gatherings of over 5 people in Bangkok are prohibited by the State of Emergency.