Police have dismantled the security barriers around Bangkok police headquarters on a day protesters were instructed by their leaders to make a concerted push to gain control of the building after several days of street clashes.
Thailand’s Criminal Court yesterday issued an arrest warrant for Suthep Thaugsuban, the former deputy prime minister and figurehead of the current anti-government demonstrations, for citing insurrection.
Suthep Thaugsuban, the leader of People’s Committee for Changes of Thailand into Complete Democracy under Constitutional Monarch, has been charged with rebellion and leading more than 10 citizens to cause disturbance, threats, violence, use of weapons, under Thai Criminal Code section 113, which is punishable by death or life imprisonment.
For 10 days, protesters have disrupted services and taken control of government buildings in a bid to overthrow the elected government and replace it with an unelected “people’s council.”
Suthep, who met briefly Sunday in a meeting brokered by the army with Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, is believed to be guarded by protesters at government offices they have occupied since last week.
Last night, he instructed protesters to mass at the Metropolitan Police Bureau to take control of the building by 3pm, and also break into the Government House and Royal Thai Police before Thursday, Sanook reported.
By 11am today, the police were reportedly removing those barriers, allowing entry to the protesters.
The other four demonstration leaders – Nithitorn Lamleau, Uthai Yodmanee, Ratchayuth Srirayothinpakdee, and Pichit Chaimongkol – also have been charged with trespassing and destroying government property, crimes punishable by a minimum three years imprisonment.
This morning a police helicopter distributed warning flyers at two demonstration sites to inform them of the arrest warrant and request cooperation to avoid an escalation of violence and allow authorities to perform their duties.
Also, check out Coconuts’ photo essay of Monday’s battle.
10.43 น. กปปส. ทยอยรื้อแบริเออร์แยกพล.1 เปิดทางพื้นที่ชุมนุม ให้แกนนำมอบดอกไม้ให้ตร. #nna pic.twitter.com/3dN4HuGSHz
— ธนัชพงศ์ คงสาย (@tanatpong_nna) December 3, 2013
แกนนำคปท.สั่งกระจายกำลังรอบพื้นที่ชุมนุม หวั่นแกนนำถูกจับระบุสถานการณ์ไม่น่าไว้ใจมวลชนยังลากแบริเออร์ออกจากสะพานชมัย pic.twitter.com/alKipQ8yEw
— FM100.5 News Network (@news1005fm) December 3, 2013
RT @STForeignDesk: JUST IN: #Thai police allow protesters through barricades at gov HQ http://t.co/6uNU3BMDjO pic.twitter.com/vKPznpGB73
— The Straits Times (@STcom) December 3, 2013
Reader Interactions