Published on January 18, 2006
Police may press charges of attempting to overthrow the government against 20 people, including media mogul Sondhi Limthongkul, who led thousands of protesters on a march to Government House last Friday. Some of them allegedly broke into the compound.
Metropolitan Police Bureau deputy commander Colonel Monthien Prateepawanit said that police will use Article 116 of the Criminal Code. Under the article anyone who incites others to overthrow the government by use of force or seeks to create turmoil, disturb the peace, or make the public violate the law, faces up to seven years in jail.
Sources said police have pictures of 20 people who led the march on Government House from Lumpini Park, where Sondhi held his talk show. Two leaders of the protest were identified as Saman Sri-ngam and Squadron Leader Thanit Promsathit. Monthien alleged that police had evidence that the two committed an offence by inciting protesters to break into Government House. The other 18 include leading politicians, MPs, senators, a former senator, a former national police director-general, and a former national security council secretary-general. “We still have to investigate further if 18 other people were involved in provoking the protesters to break into Government House,” Monthien said. Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Minister Chidchai Vanasatidya said police were seeking help from television stations for any footage their news teams got of the incident to determine whether police assaulted protesters or if a protester just hit his own head against a table. Another issue was whether the protesters broke the gate into Government House or security guards did not lock it. Chidchai said charges would be pressed against anyone, regardless of their position, if police had enough evidence. “We will use justice and mercy as principles to handle the case because these people are famous and we will have to be careful and give them full justice before making any decision,” he said.
Post your comment to this story here