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Published on July 27, 2007

The Criminal Court yesterday granted a police request to detain nine leaders of Sunday's violent anti-coup protest that left more than 100 injured, most of them members of crowd-control police units.

It was a day of drama at the court as law-enforcement authorities and organisers of the Democratic Alliance Against Dictatorship (DAAD) tried to outwit each other with legal tactics.

At 6pm, the court ruled to detain the suspects in police custody for two days. The nine men at first refused to sign to acknowledge the court order. However, shortly before 8pm, they agreed to be taken to Samsen Police Station, where they are being held.

In custody are Veera Musi-gapong, Jatuporn Phromphan, Jakrapob Penkair, Natthawut Saikua, Weng Tojirakarn, Wi-putalaeng Patanapumithai, Manit Jitchanklab, Apiwan Wiriyachai and Jaran Dittha-apichai.

Veera, Weng and Jaran were among the first to emerge from the courthouse to the loud applause of about 100 supporters. There was a heavy police presence as the suspects were taken to a waiting van.  

Manit, a former senior judge, was later carried out of the building by policemen while he was still in a chair.

Many supporters shouted "Get out, CNS", referring to the Council for National Security, which the protesters held responsible for the tough police action against them.

Lt-Colonel Paiboon Nom-klang, an investigator at Samsen Police Station, said yesterday that the holding cells had been cleaned beforehand. Five of the six cells would be allocated for the nine protest leaders while the other one was being used to hold two suspects from a separate case.

He said the station's 50 officers and many more from a riot unit would take turns to provide security round the clock.

Police justified the detention of the nine by citing a potential menace to society while the suspects cried foul for being lured into surrendering.

Bound by Wednesday's court-mediated agreement, the nine reported to police rather than face an arrest warrant.

The indictment session took place at the Criminal Court on Ratchadaphisek Road.

After all nine suspects were brought into a court conference room, Metropolitan Police de-puty commissioner Maj-Gen-eral Jes Mongkolhatthi spelled out the two key charges against them.

The charges were instigating violence and the assembling of more than 10 people with intent to disturb the peace.

Jes then read out a police detention order for further questioning and showed the suspects a writ detailing the court's approval for remand.

"Police have followed the prescribed procedures on questioning suspects and the detention should not be construed as a back-stabbing tactic because authorities acted within their mandate," said Metropolitan Police chief Lt-General Adisorn Nonsee.

Adisorn was reacting to a live interview by Jakrapob, who made several calls to the media after learning of his fate.

Under Article 134 of the Criminal Procedural Code, police are empowered to take any suspects into custody for questioning following the notification of charges.

"Police committed legal foul play," Jakrapob said, insisting there was no justification for detention since all nine suspects surrendered.

Manit, a retired judge, said he would not leave the court building unless he was granted bail.

Since the order for detention was served inside the court, the suspects took advantage by applying for temporary release.

The entire afternoon became tense while the nine bail applications were being processed.

Anti-coup protesters rallied at Sanam Luang to demonstrate against the police move. Some 150 policemen were deployed at the court building to keep peace.

Meanwhile, human rights lawyer Somchai Homlaor said the nine should be allowed the chance to bail themselves out because it is a basic right.

"The police conduct in this dictatorship is no different from the Thaksin era," he said.

Somchai said the nine anti-coup leaders could ask the court to bail them out, which he believed it would allow. If the court was concerned the nine might create trouble, it could place conditions on them.

Yesterday's anti-coup rally at Sanam Luang started earlier than usual. Speeches started at 3.30pm and the spokesman was changed from Natthawut Saikua, one of the nine detained, to Seksan Kaewnoppakit.

Seksan told supporters not to worry about their leaders' detention. He also asked them to help protect the stage and maintain their call for democracy until the release of the nine.

He said the remaining leaders of the protest would discuss what to do next and there were always people to lead the movement besides the nine who were detained.

Natthawut, calling from the Criminal Court in a message broadcast to the rally, told DAAD supporters that the nine leaders went to see investigators following a court summons and denied all charges against them. However, when they were about to leave the court, police informed them they would be detained.

Natthawut said the detentions must have been planned in advance and were illegal.

About 100 DAAD supporters gathered outside Samsen Police Station at about 8.30pm demanding their leaders be released. Police later allowed their representatives to visit and give roses to the nine men.

However, at about 9.15pm, police confiscated their megaphones and speakers as the protesters were disturbing residents, including patients in the nearby Vachira Hospital.

Police later returned the megaphones and speakers to protesters, who did not use the devices but shouted instead.