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Published on July 28, 2007

Their cells at Sam Sen police station have no mosquito nets, no mattresses or pillows and only a board per person on which to rest, a police source said.

However, some of the detainees slept well, the station's commander Police Colonel Kamonsanti Klanbut said yesterday.

Police have charged them with instigating violence and with assembling more than 10 people with intent to disturb the peace.

The nine in custody are Veera Musigapong, Jatuporn Phromphan, Jakrapob Penkair, Natthawut Saikua, Weng Tojirakarn, Wiputalaeng Patanapumithai, Manit Jitchanklab, Apiwan Wiriyachai and Jaran Dittha-apichai.

The police had to move some suspects to other stations in order to make room for the nine.

Kamonsanti said the Sam Sen station had six cells and he had ordered five of them cleaned and aired for the new detainees.

The nine leaders smiled even though they were tired after being in court for more than 10 hours, said Kamonsanti.

Supporters of the nine DAAD leaders gathered outside the station, and the police deployed 200 officers to prevent any violence.

Sam Sen police admitted they were concerned about the crowds, but the leaders told their supporters to go home and said they were not worried because the police would take care of them.

The nine talked politics and confided in each other until about 2am, said Kamonsanti.

Before dawn, while others were asleep, Veera was spotted meditating in his cell.

Relatives were allowed to take clothes and personal items to the detainees, and some family members remained all night at the police station, he said.

The prisoners were woken up around 7am to prepare for transfer to the court.

In the morning relatives brought soy milk, fried dough sticks, grilled pork and rice noodles to the anti-coup leaders.

Nualphan, Jatuporn's wife, brought his favourite deep-fried Hat Yai chicken and rice noodles. She said her husband liked som tam too but she had not brought that. After a visit of about 30 minutes she said Jatuporn said he was fine and had asked her to look after the house.

Kamonsanti said this was the first time the Sam Sen station had detained suspects in a political case.

After the nine leaders had gone, the atmosphere became calm again, he said.

"Thursday night was noisy, with many people around the station. When they left, everything returned to normal," he said.

Sucheera Pinijparakarn

The Nation