Jakrapob running movement from secret base

Speaking from an "undisclosed location", Jakrapob said: "This is a place to work from, where people can brainstorm, follow the situation and analyse it closely."

The 42-year-old is the only redshirt leader to escape arrest for allegedly instigating disorder in the country. He disappeared on April 13, the day before other redshirt leaders brought the protest to a halt.

The protest was brought to an end after protesters created chaos by burning buses and tyres as well as clashing with Bangkok residents.

In the interview with the Singaporebased newspaper, Jakrapob said the assassination attempt on Sondhi Limthongkul, a key leader of the royalist People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD), was an indication that "they" were trying to get topple the leadership of both the red and yellow shirts.

"They are trying to gain control now," he said, without identifying who "they" were.

The newspaper said this was the first contact Jakrapob he had made with foreign media, though he was said to have lined up interviews with wire agencies yesterday.

Jakrapob told the daily that the red shirts had spent the past couple of years educating people, and that the movement had entered the "action" phase.

 "I believe people are now deciding whether peaceful means serve them best. We are not encouraging violence, but we have to admit that people have been repeatedly disappointed," he said.

"Legal standards have been clearly unfair and unjust. I am not saying there will be violence in the days ahead. But the remaining opportunities for a peaceful solution are decreasing every day.

"We still talk about a peaceful way in which people can get their rights back. But people have the right to defend themselves against aggression," he explained.

 When asked to comment on the charges and arrest warrant against him, he said: "The whole system is distorted, there's no justice awaiting me or any of us."

 

Read the entire interview in the Straits Times on Tuesday.