Police arrest TPN leader Chaiwat

via CAAi

Published: 18/01/2011

Thai Patriots Network (TPN) leader Chaiwat Sinsuwong was arrested by police on Tuesday afternoon on charges related to the occupation of Don Mueang and Suvanabhumi airports in late 2008, reports said.

Police arrest Thai Patriots Network leader Chaiwat Sinsuwong on Jan 18, 2011. (Photo by Wassayos Ngamkham)

Police arrested Mr Chaiwat about 1.30pm, while he was having lunch at MK suki restaurant at Tesco Lotus superstore on Rama I road, the reports said.

Mr Chaiwat this morning led supporters of the yellow-shirt splinter group of the Peoples Alliance for Democracy (PAD) to the Grand Palace to submit a petition against the government addressed to His Majesty the King. The group accused the government of mismanaging the border demarcation issue with Cambodia.

Mr Chaiwat's colleagues said he had planned to turn himself to authorities, but was nabbed by Crime Suppression police before he could do this.

All PAD core members, except Mr Chaiwat, surrendered to police to answer charges in connection with the blockades of Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang airports during their campaign to force the Somchai Wongsawat government to step down. The accused Mr Somchai of being a nominee for fugitive prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra. The other PAD leaders were released without bail.