Thailand charges key "yellow shirt" leaders

On December 27, Thai prosecutors charged six key leaders of the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD), also known as the "yellow shirts," with leading the 2008 anti-government protest movement that sparked political instability and deep divisions that have persisted in Thailand to this day.

Among those convicted were media tycoon Sondhi Limthongkul and former Bangkok Governor Chamlong Srimuang.

The "yellow shirts" protested in Bangkok in January 2011.
Illustrative photo. (Source: AFP/VNA)

The charges against the men are divided into two separate cases. They face up to five years in prison for the weeks-long occupation of the Government House in August 2008 and seven years in prison for the blockade of the National Assembly building in October of the same year.

Clashes at the protest at the National Assembly building left hundreds injured. In addition, PAD leaders also led protesters occupying two airports in the capital Bangkok, but have not been impeached.

The Thai Criminal Court has granted bail to all the accused on $5,000 and $6,700 bail in the two cases, respectively. In addition, 14 other PAD leaders will also be indicted on January 22.

This is the first indictment against key leaders of the yellow shirts, who have staged repeated mass protests against governments they accuse of being allies of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted in a 2006 coup. The protests turned violent, leaving two people dead and hundreds injured.

After the coup that ousted Mr Thaksin, political turmoil continued in Thailand until the pro-yellow shirt Democrat Party formed a government in December 2008 without elections. This move led to massive protests by the

The Red Shirts supported Mr. Thaksin. Clashes between Red Shirt protesters and security forces in April 2010 left many people dead. The political deadlock was broken when the Puea Thai Party of Ms. Yingluck Shinawatra, Mr. Thaksin's sister, won the election in July 2011 and Ms. Yingluck became Prime Minister./.

According to (TTXVN) - DT