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 indictments against the above figures are divided into two separate cases. Accordingly, the defendants face sentences of up to five years in prison for the attack on the Government Office and weeks of occupation by protesters 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 National Assembly building left hundreds injured. PAD leaders also led protesters occupying two airports in Bangkok, but have not been impeached.
The Thai Criminal Court has allowed all the accused to be released on bail in the two cases, with bail set at $5,000 and $6,700 respectively. In addition, 14 other PAD leaders will also be impeached on January 22.
This is the first indictment against key leaders of the yellow shirts, who have repeatedly staged large protests against governments they accuse of being allies of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, 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 force.
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
