Thailand issues arrest warrant for anti-coup group spokesman
An arrest warrant has been issued by Thailand’s military court for Jakrapob Penkair, a prominent member of the “Red Shirt” movement.
Thailand’s military court has issued an arrest warrant for the spokesman of an anti-coup group over alleged arms offences, an accusation firmly rejected by the former minister.
The warrant against Jakrapob Penkair, a prominent member of the “Red Shirt” movement affiliated to the government ousted by the military in May, follows the launch of an opposition alliance to counter the junta.
The “Organisation of Free Thais for Human Rights and Democracy” (FT-HD) has vowed to press for the restoration of democratic rule from an as yet undisclosed Western country as attempts to take on the regime within Thailand are stifled.
“The military court on Friday night issued arrest warrants for four people, including Jakrapob, for links with war weapons seized in Thailand during the past month,” deputy national police chief Somyot Poompanmoung said on Sunday.
Thailand’s military rulers justified their takeover as necessary to restore peace after months of often-violent protests between pro- and anti- government factions, and had warned they would crack down on armed groups in the run-up to the May 22 coup.
Jakrapob, also once a spokesman for the government of tycoon-turned-populist premier Thaksin Shinawatra - who was deposed in a previous coup in 2006 - sharply rejected the allegations against him.
