World

Thai Protest Leaders to Surrender

by JeffHuang | October 9, 2008 at 08:42 am

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Detailed coverage of the Thailand protest can be seen at our Nowpublic Thailand channel.

After court dropped treason charges, the leaders said they would surrender to police but they promised to continue their sit-in at the prime minister's office. Treason charges could lead to the death penalty.

Leaders of Thailand's antigovernment protests said Thursday they would surrender to police after a court dropped treason charges against them, but they vowed to continue their sit-in at the prime minister's office.

Hundreds of black-clad doctors and nurses, meanwhile, marched to the national police headquarters in Bangkok, demanding that the government step down to take responsibility for clashes between police and protesters two days earlier in which two people were killed and more than 443 were injured, including 20 police.

Although the leaders were acquitted of treason, they still face several serious crimes which could result in a lenghty prison sentence.

Protest leader Sondhi Limthongkul said he and other leaders of the People's Alliance for Democracy would report to police and apply for bail on Friday.

Arrest warrants were issued for the alliance's nine leaders Aug. 27, the day after they led thousands of protesters onto the grounds of Government House. They have occupied the complex since then, demanding the resignation of leaders linked to former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted in a 2006 military coup for alleged corruption and misuse of power.

The government has been forced to work from Bangkok's old international airport due to the sit-ins.