Thai police on Friday moved to arrest Chaiwat Sinsuwong, one of nine leaders of the civilian anti-government coalition People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD), on sedition charges.
The arrest was carried out at 2:30 p.m. (0730 GMT) at the expressway tollgate on Rama VI road in Bangkok when Chaiwat in hiscar was paying fees, shortly after he left the residence of Democrat Party MP Kraisak Chonhavan in Bangkok, according to a report by The Nation news website.
Police staked out at the tollgate upon learning that he left Kraisak's house.
Chaiwat was taken to the Border Patrol Police Region 1 Command in Pathum Thani province near Bangkok, the report said.
The Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for the PAD's nine leaders on Aug. 27 after the PAD led thousands of protesters to seize a state TV station, ministries' office buildings, and occupythe Government House -- the office compound of the Prime Minister and the Cabinet, in central Bangkok on Aug. 26 to demand the cabinet led by then Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej to step down.
Samak was later forced out of office upon a constitution-violation charge, but the PAD continued to occupy the Government House with continuous rallies, and the leaders also appealed the arrest warrants.
Besides Chaiwat, the other PAD leaders wanted are Sondhi Limthongkul, Chamlong Srimuang, Somsak Kosaisuk, Pipop Thongchai, Somkiart Pongpaiboon, Suriyasai Katasila, Amorn Amornratananont and Therdpoom Chaidee.
The nine all faced felony charges such as treason, inciting social disturbances and diobedience to law enforcement orders.
Source: Xinhua
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