Leaders of Thai ‘Red-shirted’ Protesters Evade Arrest
A group of protest leaders in Thailand has evaded detention with one of them escaping dramatically by rope off a hotel room balcony, thus giving a jolt to attempts by authorities to halt month-long anti-government demonstrations, said media reports.
“We will arrest and suppress the terrorists,” Suthep Thaugsuban, the deputy prime minister, was quoted as saying on television in the morning.
Announcing that Special Forces have surrounded the hotel, he said, “We have set up special task forces hunting for the terrorists.”
In a dramatic event, one of the most contentious leaders of the red-shirted protesters Arisman Pongruangrong fled by climbing down a rope from his hotel room on the second floor, said reports.
Arisman was lowered into the back of a lorry teeming with baying supporters who had assembled there from the main protest site to foil the police attempt to arrest their leaders, reports said.
They then drove him, along with three other associates, back in a protective convoy with a cheering crowd welcoming them as conquering heroes, said reports.
“It is an unsuccessful operation, but we will continue further operations,” Panitan Wattanayagorn, the government spokesman, was quoted as saying. “We have to wait for reports from the operation team.”
Suthep described Arisman as a ‘terrorist’ and warned of new operations against the protesters, who have taken over an intersection in central Bangkok, closing down some of the city’s biggest shopping malls and smartest hotels, reports said.
“Innocent people should leave the protests because the authorities have to take decisive measures against terrorists,” Suthep was quoted as saying.
The government has declared the demonstrations illegal under the Emergency Act they invoked last week, and has frequently declared its intention of arresting the leaders.
The protesters are insisting on the immediate resignation of Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, questioning the legitimacy of an administration that came to power 16 months ago in a controversial parliamentary vote.
Abhisit has, however, offered to dissolve parliament and call elections in December, a year before his term expires, but that has failed to satisfy the protesters, who are demanding he go immediately.
(Based on internet reports)
