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Thai leader held for “treason”

Chamlong Srimuang

SINGAPORE: A proactive leader of the opposition People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD), Chamlong Srimuang, was arrested in Bangkok on Sunday, on charges of “treason.” This added a dimension to the unabated political crisis, with the PAD activists, occupying the Government House premises in Bangkok for nearly six weeks now, pledging to intensify their “struggle.”

The PAD’s refrain is “new politics,” largely defined as a clean break from the policies and legacy of the former Prime Minister, Thaksin Shinawatra, who now lives in self-imposed exile. He was toppled in a military coup nearly two years ago, and Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat is Mr. Thaksin’s brother-in-law. His immediate predecessor and a political ally of the deposed leader, Samak Sundaravej, bowed out of office after being found guilty in a “conflict of interest” case. He was the first to become Prime Minister following a “democracy-restoring” election that the coup masters held several months ago.

Mr. Chamlong, one of nine PAD front-rankers against whom the Samak Government had issued arrest warrants for organising the siege at the Government House.

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