The Criminal Court yesterday ordered the revocation of arrest warrants against 18 leaders of the People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) and anti-government alliance groups.
A convoy of anti-government protesters make their way along an expressway. The Expressway Authority of Thailand (Exat) filed a lawsuit against protesters who used expressways without paying tolls during the People’s Democratic Reform Committee’s (PDRC) campaign to shut down Bangkok between January and March. Patipat Janthong
All were accused of violating the emergency decree.
The court ruled the warrants were no longer valid because the decree was lifted last month.
The warrants, sought by the Department of Special Investigation, were for core protests leaders accused of staging rallies in defiance of the decree.
PDRC leader Suthep Thaugsuban still faces one more arrest warrant for alleged insurrection. The charge was filed by the police.
Also among the 18 were Nitithorn Lamlua and Uthai Yodmanee, leaders of the Network of Students and People for Reform of Thailand.
They also face one more warrant for alleged illegal assembly in connection with the seizure of several ministries.
Also yesterday, the Expressway Authority of Thailand (Exat) filed a lawsuit against protesters who used expressways without paying tolls during the People's Democratic Reform Committee's (PDRC) campaign to shut down Bangkok between January and March.
Exat governor Aiyanat Tinapai said the authority has filed charges against the toll dodgers. The maximum punishment is four years in jail and/or 8,000 baht fine.
Public relations director Busaba Pathummas said the protesters travelled on the expressways using four-wheel, six-wheel and 10-wheel vehicles and motorcycles. They also banned other vehicles from using the expressways, and paid no tolls.
This breached the Land Traffic Act, the Expressway Authority of Thailand Act and the Criminal Code, Ms Busaba said.
Meanwhile, about 2,000 PDRC protesters marched to the Foreign Ministry yesterday to warn officials against inviting foreign figures to the country to help tackle the political crisis.
The protest leaders included Suthep Thaugsuban, Sathit Wongnongtoey, Chumpol Julasai, Putthipong Punnakant, Sakonthi Pattiyakul, Nathapol Teepsuwan, Samdin Lertbut, and Jitrapas Kridakorn.
Mr Suthep told his supporters he wanted to warn Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul against inviting UN secretary-general Ban Ki-moon to Thailand to help settle the crisis. In his view, it was tantamount to inviting the UN to interfere in the country's internal affairs.
PDRC core members also called on ministry officials to help them oust the government.
The protesters later moved to the Bank of Thailand where Mr Suthep had lunch and spoke on the mobile rally stage.
He called on BoT employees to rally behind the PDRC, saying final victory was within reach.