The Bangkok military court on Monday approved arrest warrants for seven political fugitives wanted on charges of failing to report to authorities as ordered, including the last leader of the Pheu Thai Party, Jarupong Ruangsuwan.
In addition to Mr Jarupong, several red shirt core members are said to be on the run — Jaran Ditta-apichai, Wisa Kanthap, Paijit Aksornnarong and Pol Maj Sangiam Samranrat.
Also on the warrants are Sanguan Pongmanee, a former Pheu Thai MP for Lamphun, and Somsak Jeamteerasakul, a prominent historian and Thammasat University lecturer critical of the monarchy.
The National Council for Peace and Order earlier filed a complaint to the Crime Suppression Division asking police to seek arrest warrants for the group after they were summoned twice but failed to show up.
If caught and court martialed, they each face a jail term of up to two years and/or a fine of up to 40,000 baht.
A task force of soldiers and police is to be set up to try to find and apprehend the seven suspects, NCPO authorities said.