BANGKOK, Feb 22 – The Criminal Court will give its ruling next week on two petitions seeking to invalidate arrest warrants for 31 key leaders of the anti-government People’s Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) who were charged with violating the state of emergency.
The petitions were made following the Civil Court’s verdict on Wednesday, prohibiting the government from taking legal action or arresting protesters who have peacefully organised rallies in Bangkok.
The court will give its verdict on Thursday on a petition seeking to revoke arrest warrants against 18 PDRC key leaders, including Suthep Thaugsuban, Satit Wongnongtaey, Chumpol Jullasai, Buddhipongse Punnakanta, Issara Somchai, Witthaya Kaewparadai, Thaworn Senneam, Nattapol Theepsuwan, Akanat Promphan, Anchalee Paireerak, Nitithorn Lamlua, Uthai Yodmanee, Samdin Lertbutr, Preecha Iamsuphan, Ratchyut or Amorn Sirayothinpakdee, Kittichai Saisa-ard, Samran Rodpetch and Parnsuwan Na-Kaew.
In the second petition, PDRC opposed a request by the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) to the court to issue arrest warrants for 13 other PDRC key protesters.
The court originally scheduled Monday to rule on the DSI’s request.
It told the PDRC lawyer that the PDRC’s petition on the 13 protesters would be ruled on Monday along with the DSI’s request.
Thirteen PDRC protesters named in the second group were Somkiat Pongpaiboon, Somsak Kosaisuk, Chitpas Kridakorn, Sakolthee Pattiyakul, Sombat Thamrongthanyawong, Seri Wongmontha, Thanom Onketpol, Phra Buddha Issara, Sawit Kaewwan, Komsan Thongsiri, Suchart Srisang, Ravee Maschamadol and Nopporn Muangtan.
