Red Shirts

Seven red leaders freed on bail

The Criminal Court on Tuesday approved the bail of seven red leaders on the conditions that they will not get involved in any disturbances and comply with a ban against travelling abroad.

 The seven are Nattawut Saikua, Weng Tojirakarn, Kokaew Pikulthong, Nisit Sinthuprai, Kwanchai Praipana, Vipoothalaeng Pattanaphumthai, and Yoswalit Chooklom. Each, except Yoswarit, put between Bt600,000 to Bt800,000 as guarantee for the temporary release. The bail approval followed the Monday's hearing. Yoswarit needed to put Bt1.6 million as a guarantee because he is also facing a lese majesty charge.

On Monday, the red-shirt lawyer presented Kanit na Nakhon, the chairman of the government-appointed Truth and Reconciliation Committee, and Deputy Prime Minister Sanan Kachornprasart as witnesses for the red-shirt leaders' bail applications.
Kanit and Sanan told the court that he did not think a court decision not to grant bail to the detained red shirt leaders would obstruct the plan for political reconciliation although he had called for their release.
Deputy Prime Minister Sanan Kachornprasart, who had visited the detained red shirt leaders at the Bangkok Remand Prison, said during yesterday's hearing that their release would help improve the prospects of reconciliation and could end the ongoing political conflict.
The prison's commander, Sopon Thitithamphruek, told the hearing that the seven red shirt leaders have followed the prison's regulations, and had cooperated with officials without making any trouble during their remand period.
Last month, the court allowed Chaiwat Sinsuwong to be released on bail by posting Bt600,000 as a guarantee. Chaiwat is facing a terrorism charge related to the seizures of the two Bangkok airports.