Arisman: Spitting image
Fugitives cash in their chips
UDD co-leaders celebrate their return to Thailand with a few nights at a border casino - Puea Thai faces internal conflict as competition grows for general election listings - Thailand's ambassador to Cambodia nears the end of a turbulent stay in Phnom Penh
Published: 19/03/2011
Bangkok Post
Finally, it was homeward bound for red shirt co-leaders on the run for nearly a year. One by one, they have surrendered to authorities to face terrorism charges in connection with the political violence last year.
It cannot be a happy affair for key figures accused by their opponents of leading the movement that burned down parts of Bangkok.
Some fled after the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship ended its month-long rally at Ratchaprasong intersection following clashes with security forces on May 19 last year.
Riots broke out in Bangkok and in provinces seen as red shirt strongholds in the wake of the leaders' escape.
The leaders on the run included former Thai Rak Thai Party MP Adisorn Piangket, noted composer Wisa Kanthap, songstress Paijit Aksornnarong, former Thai Rak Thai MP Arisman Pongruengrong, Suporn Atthawong, Shinawat Haboonpat and Pol Lt Col Waipot Arpornrat.
Some people sympathised with the runaways, imagining the hardships they were expected to endure.
A political source said some leaders had crossed the border to Cambodia, where they were spotted in the tourist town of Siem Reap and the capital Phnom Penh.
They were said to have been taken under the wings of elements connected to a prominent Thai political figure who also happens to be on the run, said the source.
The red shirt leaders received support in cash and in kind from these elements.
Soon after taking flight, several leaders were accommodated at three- and five-star hotels in the heart of Siem Reap. The hotels are believed to be owned by high-level politicians who hobnob with Cambodian premier Hun Sen.
Hotel guests recall bumping into a man who appeared to be the image of Mr Arisman. The person was singing at a hotel restaurant and was visited occasionally by red shirt supporters, the source said.
The reports of red shirt leaders popping up in Cambodia and taking a carefree hiatus soon spread and Cambodian authorities were on the receiving end of complaints from Thailand.
After the objections were raised, the leaders kept a lower profile, although their daily lives were far from miserable. Some whiled away their time in the gym and even crossed back to Thailand through the Poi Pet checkpoint with assistance from a former Thai MP with large business interests along the common border in Sa Kaeo province.
The source said Thai authorities had been in touch with the leaders and talks were held for them to return, reportedly with the green light from government insiders.
The fugitives cautiously agreed to come home. They did not completely trust the government and during their journey back to Thailand they switched cars and were escorted by their own security guards.
They reached casino complexes on the border in Poi Pet where they were to be handed over to Thai officials. But before they stepped back onto Thai soil, they stayed a few nights at a casino where they celebrated their impending return with an open bar and a visit to a gambling parlour, the source said.
Party campaign gets red alert
The growing competition in the Puea Thai Party to stand as a candidate in the general election is putting the party on the verge of a new internal conflict.
Party executives have reshuffled the names of prospective candidates for single constituency and party list MP seats at least two times, but they have had to change the list again as they then needed to put the names of red shirt leaders into the pool.
Among those seeking MP seats are seven key leaders of the United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship charged with terrorism who were recently released on bail. They are Natthawut Saikua, Weng Tojirakarn, Korkaew Pikulthong, Kwanchai Praipana, Yoswaris Chuklom, Nisit Sinthuprai and Wiphuthalaeng Pattanaphumthai.
Natthawut: Seeking MP seat
Mr Natthawut is believed to be placed high on the party list. The support for him to be on the list was signalled when he met Puea Thai leader Yongyuth Vichaidit for the first time after nine months in jail.
A party source said Mr Yongyuth promised Mr Natthawut a high place on the list.
Other UDD leaders also showed strong intentions to secure candidacy for the party in the next general election.
Tepanom Siriwitayarak, leader of a UDD chapter in Surin, said he expected he and 10 colleagues would be selected to represent the party in the single constituency election system in the province.
His group has reportedly put up campaign posters in their areas and asked Puea Thai secretary-general Suphol Fongngam to persuade party heavyweights to support them.
However, it is understood Mr Suphol does not wield the power to do so.
Meanwhile, Pol Lt Col Waipot Arpornrat, a former executive and party list MP of the disbanded People Power Party, is preparing to send his wife Udomrat, a provincial councillor for Kamphaeng Phet, to run as a party list candidate in the next general election.
Pol Lt Col Waipot, now a UDD leader, is among red shirt leaders who turned himself in to the Department of Special Investigation to face terrorism charges after the release of the seven UDD co-leaders. He was also released on bail.
Mr Kwanchai, a core member of the UDD in Udon Thani, has decided not to seek election and will return to his disc jockey career for local radio. He said he felt comfortable working on the ground alongside the UDD supporters.
The party has set April 3 as the final round to decide who will be selected to represent the party in the general election.
In addition to the group of UDD leaders, more than 200 former executives of the defunct Thai Rak Thai and People Power parties are also believed to be asking the party for permission to field their relatives under the Puea Thai banner.
Among the 111 Thai Rak Thai executives who are still under the political ban, Khunying Sudarat Keyuraphan is tasked with jointly preparing lists of candidates in Bangkok with Chalerm Yubamrung, chairman of Puea Thai MPs.
Mr Chalerm will oversee candidates in the Thon Buri area.
The overall picture of Puea Thai candidates will be considered by Thai Rak Thai former executive Pongsak Raktapongpaisarn. But the final say on the matter will be up to ousted former premier Thaksin Shinawatra, who hopes an election victory will secure him passage to return home.
Prasas ready for quiet life
Phnom Penh is Prasas Prasasvinitchai's first ambassadorial posting _ and it has been a turbulent one.
His hectic schedule was highlighted by strained bilateral relations caused by a series of diplomatic events such as Cambodia's appointment of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra as the country's economic adviser, and rallies by the Santi Asoke and People's Alliance for Democracy over the border dispute around the Preah Vihear temple.
Prasas: Phnom Penh turmoil
Less than a month after arriving at the Cambodian capital in October 2009, Mr Prasas was recalled to Bangkok in a protest by the government against Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen's appointment of Thaksin as economic adviser.
He spent more than nine months away from Phnom Penh.
Mr Prasas returned to the Cambodian capital again on Aug 24 last year, soon after Thaksin's resignation as an economic adviser.
Since his return to his post in Phnom Penh, he has had to work day and night amid growing tension back home over the territorial dispute.
The two nations have been at loggerheads over their rival claims to 4.6 square kilometres of land around the temple, which was unilaterally registered as a World Heritage site in 2008 by Phnom Penh.
There were only few brief occasions that the Thai embassy under Mr Prasas's guidance could enjoy peaceful moments, such as celebrations marking the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the countries in October 2010.
Just weeks later, the Department of Special Investigation claimed the red shirts had undergone weapons training in Cambodia. Phnom Penh angrily denied it.
Mr Prasas had to calm what could have touched off another diplomatic row.
Then, just three days before the New Year, seven Thais including Democrat Party MP Panich Vikitsreth were arrested for trespassing on Cambodian territory.
Five of the seven have now returned home, leaving only Veera Somkwamkid, the coordinator of the Thai Patriots Network, and Ratree Pipatanapaiboon, Veera's secretary, in jail.
The two are behind bars and seeking a royal pardon.
Clashes between Thai and Cambodia troops in February prompted the United Nations and Asean to intervene.
Mr Prasas paid a courtesy call on Cambodian Foreign Minister Hor Nam Hong on the occasion of his departure from the ambassadorial post.
He will return to Bangkok on March 31 while his successor-designate Sompong Sanguanbun, now ambassador attached to the ministry and former consul-general to Ho Chi Minh City, will travel to Phnom Penh on April 11.
Mr Prasas might be summoned by the Foreign Ministry to observe the Jakarta-brokered General Border Committee and Joint Boundary Commission meetings between Thailand and Cambodia to be held in Bogor between April 7-8.
The decision on whether he should observe the meeting is up to Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya.
He is now preparing himself to assume the role of ambassador to the Philippines, as endorsed by the government last month.
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