Thailand

Court frees two anti-government leaders

Article published on the 2008-10-09 Latest update 2008-10-09 13:56 TU

Chamlong Srimuang and Chaiwat Sinsuwong leave prison
(Photo: Reuters)

Two of the leaders of  anti-government protests in Thailand have been released from jail. The two men walked free on bail after insurrection charges against all nine main leaders of the country's anti-government protests were scrapped. The charges carry a maximum sentence of death or life in prison. Retired Major-General Chamlong Srimuang and Chaiwat Sinsuwong were arrested before thousands of supporters marched to Parliament on Monday and clashed with police.

Earlier a Thai court dropped charges of treason against the main leaders of the protests but two less serious charges of illegal assembly and inciting arrest remain. The leaders say they would fulfil their promise to surrender to police if the insurrection charges were dropped.

Protesters have been occupying the grounds of government buildings for weeks claiming the government is a proxy for ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. On Monday and Tuesday, after marching to the Parliament building, protesters clashed with police, leaving two dead and hundreds injured.

Newly appointed Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat says the government will launch an independent investigation into the fatal clashes between police and protestors.

Two committees will be set up. One to investigate Tuesday's street violence while the other will liaise with victims of the violence.