POLICE ARREST TWO OF 2008'S AIRPORT PROTESTERS

By Jamaluddin Muhammad

BANGKOK, Jan 18 (Bernama) -– More than two years after the seizure of two
airports by protesters, the police have detained two suspects in this capital
Tuesday.

Police Chief Assistant Pol-Gen Somyot Pumpanmuang said the suspects -- members
of the Thai Patriots Network -- were picked up at a restaurant here about
1.30pm.

He said they were arrested to answer charges for the occupation of the two
airports.

The Thai Patriots Network is a splinter group of the People's Alliance for
Democracy (PAD) which seized the Suvarnabhumi International Airport and Don
Muang Airport, both near here, in November 2008.

The PAD, also known as the Yellow Shirts, blocked the airports for several days,
resulting in the cancellation of many international and domestic flights then.

They seized the airports in a move to pressure the resignation of then-prime
minister Somchai Wongsawat.

The Yellow Shirts' rival, Red Shirts, had blamed the government for taking late
action against the Yellow Shirts protesters whereas action against the Red
Shirts was promptly taken.
-- BERNAMA