Charges for Thai protest leaders

Published on 28/12/2012 00:00

Protest leaders in Thailand were charged yesterday with storming the prime minister’s office compound and sealing off parliament during anti-government rallies in 2008, at the height of political turmoil which has left the country deeply divided.

Prosecutors filed charges against Sondhi Limthongkul, Chamlong Srimuang and other leaders of the People’s Alliance for Democracy, also known as the Yellow Shirts.

They face up to five years in prison for trespassing at Government House during an August 2008 rally, in which protesters occupied the grounds for weeks. They face an additional seven years in prison for blockading the parliament in an October 2008 rally that left hundreds injured.