Thailand's police detain protest organizer: reports
07-OCT-2008 Intellasia | Market Watch
Oct 7, 2008 - 7:00:00 AM
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MarketWatchA key anti-government protest leader was arrested Sunday by Thailand's police, according to media reports.
Chamlong Srimuang, who is accused of illegal assembly and inciting unrest, was arrested at a polling station in Bangkok, where he had gone to cast a vote in Sunday's election for mayor of the Thai capital, the reports said.
Chamlong has left the prime minister's compound, which he and hundreds of other protesters have occupied for over a month, according to the reports.
Another protest organizer, Chaiwat Sinsuwong, was arrested on Friday, the reports said.
The protesters are calling for the resignation of the government, which they accuse of being a puppet of Thaksin Shinawatra, the former prime minister who was ousted in a 2006 coup and faces several corruption cases.
Thaksin's brother-in-law, Somchai Wongsawat, became Thailand's prime minister last month after a court ordered his predecessor, Samak Sundaravej, to resign.
Chamlong's arrest may worsen the country's political instability, which has already hurt investor sentiment. Thailand's benchmark SET stock index has fallen 31% this year.
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