Thai arrests over demands for legal action against ex-PM

Thai police yesterday arrested at least two people for distributing leaflets demanding renewed legal action against ex-premier Abhisit Vejjajiva and his then deputy for their roles in a 2010 protest crackdown.
Two unnamed people -- believed to be relatives of victims of the crackdown four years ago -- were charged with defamation after dropping the leaflets onto the street near a busy overground train station in Bangkok, Deputy National Police chief Somyot Poompanmoung told AFP.
"They violated laws in front of police officers," he said, adding they were charged with defamation by publication, a criminal offence which carries a maximum two-year jail term and a hefty fine in Thailand.
Murder charges against Abhisit and his then number two Suthep Thaugsuban linked to the bloody crackdown on rival "Red Shirt" supporters, were unexpectedly dropped last Thursday after a criminal court in the capital said it lacked jurisdiction to hear the case.
Relatives have vowed to press ahead with their campaign for justice for the deceased -- who include a nurse who was shot dead on the grounds of a Buddhist temple as she treated the wounded.