Red Shirt hardliner Arisman escapes, Jatuporn may surrender

BANGKOK, May 19 (TNA) – Hardline anti-government Red Shirt leader Arisman Pongreuangrong has escaped from the movement’s main rally site in Bangkok’s prime commercial area as army troops approached the UDD’s Ratchaprasong intersection protest site Wednesday mid-day.

Metropolitan Police spokesman Pol Maj-Gen Piya Uthayo said he was informed that Mr Arisman escaped from Ratchaprasong intersection in a white Toyota Yaris, with an unknown license number.

It was reported that Mr Arisman later left the car and fled by motorcycle to an unknown destination.

Gen Piya said the police are pursuing Mr Arisman intending to arrest him, while rapid response units of 700 armed police have been deployed across the Thai capital to prevent any inciting to violence and possible looting.

Red Shirt leaders Weng Tojirakarn and Suporn Attawong were not seen at the Ratchaprasong stage, but Nattawut Saikua and Jatuporn Prompan remained.

Mr Nattawut pledged to Red Shirt supporters at Ratchaprasong that he will not flee, but will stay with the protesters no matter what happens.

Mr Nattawut also urged the protesters to decide for themselves whether they wanted to stay or not, but he advised elders, women and children to stay at the nearby Pathumwanaram Temple.

Meanwhile, Sen Lertrat Rattanawatnich, who led a group of senators to talk with UDD leaders at the main protest site at Ratchaprasong Tuesday night, said that Mr Jatuporn will surrender to police at National Police headquarters this afternoon in attempt to end the clashes and loss of life.

The opposition Puea Thai Party and a group of senators had expressed their willingness to guarantee a fair trial for the UDD leaders who turned themselves in to the authorities. (TNA)