Jatuporn, Nattawut released (Updated)
The red shirt leaders detained over an attempted visit to Rajabhakti Park were freed last night after a warning and a written agreement. (Arrest video has been added)
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Morning update
A smiling Jatuporn Prompan is photographed after his release last night. (Post Today photo)
Jatuporn Prompan and Nattawut Saikuar, leading members of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) have been released after about 12 hours in military custody. Post Today reports that Mr Jatuporn posted in the social media at 22:45 last night that he had reached his home safely and thanked those who had been concerned.
Post Today reports that the two had been held in a military facility in Kanchanaburi province where discussions were held leading to a written agreement that the two would not carry out any future actions that might affect national security
Latest (20:00)
At least two Thai-language media outlets (Nation TV and Voice TV ) are reporting that UDD leaders detained this morning are likely to be freed tonight and returned to their homes by the military. The release, however, depends on the leaders signing a written agreement to refrain from political activities in the future, reports Nation TV. As of 21:00 this had not been confirmed by other news outlets.
Evening update with video
The Bangkok Post reports that in addition to Nattawut Saikuar and Jatuporn Prompan, Another red-shirt core member Yossawaris Chuklom, alias Jeng Dokchick, was also arrested at the market by soldiers. The three men were taken to an undisclosed military camp in Ratchaburi province for "attitude adjustment".
The video shows the arrest. You will hear many "Where are you taking them?" questions, but no answers. At the end of the video Jatuporn is heard saying he is not worried or concerned (เนเธกเนเธซเธเธฑเธเนเธ)
(Video by Aekarach Sattaburuth and YouTube user Kiti Suree)
The three UDD leaders were taken away in a convoy of two vans of the 16th Army Circle and two white saloon cars.
About 11.30am, the convoy arrived at the entrance of the 16th Army Circle headquarters, where a crowd of reporters were waiting. The convoy zipped past the entrance and on to an unknown destination.
It was believed the convoy was heading to one of the five military camps in the province: Phanurangsi, Srisuriyawong, Burachat and Sanpawut camps in Muang district, and Thap Phaya Lue camp in Suan Phueng district.
Contacted by reporters on the telephone, Maj Gen Chawalit Pongpithak, commander of the 16th Army Circle, said only that the three UDD leaders were at a safe place which would not be disclosed for security reasons.
Soldiers detain Jatuporn, Nattawut before Rajabhakti Park visit
Online reporters
Jatuporn Prompan and Nattawut Saikuar, leading members of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD), were arrested by soldiers at Mahachai market in Muang district of Samut Sakhon province on Monday morning, according to media reports.
The two UDD leaders were reportedly talking to reporters at Mahachai market before going to Rajabhakti Park in Hua Hin district, Prachuap Khiri Khan province, when they were apprehended and taken away by the military.
It was not known where they were being taken.
Jatuporn Prompan sits in a vehicle which took him to an undisclosed location.
Earlier today, Mr Nattawut posted on his Facebook page that a Toyota Camry car was seen in front of his house at Sanam Binnam in Nonthaburi province throughout the night, accompanied by two motorcycles, possibly from a rapid deployment unit.
The men inside the vehicle were plain-clothes personnel, he wrote.
Mr Nattawut continued: "No matter what, I will definitely go to Rajabhakti."
He arrived at Mahachai shortly after 10am. There, he and Mr Jatuporn held a press conference, saying they planned to visit Rajabhakti Park to pay homage to the statues of the seven past kings.
The visit was neither politically motivated nor intended to apply pressure on the government, they said.
The park, of course, is the centre of an investigation into possible corruption surrounding the construction of the statues and the park itself.
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