Arrest warrants sought against 16 Thai protest leaders

The Thai Department of Special Investigation (DSI) on Monday applied to the Criminal Court for arrest warrants for 16 anti-government protest leaders, who were accused of violating the emergency decree. Secretary-general of the anti-government People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) Suthep Thaugsuban was high on the list. DSI chief Tarit Pengdith had been called to testify to the court, Yutthana Praedam, DSI's special cases specialist was quoted by the Bangkok Post as saying. In another situation, the Center for Maintaining Peace and Order (CMPO) has warned 30 private enterprises to stop supporting PDRC's protests. Tarit, who is also CMPO secretary, said those firms would violate the Criminal Code, the emergency decree and the Anti-Money Laundering Act by providing vehicles and financial support for PDRC protesters.