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BANGKOK: Thai police arrested Sunday a second protest leader who led thousands of demonstrators in a five-week long siege on government offices in the capital.
Police said retired general Chamlong Srimuang was arrested on treason and other charges as he visited a polling booth for elections for Bangkok governor.
Srimuang is a core leader of the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) camped outside Government House to demand the resignation of the government which it accuses of being too close to former premier Thaksin Shinawatra.
"The police arrested Major General Chamlong this morning when he was entering an election station at Sethasathien school," deputy police spokesman Surapol Tuanthong told reporters.
"He cooperated and let the police do their job after being informed," he said, adding that extra police forces had since been deployed to the PAD's protest camp outside Government House.
Srimuang, currently detained at police regional border patrol headquarters, is the second leader to be picked up after police issued nine arrest warrants in August in the wake of the demonstrations.
Rally organiser Chaiwat Sinsuwong was arrested by police on Friday and remains in detention awaiting a court appearance.
At the PAD's camp, set up outside government offices on August 26, members announced the latest arrest and read aloud a letter purportedly from him.
"Uncle Chamlong has been arrested by the police," a female supporter announced from a makeshift stage.
Chamlong's letter urged the PAD to continue their protest.
"We all gather to pay back to our country. We all come to make Thailand better and repay our debt to our land," the letter said.
PAD led protests against Thaksin in months of political turmoil before he was ousted in a military coup in September 2006.
PAD launched their latest demonstrations to topple former premier Samak Sundaravej, who was eventually forced from office last month for receiving payment to host two television cooking shows.
His successor, Somchai Wongsawat, has tasked deputy prime minister and seasoned politician Chavalit Yongchaiyudh with negotiating with the PAD.
Somchai and his cabinet have been forced to work out of Bangkok's old airport since the demonstrators took over the government compound.
- AFP/yb
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