Thousands protest against Thai judiciary

Feb 13, 2011, 9:46 GMT

Bangkok - Thousands of Thais rallied Sunday at the Bangkok Criminal Court to protest the judiciary's 'double standards' in dealing with the leaders of different demonstrations.

Thousands of supporters of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD), gathered outside the Criminal Court to call for the release of 17 of their leaders arrested in May on terrorism charges for staging mass protests in Bangkok that led to 90 dead and about 2,000 injured.

The UDD - also called red shirts for their preferred protest garb - complained that the leadership of the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD), which staged seven months on protests in Bangkok in 2008, had received more lenient treatment from the court.

'Why is it that the court allowed the PAD leadership to walk free on bail but had never allowed bail for the UDD leaders even though both faced the same charges,' UDD leader Jatuporn Prompan said.

The protest marched from the court to Ratchadamnoen Avenue, around Democracy Monument, where they plan to remain until midnight.

The UDD is linked to the Puea Thai opposition party, whose de facto leader is deposed former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

Jaturporn said Thaksin would deliver a phone-in message to the red shirts at 9:00 pm.

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