Protesters
bitter at freedom
Anchalee Kongrut Bangkok Post, July 21, 2000
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| Bangkok governor Bhichit Rattakul
joins Pak Moon villagers in a religious ceremony outside
Government House. - Sarot Meksophawannakul |
Gloom began to settle on Pak Moon dam protesters
yesterday after they were bailed out of jail by a lawyer with Democrat
links.
Leaders of the 220 said they would have stayed had they known
Chamroen Waraporn, president of the Lawyers Association, was close to
party figures.
Mr Chamroen is close to Niphon Boonyamanee, Taworn Sennium and
Winai Sennium, who are in turn close to Banyat Bantadtan, interior
minister.
The Assembly of the Poor said the 220 were not clients of Mr
Chamroen and demanded the state drop all charges against the protesters.
The 220 would prefer jail to temporary freedom that implied guilt,
and insisted the bail had been arranged without their consent.
Mr Chamroen, who admitted he was close to party figures, said he
had been sincere in his actions. If the 220, charged with trespass on
Government House, fail to report to the Criminal Court on July 28, Mr
Chamroen will have to hand over a 380,000-baht guarantee.
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