Wednesday, April 15, 2009

Police said they were also hunting the main organisers of the demonstrations that left two people dead and 123 injured this week, after a court issued arrest warrants for Thaksin and 12 top supporters.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has vowed to prosecute all leaders of the rallies, which broke up on Tuesday after troops threatened to use force against thousands of demonstrators camped outside his offices.

Government spokesman Panitan Wattanayagorn said Thaksin's passport was withdrawn for inciting protests that forced the cancellation of a summit of Asian leaders on the Thai coast on Saturday.

'The ministry can cancel or recall a passport if it can prove that a person has caused damage to the country,' he told AFP.

In a television interview filmed in Dubai before the passport announcement, the billionaire tycoon denied the official charges that he had incited violence.

'I feel very tragic on what is happening among the Thai people. But I am not instigating it,' he told Al-Jazeera English. 'I keep telling them every day, the message is peaceful, peaceful, peaceful.'

The 59-year-old added that he would be prepared to return to Thailand to face justice if numerous cases against him, which also include previous charges of graft, were investigated by a 'neutral body'.

Troops and police on Wednesday manned security checkpoints around the capital but Panitan said Abhisit wanted to lift the state of emergency 'as soon as he can' to help local businesses.

Bangkok residents celebrated the end of the protests with the traditional pastime of soaking each other with water on final day of Buddhist New Year celebrations on Wednesday. -- AFP

Source: Straits Times