Arisman on politics
PPT was interested in reported comments by red shirt Arisman Pongruangrong, who fled “terrorism” charges laid by the Abhisit Vejjajiva administration in 2010. The Bangkok Post reports that Arisman attended a red shirt event in Phnom Penh.
Arisman spoke to reporters and complained about “accusations that he was not loyal to the royal institution.” He claimed that red shirts were not “seeking to topple the monarchy…”.
Arisman said he “only wanted democracy, justice, fair elections and public participation in the judiciary.” His comment that “Thais had been deceived for decades and had not had power at all,” made sense for PPT.
Where we were confused was when he added: “We should not involve the higher institution in politics.” That sounds like an attempt to smooth a path back from exile, even if he says he has no plans to return.
On the day he fled Thailand, he claims he left the Rajaprasong site with soldiers running past him but not recognizing him. “He said he saw a dozen Humvees, some 100,000 rounds of ammunition and hundreds of snipers on buildings and heard endless gunfire and shouts.”
Arisman said he had “made occasionally fleeting visits to Thailand and some soldiers and policemen had recognised him but none arrested him.”
PPT thinks that he is pretty much ready to return.
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