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Thai police arrest 'taunting' anti-coup activist | |
(about 7 hours later) | |
Thai police have arrested a top anti-coup activist who taunted the military government with a Facebook message reading: "Catch me if you can." | |
The military said officers tracked down Sombat Boonngamanong through the internet. He is wanted for violating an order to report to the ruling junta. | |
Mr Sombat led an online campaign organising rallies against the army's coup, which took place in May. | |
The military seized power in Thailand after continuing political unrest. | |
The move followed six months of political deadlock as protesters tried to oust the government of Yingluck Shinawatra. | |
But the army's removal of her elected government has drawn widespread international criticism. | |
'Army purge' | |
Mr Sombat was arrested late on Thursday in the eastern Chonburi province. | |
"We have a team who tracked him through the internet," army spokeswoman Sirichan Ngathong told the AFP news agency. | |
Officials said soldiers and police were able to locate the IP address used by Mr Sombat to post his comments. | |
His arrest has been denounced by Amnesty International who described it as part of "a systematic and widening crackdown on key human rights" by the military. | |
"Sombat Boonngamanong should be released immediately unless he is charged with a recognisable criminal offence and remanded by an independent, civilian court," said human rights group's Asia director, Richard Bennett. | |
"This is the latest in a disturbing wave of arrests of people purely voicing disquiet about the military regime. The army's course of action is looking increasingly like a purge." | |
Hundreds were detained after the coup, but most have since been freed, correspondents say. | |
Meanwhile, corruption investigators have widened their inquiry into former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, investigating her private assets. | Meanwhile, corruption investigators have widened their inquiry into former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, investigating her private assets. |
The National Anti-Corruption Commission's investigation is connected to a rice-subsidy scheme, in which the government bought rice from farmers at above-market prices to boost rural incomes. | |
The commission had already indicted Ms Yingluck over charges of dereliction of duty, saying that she failed to heed advice that the scheme was potentially wasteful and prone to corruption. | The commission had already indicted Ms Yingluck over charges of dereliction of duty, saying that she failed to heed advice that the scheme was potentially wasteful and prone to corruption. |
Ms Yingluck was detained last month at an undisclosed location as leaders of Thursday's military coup tightened their grip on power. | Ms Yingluck was detained last month at an undisclosed location as leaders of Thursday's military coup tightened their grip on power. |
Mr Sombat previously led a pro-democracy group called Red Sunday, reports the BBC's Jonathan Head in Bangkok. | |
He was also one of the only prominent red shirt activists to defy the Thai military by taunting them from his Facebook and Twitter accounts, our correspondent adds. | He was also one of the only prominent red shirt activists to defy the Thai military by taunting them from his Facebook and Twitter accounts, our correspondent adds. |
Mr Sombat has urged followers to stage peaceful public rallies, and has encouraged the flashing of the three-finger salute from The Hunger Games films that has become a symbol of defiance against the junta. | Mr Sombat has urged followers to stage peaceful public rallies, and has encouraged the flashing of the three-finger salute from The Hunger Games films that has become a symbol of defiance against the junta. |
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