Anti-govt protesters donate cash to leader

Anti-govt protesters donate cash to leader

There was a large donation drive on the streets of Bangkok on Friday.

Anti-government protesters donated cash to their leader, Mr Suthep Thaugsuban, as he led a rally demanding the resignation of caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra.

The donations were in response to the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) freezing the accounts of protest leaders, the Bangkok Post reported.

Thai-language daily Matichon estimated that the donations amounted to eight million baht (S$318,000). Another Thai newspaper, Naew Na, said they could reach 10 million baht.

The DSI had on Friday issued warrants to summon 20 People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) leaders, except Mr Suthep, who already has an outstanding warrant, to acknowledge charges of insurrection.

The department also informed commercial banks to freeze the accounts of all PDRC leaders, including Mr Suthep, as well as any accounts opened to receive donations.

So supporters began handing Mr Suthep money, mainly 500- and 1,000- baht notes.

The donations to the anti-government leader delayed the march and banknotes quickly filled sack after sack.

Former deputy finance minister Boonchoo Treethong, a former executive of the dissolved Thai Rak Thai Party, donated 300,000 baht in cash to Mr Suthep, the Bangkok Post reported.

It was reported that Mr Suthep received so much money that the sacks weighed as much as 8kg.


Get The New Paper for more stories.

This website is best viewed using the latest versions of web browsers.