Thailand’s military junta on Tuesday threatened “to hunt down” Jakrapob Penkair, a fugitive founding leader of the “red shirts” movement who has been based in exile in Phnom Penh since 2009, a Bangkok newspaper reported Wednesday.
Winthai Suvaree, deputy spokesman for the junta that has ruled Thailand since the coup May 22 coup d’etat, said the military was looking to track Mr. Jakrapob, according to The Bangkok Post.
“Winthai Suvaree said authorities are monitoring Mr Jakrapob and considering tracking him down following a media report about his plan to create an anti-junta organisation abroad,” the article said. It did not directly quote Colonel Winthai, but noted that the military was unable to confirm the whereabouts of Mr. Jakrapob, who travels frequently.
Mr. Jakrapob said in an interview in Phnom Penh last Thursday that prominent red shirt leaders will this month announce the creation of a resistance organization on foreign soil to oppose the military junta. The resistance could lead to the creation of a government-in-exile, he said.
Mr. Jakrapob could not be reached Wednesday.
