The Criminal Court ordered the acquittal today of 67 members of the now defunct political pressure group known as the People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD), after finding them not guilty on multiple charges related to the seizure of Don Mueang airport, from November 24 until December 3, 2008, in an attempt to force the resignation of then Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat.

The charges included terrorism, incitement of public unrest, illegal seizure of an airport, intimidation of officials, assault, resisting arrest and tampering with satellite communications equipment.

After the reading of the verdict, one of the 67 co-defendants, Panthep Puapongpan, dean of Rangsit University’s Institute of Integrative Medicine and Anti-Aging, hailed it as one of the most significant for several years, as it recognises the right and liberty of people to stage peaceful protests and that the PAD protests were beneficial to the people as a whole.

Regarding the siege of the airport, the court ruled that there was no prosecution evidence to prove that any of the 67 defendants had undertaken activities disrupting the operations of the airport or that aeronautical communications had been disrupted.

The court said that the PAD’s protests were a result of the government’s attempts to amend the Constitution, to exonerate the Palang Prachachon party, which had been charged with election fraud, and to strip the Assets Examination Committee of its power to investigate the alleged corruption of Thaksin regime.

Regarding the clash between some protesters and officials during the protests, the court ruled that a scuffle probably took placen, but it was not ordered by the defendants.

“The verdict is historical and its beauty is in the full content of the verdict, which cannot be shortened,” said Panthep, adding that it is a great relief for all of the former defendants, who have endured the stigma of being painted as terrorists for the past 17 years.

Among the defendants were former industry minister Chaiwat Sinsuwong, Karoon Sai-ngam, Veera Somkwamkid, General Pathompong Kesornsuk, Sarocha Porn-udomsak and Sirilak Pongchoke.

Because there were so many suspects involved in the protests, the police had to separate them into two groups. One was mainly comprised of leading members of the PAD, such as Sondhi Limthongkul, Chamlong Srimuang and Somsak Kosaisuk was tried separately.

In the first case involving the leading figures, most of them were acquitted on similar charges on January 17^th.  Sondhi was fined 20,000 baht.