Jatuporn Prompan, chairman of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD), walked out of the Bangkok Remand Prison a free man this  morning after serving one year and 15 days in jail for defaming former prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva.

Mr Jatuporn thanked the red-shirts for standing by his side. He also thanked Corrections Department officials and other people concerned.

He said many things happened throughout his one year and 15 days in jail. He vowed to continue to explore ways out for the country to prevent it from returning to a political crisis.

He said while in prison, he met two past rivals — Sondhi Limthongkul, a former leader of the People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD), and former Phra Buddha Isara, a former core leader of the People’s Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC).  They became acquaintances and offered to forgive each other,  Mr Jatuporn said.

Mr Jatuporn will reunite with all UDD core members at the Lat Phrao Imperial department store on Sunday and talked to red-shirt supporters.   The Supreme Court last year found him guilty of defaming Abhisit by accusing him of ordering soldiers to massacre protestors during an anti-government demonstration by red-shirts supporters.