Key protest leader arrested in Bangkok

Anti-government protesters set up a barricade during a rally near the Interior Ministry in Bangkok on Monday. Chaiwat Subprasom / Reuters

Thai police made their first arrest of a senior leader of anti-government protests for violating the country's emergency law on Monday as government officials promised to apprehend other leaders of the movement.

The arrest further heightens tensions in Thailand's three-month-old political conflict in which protesters seeking to overthrow Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra have shut down major intersections across Bangkok. Government officials have been threatening for weeks to arrest protest leaders.

Police arrested Sonthiyarn Cheunruethainaitham, the former managing director of news company Tnews, known for its anti-government views, said Department of Special Investigation's director-general Tharit Pengdit. He described Sonthiyarn as "a chief-of-staff" for the movement and "second most important figure" after protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban.

"We will continue arresting more protest leaders who have violated the law in the same way," Tharit said.

Arrest warrants have been issued for 19 leaders of the protests on charges of violating a special law, and authorities on Monday were seeking court approval for 13 other leaders on the same charges.

The arrest happened just hours after six street cleaners were injured - two seriously - by an explosion at a protest site in downtown Bangkok. At least 10 people have been killed and scores hospitalized during the political upheaval.

The explosion was caused by an improvised bomb or giant firecracker that went off before noon when the cleaners from city hall were changing tree pots on a street island near the rally site in central Bangkok, police said.

Two of the workers were seriously injured and hospitalized, emergency medical services said.

Demonstrators have occupied major intersections in Bangkok and blocked several government ministries, forcing employees to work elsewhere.

They want Yingluck to step down to make way for an interim appointed government to implement what they say are necessary reforms to fight corruption. They have been protesting since November and have battled police on several occasions.

Yingluck has refused to step down, arguing she was elected by a large majority and is open to reform.

Protest faction leader Saemdin Lertbutr said none of the protesters were injured in the incident.

"The opponents must have only wanted to create a situation or scare us, because the intensity of the blast was neither very serious nor life-threatening," Saemdin said.

Signature policy

Farmers protested on Monday over the State's failure to pay for rice bought under a subsidy scheme that the caretaker administration admits it is struggling to fund.

The rice program was a signature policy of Yingluck, who was swept to power in 2011 with the help of millions of rural votes, but it has become one of the biggest threats to her grip on government.

Troops stood guard behind a barbed wire fence at the Defence Ministry offices in northern Bangkok that have been Yingluck's base since the campaign by anti-government protesters to disrupt normal business in the capital forced her to relocate in January.

About 30 representatives of the farmers were allowed inside to meet Commerce Minister Niwatthamrong Bunsongphaisan and Finance Minister Kittirat Na-Ranong, but left after less than half an hour, telling reporters there had been no progress.

"We will not put up with this any longer," said Kittisak Ratanawarahal, president of the Network for Northern Farmers. "We will seize government rice warehouses around the country so that the government can't swindle us anymore."

Commerce Minister Niwatthamrong told the farmers' leaders that the government tried to borrow from several banks over the past two weeks to pay the farmers but was refused, according to a Reuters reporter present.

"We are doing everything in our power, but none of them will release funds. There are groups intimidating these banks into not helping us," the minister said.

AP - Reuters