Thai energy activists freed by military

BANGKOK, August 27 (TNA) - A group of eight Thai activists demanding for a national energy reform, led by Veera Somkwamkid, who was recently released from Cambodia following his three and a half year- imprisonment on charges of spying and territorial intrusion, has been freed by military authorities, after they were arrested earlier this week for violating the martial law. Veera, the coordinator of the Thai Patriots Network, and the seven other activists, were taken on Wednesday morning from the Royal Thai Police's Crime Suppression Division headquarters, where they had been detained since August 25, to the Thai Army Club to sign a release form. All the eight activists were released after the military had decided not to file any additional charge against them. Veera and his seven allied campaigners later joined an energy reform seminar at the Thai Army Club. Veera vowed to continue his fight for an energy reform, but saying he will not stage any rally to breach the martial law again. The eight activists were arrested while rallying near Bangkok’s Victory Monument last Sunday for violating the martial law, which prohibits any public gathering of more than five people. During their detention, the eight energy activists had reportedly undergone an attitude adjustment and they then pledged to no longer join any public gathering, which is against the martial law. (TNA)