Thailand’s ruling junta said earlier today that it had captured a fugitive anti-coup leader.
Sombat Boonngamanong, who spearheaded an online campaign to stage illegal flashmob rallies against the military takeover, was arrested late Thursday in Chonburi province southeast of Bangkok, army spokeswoman Sirichan Ngathong said.
“We have a team who tracked him through the Internet,” she told.
“He faces initial charges of violating an order to report to the junta,” she said, an offence that carries a possible punishment of two years in prison.
Sombat was one of several hundred people — including politicians, activists, academics and journalists — summoned by the military following its May 22 coup.
Those who attended were detained in secret locations for up to a week and ordered to cease political activities.
Sombat, a prominent pro-democracy activist, refused to turn himself in, instead posting a message on Facebook saying: “Catch me if you can”.
