On Saturday, 30 April 2011, Somyos Pruksakasemsuk, leader of the 24th June Group and editor of the Red Power magazine, was arrested on lese majeste charges in Aranyaprathet while leading a fundraising tour to Cambodia. The charges stem from the February and March issues of his magazine’s predecessor Voice of Thaksin, which was closed by the government during last year’s protests.

Somyos said that he was unaware of the arrest warrant and charges against him, that he had learned that the warrant had been issued in February, but only acted upon now. He said that he suspects that the arrest may be related to his recent announcement on 25 April to start a signature campaign to have the lese majeste laws abolished.

Somyos said that he is prepared that he may not be granted bail at tomorrow’s court hearing.