BANGKOK - A THAI court on Friday ordered 13 leaders of the influential 'Yellow Shirt' protest movement to pay US$17 million (S$21 million) in compensation over their involvement in crippling airport blockades in 2008.
The nation's Civil Court found that the group 'illegally interfered' in the operation of Bangkok's two main airports during the protest, which left more than 300,000 travellers stranded and caused major damage to Thailand's economy.
It instructed the key Yellow Shirts to pay a total of 522.1 million baht (S$21 million) to national operator Airports of Thailand, plus interest of 7.5 per cent a year since Dec 3, 2008, when the protest came to an end.
'The defendants incited protesters, through their speeches, to occupy the airports,' the verdict said.
The Yellows, who boast support from Bangkok elites and elements in the military, used to be linked to Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, but the relationship has soured over his handling of a border dispute with Cambodia.
Among the defendants was Chamlong Srimuang, the controversial former Bangkok governor and leader of the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD), the Yellows' official organisation. -- AFP
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