Sombat steps up effort to reclaim his frozen assets

Sombat Boonngamanong, co-founder of the Kian Party, has demanded to see Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha to ask him why his bank accounts remained frozen.

He appeared at Government House yesterday wearing a shabby shirt and trousers showing empty pockets to make a point.

A day after the May 19 military coup four years ago, Mr Sombat, a red shirt and activist, was named on a list of people summoned by the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO), but he failed to report himself.

The NCPO later froze the bank accounts of people who defied the order and Mr Sombat was caught a few days later.

The case against him for defying the junta’s order ended i n the Supreme Court and he was ordered to pay a fine of 3,000 baht. However, his bank accounts remained frozen.

He submitted a complaint with the Damrongtham centre, the channel provided by this government to accept people’s complaints, in May this year.

“Of course, I’m in trouble. I have a daughter to take care of. She’s studying in college and has to work to support herself. While it’s good for young people to do so, as a father I think I have the right to take care of her.

“All I want is for the ban on my bank accounts to be lifted so I can perform a father’s duties and move forward. Besides, as Kian Party leader, I am required to open a bank account,” he said, explaining the reason why he needed to meet Gen Prayut.

Officials at the Damrongtham centre told Mr Sombat that after he filed the complaint, his case was sent to the prime minister, who told officials to send it to the NCPO’s secretary general (army chief Gen Apirat Kongsompong), which they did.

Mr Sombat asked whether he would have to pay Gen Apirat a visit before finally agreeing to leave after the officials gave him the number of the document so he could follow up on the case later.