Bangkok: A Thai court handed down prison terms on Thursday to 79 members of the nationalist, pro-establishment "yellow shirt" movement for the violent invasion of a state television station two years ago.
The convictions were the first against members of the royalist People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD), best known for its occupation of Bangkok's airports and attempts to bring down governments led or backed by former premier Thaksin Shinawatra.
The verdict may help lower the temperature in Thailand's political crisis, as Thaksin's "red shirt" supporters claim the PAD has escaped punishment in the past because of the tacit support of the establishment elite and the current government.
Bangkok Criminal Court sentenced the PAD members to between one and two-and-a-half years in prison for offences ranging from illegal assembly and armed assault to trespass and damage to property. Six minors were put on probation.
Armed with guns, swords, knives, axes and metal rods, they had broken into the state-owned National Broadcasting Services of Thailand (NBT) on Aug. 26, 2008. Several employees were held at knifepoint and ordered not to broadcast news.
