More than three-fourths of the 1,276 respondents – 76 per cent – believed political and personal factors were at play in the controversial raid by troops and police on a Pathum Thani house formerly occupied by Wuttipong, who is believed to have fled to Laos.

Over 74 per cent of the respondents also said the raid reflected the persistent political divide while another 37.6 per cent said it would affect the government’s ongoing reconciliation efforts.

Meanwhile, deputy chief of the Department of Special Investigation Pol Colonel Songsak Raksaksakul said the agency would meet this week to discuss the Wuttipong case as some weapons had been linked to a violent political demonstration in 2010.

Nine suspects, including Wuttipong, face multiple criminal charges, including terrorism.

The Criminal Court rejected their bail applications. Eight of the suspects are detained at Bangkok Remand Prison, while Wuttipong remains at large.

Thai authorities are attempting to secure Wuttipong’s extradition in cooperation with Lao authorities.

Efforts for extradition

Amnaj Chotichai, head of the Office of the Attorney-General’s unit in charge of overseas affairs, said authorities were working on the extradition case. Thai authorities would have to state explicitly that the case was not politically motivated, but rather a criminal and terrorist investigation, to satisfy extradition requirements under a bilateral treaty.

At this stage, the DSI and other authorities are preparing the case for the Attorney-General to forward it to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs so that Laotian authorities |can review the Thai extradition request.

However, Amnaj said the final decision on extradition rested with the neighbouring country.

Surachai Sae Dan, leader of the Daeng Siam group who is exiled in Vientiane, said in a YouTube radio broadcast on Saturday that Thai military leaders had negotiated with Laotian counterparts several times on extradition of fugitive offenders of the Thai less majeste law, but there had been no progress because Laos has no such legislation.

Surachai said the Wuttipong case could be seen as a criminal and terrorist act, so Wuttipong and some associates were recently told to leave Laos to ease political pressures.