BANGKOK - POLICE are investigating the finances of the anti-government People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) movement and its leaders, it was reported here yesterday.

The well-funded PAD has been engaged in a long-drawn struggle, first against then-prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, and after he was ousted, successive governments which its leaders accused of being his puppets. It has been able to muster the support of thousands in its seizure of government buildings in Bangkok and the capital's main airports, the occupation of which ended this week.

The acting national police chief, General Patheep Tanprasert, said investigations have begun and two key officers - General Pansiri Prapawat and General Jongrak Chuthanont - were assigned to the case, the Bangkok Post reported.

Gen Pansiri said he was working with various agencies to trace the sources of the PAD's funding.

After the Constitutional Court ordered parties in the ruling coalition to be dissolved for electoral fraud, the PAD declared an end to its protest, which had seen the Prime Minister's official compound and Suvarnabhumi and Don Muang airports seized.

Thai Airways said yesterday it planned to sue the PAD for 20 billion baht (S$860 million) in lost revenue as a result of the airports' closure.

Separately, prominent Thai social activists Weng Tojirakarn, Sant Hattheerat and Prateep Ungsongtham-Hata have filed a complaint with the police against 12 PAD leaders over the airports' seizure. They accused them of causing damage to public facilities, the Bangkok Post said.