Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has welcomed politicians from Nakhon Ratchasima and Khon Kaen, including current and former Pheu Thai MPs, who have declared their intention to join his Bhumjaithai Party ahead of the next general election.

The Criminal Court on Tuesday sentenced 11 former red-shirt protesters to jail over their role in the 2010 anti-government demonstrations in Bangkok that culminated in an army crackdown that left scores of people dead.