Abou 100 angry villagers laid siege to Wiang Sa police satation in Wiang Sa district of Nan province on Sunday night to protest against the arrest of their village chief.
The people if Ban Huay Mongkol in tambon Mae Sakhon descended on the station at about 9.30pm after learning that Amnuay Wuthiya had been arrested for allegedly deman ding a bribe from a villager,Thongsuk Luekhamchan.
Earlier that day,Mr Amnuay and his assistant caught Mr Thongsuk cutting down tree in the comunity forest with a chainsaw.
Under a bylaw passed by the village committee to Protect the forest, anyone found illegally felling trees is subject to a 5,000 bath fine.
Mr Thongsuk bargined thr fine down to 4,000 bath and the committee agreed the money would go to the village fund to protect the forest.
However,police came to the village a short time later and arrested Mr Amnuay for allegedly demanding a bribe from Mr Thongsuk. This angered residents, who surrounded the police station and demanded the village chief be set free.
After three hours of negotiation failed to raech a result,Lt Col Wattana Chanpaijit chief of intelligence at the Nan office of the Internal Security Operation Command, and Pol Lt Col Utai Wongkhamsaen deputy superintendent of the Nan police, intervened.
The protesters dispersd when police agreed to release Mr Amnuay with out charge.