A Change of Guard

សូមស្តាប់វិទ្យុសង្គ្រោះជាតិ Please read more Khmer news and listen to CNRP Radio at National Rescue Party. សូមស្តាប់វីទ្យុខ្មែរប៉ុស្តិ៍/Khmer Post Radio.
Follow Khmerization on Facebook/តាមដានខ្មែរូបនីយកម្មតាម Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/khmerization.khmerican

Saturday 8 December 2012

Former Thai PM to face murder charge


Abhisit Vejjajiva accused of allowing use of live ammunition against civilians during 2010 opposition Red Shirt rallies.
06 Dec 2012 
If found guilty, Suthep Thaugsuban and Abhisit Vejjajiva could face the death penalty or life in prison [Reuters]
Thai authorities are to file murder charges against former Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and his deputy, in the first prosecutions of officials for their roles in a deadly 2010 crackdown on anti-government protests.

The protests and crackdown left more than 90 people dead and about 1,800 injured in Thailand's worst political violence in decades.

Abhisit's Democrat Party, ousted in elections last year, and "Red Shirt" supporters of the ruling Pheu Thai Party have blamed each other for the bloodshed since.

Department of Special Investigation (DSI) chief Tharit Phengdit said on Thursday that investigators found Abhisit possibly culpable in the death of a taxi driver because he allowed troops to use weapons and live ammunition against protesters.

"They allowed security forces to use weapons and live ammunition that led to the death of civilians," said Tharit.

Abhisit and former Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban, who was in charge of the ad hoc security agency set up to contain the protests, will be summoned to the DSI office on December 12 to be formally charged.


Abhisit is currently leader of the opposition as head of the Democrat Party. The courts must accept the case before it can go to trial.

Democrat Party spokesman Chavanond Intarakomalyasut called the decision "an abuse of government's power to threaten its opponents".

He noted that it was done while parliament is in recess so the two men's immunity from arrest is lifted.

Tharit denied that the decision is politically motivated and said the case is significant "for society because the deaths were inflicted by an act of government officers".

'False charges'
The deaths occurred during the Red Shirts' nine-week anti-government protest in the heart of the capital that had sought to force Abhisit to call early elections.

Central Bangkok was garrisoned by soldiers until they moved in to crush the protest on May 19, 2010.

The protest was staged primarily by supporters of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted by a 2006 military coup after being accused of corruption and disrespect to the monarchy.

His supporters and opponents have vied for power since then, and Thaksin's sister Yingluck Shinawatra was elected prime minister last year.

A Criminal Court inquest recently found that taxi driver Phan Kamkong was killed by guns used by military personnel during the crackdown.

Chavanond alleged that the inquest was a one-sided trial in which the accused could not defend themselves, and added that no one was pinpointed as the shooter.

He insisted the security body set up to contain the protests issued no order to use force against or kill civilians, only to keep order in dealing with "Black Shirts," armed men who served as guards for the demonstrators.

"To use the court's inquest to conclude that the two men had the intention of murder was groundless and against the law," Chavanond said.

He said both Abhisit and Suthep "are ready to prove their innocence," and that "those who brought up false charges will have to take responsibility".

DSI chief Tharit said factors leading to the planned charges include the continuing use of force over an extended period of time, and the killing of civilians without resorting to other methods of controlling protesters.

Abhisit's opponents had been threatening to try to bring their case against Abhisit to the International Criminal Court in the Netherlands. The DSI's actions should forestall those efforts. 
Source: Reuters

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

How about ah Hunsen killed a lots of people in 1997 coup de'feat attacked against opposition alliance? What will he face? Nothing...

Anonymous said...

Abhisit asked; Can you tell me How many fingers I got?

Anonymous said...

My Khmer brother first post. If ever opposition can somehow by miracles they able to overcome CPP intimidation, murder, election cheating, corruption by winning election. Then you will see JUSTICES against CPP leadership, Viet's spies. Although I think it is impossible task. Problems in Cambodia not as simple as Thai because our country was used by Viets, Chinese, U.S like in the 60's, 70's, 80's as a somebody proxy again. Pray to god for Cambodian justices.

Anonymous said...

The army and the monarchy were behind Abhisit and that's why he managed to come to power without winning the election. Now, may be the army or the monarchy felt that they will lose a big face by supporting Abhisit and his loser party so that's why it appears that Yingluck has gained the upper hand. Abhisit and his cronies should have been indicted and convicted of mass murders a long time ago if it wasn't for the support of the army and the monarchy.