Former Prime Minister Abhisit and former Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban are no longer prosecuted for murder in connection with the violent ending of the red shirt protest in 2010. The Criminal Court yesterday dismissed the case brought under the rule of former ruling party Pheu Thai.
The court says it has no jurisdiction to hear the case. That power rests with the Holders of Political Positions Division of the Supreme Court. The Public Prosecution Service can still appeal against the verdict, so the duo is not yet one hundred percent free. Relatives of those who were killed or injured will at least do so.
The murder charge was initiated by the Department of Special Investigation at the time. The DSI relied on the decision of the Center for the Resolution of the Emergency Situation (CRES, responsible for enforcing the state of emergency) to allow soldiers to fire live ammunition when attacked by demonstrators. The director of the CRES was Suthep (known for the anti-government protests).
During the disturbances, 90 people were killed, including soldiers, and about a thousand people were injured. The court has already established in some cases that demonstrators were shot by soldiers.
The National Anti-Corruption Commission is also looking into the case. She investigates whether Abhisit and Suthep are guilty of dereliction of duty. The commission has already questioned both, but has not yet charged them. The court believes that the NACC should refer the case to the Supreme Court if it finds them guilty.
Pheu Thai (then opposition party) asked the NACC against both in 2010 impeachment procedure to begin. The article does not state how this is done. The request must be gathering dust somewhere.
(Source: Bangkok Post, August 29, 2014)
More things have been covered up, so this one will also disappear in there.
The approach to illegal structures in nature parks will be limited to demolition, the mafia boss, at least a suspect, on Phuket loses part of his money and happily goes to do something else, the families of the murders of drug suspects under the Th regime will never hear anything , don't forget the missing lawyer, Tak Bai and the mosque. The drug and oil lords behind the war in the South go unpunished.
This is Thailand. We can worry about it but it doesn't help.
What else could be expected, if General/Prime Minister was one of the commanding officers of the whole thing….”.us knows us” still applies….everywhere…until the tide turns!
Thus, the muzzled majority knows what to expect in Thailand, credit begins to dwindle…..
Well well. If you know that Suthep and Phrayuth are absolutely not friends with each other and then I express myself mildly.
I find the ruling of the Criminal Court quite understandable. In every country there is only one authority that has a monopoly on violence and that is the state. Representatives can therefore not really be accused of murder (they are trying to restore order) but they can be accused of abuse of their position. The latter is the case when the internationally applicable rules for dealing with violent occupations and demonstrations are not followed. Based on what I know about what happened in 1 (the 'crackdown' of the red shirts demonstrations, which lasted for many weeks, where violence was used by the demonstrators, buildings were set on fire and negotiations were even held in public, on TV). conducted) I do not consider it likely that Abhisit and Suthep will be convicted of misuse of their position.
Dries van Agt and Joop den Uyl have also never been taken to court because they ordered the shooting of a hostage train in Bovensmilde held by Moluccans.
Jeez Chris, are you serious? A comparison with a terrorist hostage taking of people (the train in Bovensmilde) with the shooting of a protesting crowd. To be honest, that seems like an apples to oranges comparison. In short, not in the same category.
Dear Wibart,
Yes, I really mean that. Don't you think that in 2010 thousands of people were held hostage in some form by the demonstrations, in addition to the damage to businesses (hotels near Rachaprasong had to close for safety reasons) and to the country? Don't you think that the then PM, Abhisit, didn't consider it a form of hostage-taking that he was followed everywhere, that he was almost pulled from his car and that he had to stay in a military barracks because he couldn't go home?
Another example to make my point clear: do you think Mr. Netanyahu of Israel will ever be taken to court for the murder of hundreds of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip?
I forgot: the red leaders of the 2010 demonstrations are accused (among other things) of…terrorism.
Moderator: please don't chat.
And the order to recapture the train?
So no apples and oranges, but draw a comparison between gold reinets and elstar then?
In any country it would end a violent demonstration
in any form, be a priority.
What still puzzles me is that “leaders” of the Reds have still not been convicted of their role in inciting protesters to destroy and burn.
And thereby bring about the end of this madness.
O