Thai prime minister accused of war crimes

**StrontiumDog** · 27-10-2010, 09:11 AM

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worl...ar-crimes.html

Thai prime minister accused of war crimes

Abhisit Vejjajiva, the Old Etonian prime minister of Thailand, was accused of crimes against humanity during military operations to break up the Bangkok riots earlier this year in a complaint lodged on Tuesday at the International Criminal Court (ICC).

By Damien McElroy, Foreign Affairs Correspondent
Published: 4:37PM BST 26 Oct 2010

Abhisit Vejjajiva (R) with U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in Bangkok today
Photo: REUTERS

Mr Abhisit, who is expected to host David Cameron during the UK prime minister's holiday in Thailand at Christmas, was accused of ordering a military operation against Red Shirt demonstrators that left 90 dead and more than 1,800 injured.

The embattled Thai leader was one of 15 senior figures, mostly from the military, said to be responsible for targeted assassinations, torture, illegal detention and inhumane acts by military forces by the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship.

Supporters of Thaksin Shinawatra, the ex-prime minister deposed in 2006, blockaded the centre of Bangkok in an attempt to force Mr Abhisit's government – which was installed under heavy military and royalist pressure on MPs – to resign. After weeks of turmoil, the army moved in to clear the streets of protesters. Parts of Bangkok were declared a "live fire zone".

The opposition report said activists had documented the execution of a number of people by army snipers. Among the victims were Major-General Khattiya Sawasdipol, known as Seh Daeng, or "Commander Red", three nurses working in a temple and Fabio Polenghi, an Italian photographer.

Under ICC rules, the chief prosecutor has eight weeks to examine the petition before deciding on whether or not to bring charges. Mr Abhisit is also facing a court verdict that could see his Democrat Party dissolved, a development that would also trigger his resignation.

**Bobcock** · 27-10-2010, 09:19 AM

More importantly....who filed them?

**StrontiumDog** · 27-10-2010, 09:30 AM

http://asiapacific.anu.edu.au/newman...medium=twitter

Robert Amsterdam’s preliminary submission to the International Criminal Court

October 27th, 2010 by Andrew Walker

Here is a copy of a preliminary report submitted by Robert Amsterdam’s firm, on behalf of the UDD, to the Prosecutor’s Office at the International Criminal Court. I have been told that this is a prelude to a more complete investigative report/petition that the firm will submit to the ICC in about eight weeks. The conclusion is:

On the basis of the foregoing, the UDD and others submit that there is a reasonable basis to believe that a crime within the jurisdiction of the Court has been committed. Therefore, the UDD and others request that the Prosecutor take notice of this Preliminary Investigation into the situation in Thailand in view of a potential future investigation/prosecution on behalf of the ICC. The UDD and others will present a follow-up report to the Prosecutor in approximately eight weeks.

**Butterfly** · 27-10-2010, 09:58 AM

hilarious, those reds and their supreme leader are really delusional

they need to setup a credible opposition, not the pathetic joke we are seeing here

Nostradamus · 27-10-2010, 10:48 AM

Originally Posted by Butterfly

they need to setup a credible opposition

They had one until it was systematically dismantled by the judiciary after the coup.

Define "credible" anyway. I thought the only gauge of political parties' credibility was to win general elections, which the opposition have done several times yet the ruling party has not achieved in the last decade.

**Butterfly** · 27-10-2010, 10:50 AM

Originally Posted by Nostradamus

They had one until it was systematically dismantled by the judiciary after the coup.

you mean the yellow PAD ? I think you are mistaken, they never had any credible opposition

**Bobcock** · 27-10-2010, 11:58 AM

Originally Posted by Butterfly

credible

We're talking about Thai politics here....

**Butterfly** · 27-10-2010, 12:20 PM

indeed, the electorate needs to change. We can't expect that change from the mass of the poor, they can be easily bought for a bag of rice and are too uneducated to understand the complexity of modern politics in a Democracy.

The only hope remains with Bangkok and the new generation of urban elite, the working elite that is. They will be the ones that dictates what to do for the future leaders. They have been educated overseas and will ask for the same rights. Someone like Thaksin could get away with it in 2000 because the country was still under the shock of 1997. This is hardly the case now, economy is doing ok, and the young elite (in their 40s) is doing fantastic, they want a modern Thailand and they are going to get it. Their current PM, also in his 40s, is the best way to achieve that goal, even though it might take a long time.

**StrontiumDog** · 27-10-2010, 12:29 PM

Interesting timing for this to be submitted....I wonder if Ban Ki-Moon is embarrassed?

I also wonder if David Cameron will be coming to Thailand after all..? Ya know, with a country run by a PM being accused of "war crimes"...

More gamesmanship by Thaksin's lawyer...

Lets see if the ICC take it seriously or not...if they do, things could get very interesting....!

**Butterfly** · 27-10-2010, 12:33 PM

since when a civil riot is classified as a war ?

you have to wonder about that Thaksin lawyer, me think he is playing him and taking as much cash as he can

**Tom Sawyer** · 27-10-2010, 12:48 PM

Good luck Amsterdam. Every case before the ICC involves enemies of the West or radical leftists. There are no Pinochets or other right-wing thugs there. Given the selectivity shown by the ICC so far, what chance has this got? Zero.

http://www.icc-cpi.int/Menus/ICC/Situations+and+Cases/Cases/

**dirtydog** · 27-10-2010, 01:58 PM

Got to admit when I saw the headline I did wonder which one was being charged with war crimes, I mean toxin was much more successful at killing civilians.

**Thaihome** · 27-10-2010, 02:34 PM

Originally Posted by Tom Sawyer

Good luck Amsterdam. Every case before the ICC involves enemies of the West or radical leftists. There are no Pinochets or other right-wing thugs there. Given the selectivity shown by the ICC so far, what chance has this got? Zero.

http://www.icc-cpi.int/Menus/ICC/Sit...d+Cases/Cases/

The ICC only has jurisdiction for crimes after the Rome Statute went into effect in 2002 which is why Pinochet and other cold war era people cannot be tried by it.

TH

http://www.icc-cpi.int/NR/rdonlyres/...te_English.pdf

Article 11
Jurisdiction ratione temporis

1. The Court has jurisdiction only with respect to crimes committed after the entry into force of this Statute

**Mid** · 27-10-2010, 03:19 PM

Originally Posted by StrontiumDog

Thai prime minister accused of war crimes

as expected nary a peep out of the local media on the subject

**Thormaturge** · 27-10-2010, 03:41 PM

Originally Posted by Mid

Originally Posted by StrontiumDog

Thai prime minister accused of war crimes

as expected nary a peep out of the local media on the subject

They're probably bored with it all.

**Mid** · 27-10-2010, 03:42 PM

Here is a copy of a preliminary report submitted by Robert Amsterdam’s firm, on behalf of the UDD, to the Prosecutor’s Office at the International Criminal Court.

http://asiapacific.anu.edu.au/newmandala/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/ICC-Report-by-UDD-_Final_.pdf

asiapacific.anu.edu.au

**Mid** · 27-10-2010, 03:44 PM

Originally Posted by Thormaturge

They're probably bored with it all.

Hardly and IT IS NEWS no matter which side of the fence your on .

**Moonraker** · 27-10-2010, 03:46 PM

This equates to exactly nothing

**Butterfly** · 27-10-2010, 05:06 PM

right mid, maybe Thaksin twitting is also news in your world

**Rural Surin** · 27-10-2010, 08:51 PM

Originally Posted by Butterfly

The only hope remains with Bangkok and the new generation of urban elite, the working elite that is. They will be the ones that dictates what to do for the future leaders. They have been educated overseas and...blah blah blah

New? New generation....?? The power and control has always derived from the BKK elite. Since time in memoriam. As in: the more things seem to change, the more it stays the same. Isn't the idea of an open and free democracy, that you so dearly reference time and again, but to detach from the ever-present ruling oligarchy? Democratic rule is blind to those whom make up the mass electorate, regardless of intentions, knowledge, or "education".

**Rural Surin** · 27-10-2010, 08:55 PM

Originally Posted by Tom Sawyer

Good luck Amsterdam. Every case before the ICC involves enemies of the West or radical leftists. There are no Pinochets or other right-wing thugs there. Given the selectivity shown by the ICC so far, what chance has this got? Zero.

http://www.icc-cpi.int/Menus/ICC/Situations+and+Cases/Cases/

Unfortunately, idealism and false utopic dreams as to what an International {fair} Tribunal might be, is easily put to rest by understanding that it work by/for the international establishment. Nothing more, less.

**Tom Sawyer** · 27-10-2010, 10:46 PM

Originally Posted by Rural Surin

.. what an International {fair} Tribunal might be, is easily put to rest by understanding that it work by/for the international establishment. Nothing more, less.

Understanding first what is meant by the "international" community answers the riddle. To use your own often recited words. "Quite simple really"

**LooseBowels** · 28-10-2010, 06:01 AM

Originally Posted by Bobcock

More importantly....who filed them?

most importantly, why were they filed

**LooseBowels** · 28-10-2010, 06:05 AM

somebody murdered the 90 protestors.
somebody must be held accountable.
it wont happen while the junta are in control.
lets see if the ICC are credible

**Tom Sawyer** · 28-10-2010, 12:51 PM

Originally Posted by LooseBowels

lets see if the ICC are credible

Seven weeks to go. Let's see.

Thread: Thai prime minister accused of war crimes

Thread Tools

Display

Thai prime minister accused of war crimes

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

Posting Permissions