Thread: Abhisit Vejjajiva : Former Thai PM to face murder charge

Originally Posted by Tom Sawyer

^^^
I doubt that level of involvement in prosecution RS.

I think this is much more playground level stuff. The courts know which side their bread is buttered, that's why nothing ever happens to any establishment figures.

You only need to know contemporary Thai history [which you are one] to figure things out.
Activities and situations on the stage haven't really changed that much.
Only the cycling players on the surface are used to creat misdirection.

You know this.

Oh what fun. This is going to be very interesting.

Where's my popcorn?

Originally Posted by StrontiumDog

Oh what fun. This is going to be very interesting.

Where's my popcorn?

Buttered or spicy salt?

Not to worry, SD - nothing will come of this actually.
Your boy, Marky, will appear without a scratch.

Going through the motions for the sake of image.

Tharit is certainly in an interesting position as he was a member of the CRES at the time. The body from which such orders emerged.

Also interesting to see how much effort is being put in to place to avoid having any blame lumped the armies way (Ah, I still recall all the hatred directed at the army before....now oddly and mysteriously vanished it seems). Doesn't it make you feel all warm and gooey inside to know that soldiers are walking around who killed their own people and they get to take absolutely no responsibility for such actions....and then there's their chain of command, who issued orders....also going to avoid everything.

Still, looks as though the pressure is going to be piled Abhisit and Suthep's way. More of the game playing? It will be interesting to see how far this goes. More cases are underway in the courts at present (the 14 year old boy shot dead at Makasan was in court 2 days ago, same evidence used for this case, outcome likely to be the same too).

I'm curious that they were unable to identify (or didn't identify) the soldiers who fired the shots, rather easily done via ballistics testing. Rather important if you are going to prove a criminal act transpired, who fired the shot needs to be clearly understood. Looks as though this could end up being yet another show.....to be seen to be doing something....but.......

Let's hope justice is done.

Originally Posted by gaysexbyproxy

Well, he's a British citizen, innit?

Yeah

Flashfag with be here to defend him shortly

Originally Posted by taxexile

Mr Abhisit, who oversaw the crackdown, has insisted the protest leaders should accept responsibility and said his government had no choice but to take tough action.

exactly.

Which was not his viewpoint when Somchais government took tough action against PAD protesters resulting in 2 deaths.
At that time he questioned whether Somchai was a Thai ....or even human. And when Somchai and two other were charged with violating the criminal codes article 157 he didn't speak up on their behalf to say ' they had no choice "

But of course, your view changes when you're in the driving seat and not the back of the bus.

And as usual .............. nothing will happen, just a bit of mud slinging.

Originally Posted by StrontiumDog

I'm curious that they were unable to identify (or didn't identify) the soldiers who fired the shots, rather easily done via ballistics testing.

Fully agree - and there is of course CCTV in the area. Then again, if the USA can make the CCTV disappear from every angle of the Pentagon at 9.30 on a weekday morning, well..

But are you saying that PTP and Yingluck and CID etc are to blame for not pressing charges against soldiers? What about Abhisit when he was in charge? Why didn't he conduct investigations? Or how about fat boy? He was the f'ing MAYOR of the city. No? Why only smirk at the present govt? I agree with you though, SFA is coming out of this. It's a show. But one they are all playing SD - that last bit you fail to recognise.

Originally Posted by StrontiumDog

Oh what fun. This is going to be very interesting.

Where's my popcorn?

Indeed, it's always entertaining to see the usual clueless kids sab around in the dark.

Abhisit opts to stand trial in court | Bangkok Post: breakingnews

Abhisit opts to stand trial in court

• Published: 7/12/2012 at 12:20 PM
• Online news:

Democrat Party leader and former prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said on Friday that he will report to the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) to acknowledge the charges on Dec 13 and was ready to prove his innocence in court.


Suthep Thaugsuban, left, and Abhisit Vejjajiva (Photo by Chanat Katanyu)

He said this after accepting the department’s letter calling him to acknowledge the charges of authorising the killing of anti-government protesters by soldiers during the April-May 2010 violence in Bangkok.

DSI chief Tarit Pengdith announced the joint decision of a tripartite team of investigators from the DSI, police and prosecutors at a meeting Thursday to lay bring the charges against Mr Abhisit and Democrat MP Suthep Thaugsuban, who was then deputy premier in charge of security affairs.

Mr Tarit said the meeting decided to lay charges against Mr Abhisit and Mr Suthep under Sections 59, 83, 84 and 288 of the Criminal Code, based on a Criminal Court ruling on the death of a taxi driver during the 2010 political unrest.

The court ruled on Sept 17 that the taxi driver, 44-year-old Phan Khamkong from Yasothon province, was shot dead by security forces near the Ratchaprarop Airport Link station on the night of May 14, 2010.

Mr Abhisit insisted that he was performing his duty as prime minister in maintaining peace and order during the anti-government protests in 2010 and had acted in line with the law.

Moreover, the court had ruled that the anti-government rallies by the red-shirts were in violation of the constitution, he added.

After the operations to get back occupied areas from protesters, his government had opened itself to all forms of monitoring, an independent inquiry was set up to find out the facts, Mr Abhisit said. He was ready to enter the justice system to prove his innocence, he said.

The opposition leader in the House said the pressing of charges against him and Mr Suthep was a political action intended to force him and his party to support the government's proposed reconciliation law to whitewash a corrupt person.

He insisted that there would be no negotiations for his own benefit, even though under the charges he could be sentenced to death. He had confidence in the country’s justice system, adding that no one is above the law.

Mr Suthep, former deputy prime minister for security affairs, said he would also go to meet DSI investigators to acknowledge the charges, as requested.


Korn Chatikavanij (Photo by Thiti Wannamontha)

Democrat list MP and former finance minister Korn Chatikavanij said on his Facebook page that the charges being pressed against Mr Abhisit and Mr Suthep had a hidden political agenda, aiming to force the Democrats to support a plan to issue an amnesty law.

Mr Korn said the order issued by Mr Abhisit, then prime minister, and Mr Suthep in his capacity as director of the Centre for the Resolution of the Emergency Situation (CRES) was constitutional, aimed at bringing peace and order to the country.

He accused fugitive former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra of trying to use state power to pressure Mr Abhisit, Mr Suthep and the Democrat Party to back a plan to issue an amnesty law for himself and his political alliances.

Thaksin had previously tried to negotiate with both Mr Abhisit and Mr Suthep on the issue, but failed, Mr Korn added.

Abhisit charges a step toward ending Thai culture of impunity | Connect Asia | ABC Radio Australia

Abhisit charges a step toward ending Thai culture of impunity

Updated 7 December 2012, 16:36 AEST
Thai affairs expert Pavin Chachavalpongpun says murder charges against former Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and his deputy will help combat the culture of impunity in Thailand.

Mr Vejjajiva is is being charged for the death of a taxi driver who was shot by the Thai military during political unrest in 2010.

Presenter: Richard Ewart
Speaker: Pavin Chachavalpongpun, Kyoto University's Centre for Southeast Asian Studies

PAVIN: Well, I think the charges have been made against Abhiist. We have to wait and see what will happen on the 12th. December. I think this is courageous on the part of the Department of Special Investigation, if he would be charged and I mean he already charged, but if he would be convicted, I mean what would happen. This would be the first time that a politician would be convicted on a charge of killing other people and I think for me, the most important thing is this would help end the culture of impunity in Thailand.

EWART: But presumably, it would be very difficult to prove a case like this against the Prime Minister and against his Deputy and how significant is it that none of the military have so far been charged with anything?

PAVIN: Well, I think that the DSI said it clearly that the military would not be responsible at this point in time, They would look into who indeed instructed the killing of the people, of the demonstrator, so I think that is key.

Talking about evidence, I think yes, I have been gathering the evidence during the past few years and there's a lot of people coming out to give their testimony, including a number of foreign journalists who were at that spot when the Red Shirt gathered in May, 2010, so I've been talking about evidence, there are plenty of evidence out there.

EWART: Now, of course, already a number of the Red Shirt leaders who were involved in these disturbances back in 2010 and they are facing prosecution. They've been accusations up to now of double standards. Is the fact that the Prime Minister and the Deputy apparently are going to be charged in an attempt to redress the balance?

PAVIN: Yes, I think it could only be fair that the DSI have been accused in the past, of leaning a little bit closer to the establishment including the Democrat Party, the party where Abhisit Vejjajiva comes from when Abhisit was serving as Prime Minister. I think that it's only fair. But I do not want to look at it like that. I think this is about trying to find the culprit who killed up to 100 people. They have to be someone who got to be responsible. It has been happening in Thailand since 1923, 1929, 1992 and now, 2010, no one has been brought to justice. I hope that this will be the first time.

EWART: Is there a danger though, that there could be a political undercurrent to this. There is a suggestion that maybe the aim of the charges is to put pressure on the Democrat Party and Mr Abhisit said to agree to plans to amend the Constitution. And if the two things get caught up, what happened in 2010 and what's happening now, how do we achieve justice through that?

PAVIN: Well, let me explain, yes, it could be very dangerous. I think I would like to look at this two ways. One is from the perspective of the Red Shirt. I think this is a process that have been overdue. I think what the Red Shirt wanted mostly is to bring the culprit as we said said the instructor to justice and this is a part of reconciliation. We've been talking about reconciliation for so long now, but the country would only move forward if we only look back to recent past and to look back at recent past, you have to bring these people to justice.

I think this is quite positive from the perspective of the Red Shirt, but, on the otherhand, as you said, I think it seemed like the government of Yingluck have already proposed the idea of a broad amnesty in connection with the protests and many people believe that hoping to prepare the way for Yingluck's brother, former prime minister, Thaksin, to return to Thailand and this could be a pressure putting upon the Democrat Party to agree with this.

If this is true, then I think that justice would eventually be satisfied and I do not think that the conviction will go any further. We have to wait and see, as I said.

(audio clip at the link)

Photo-The letter sent to Abhisit & Suthep inviting them to attend the DSI to acknowledge the charges

https://twitter.com/Lynging/status/2...643456/photo/1

Lynging Lyng MakokiaT 2h
หนังสือจากDSI เชิญ "อภิสิทธิ์-สุเทพ" เข้ารับทราบข้อกล่าวหา คดีการเสียชีวิตของพัน คำกอง เมื่อปี2553 pic.twitter.com/0VIZshyX

Originally Posted by StrontiumDog

He had confidence in the country’s justice system, adding that no one is above the law.

Plenty of people immune to it though. The Democrat who shot someone in a garage seems to be doing o.k. as does that Ferrari driver. Then there was the bloke with the Merc who drove into a bus stop and killed a few people....where is he now ? Behind bars yet ? The list is endless.

Originally Posted by StrontiumDog

Democrat Party leader and former prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said on Friday that he will report to the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) to acknowledge the charges on Dec 13 and was ready to prove his innocence in court.

Nice way of leading by example, Mr. Abhisit, and in turn taking the wind out of the sails of the Reds... They bet he never would actually volunteer to stand trial.

He called their bluff, and they will be folding.

My opinion- it is just a sacrificial horse, probably a direct result of serial Democrat intransigence in the reconciliation & amnesty process. I can't see Mark going to jail.

Ex-Thai PM slams 'political' protest murder charge
07 December 2012

File photo of former Thai prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva (L) smiling as he arrives for questioning at the Bangkok Metropolitan Police headquarters on December 9, 2011.
(AFP/Joan Manuel Baliellas)

BANGKOK: Former Thai premier Abhisit Vejjajiva Friday said the decision to charge him with murder over 2010 "Red Shirt" rallies was "political", insisting military action against protestors was to restore order.

Abhisit, who oversaw the response to the mass demonstration in Bangkok against his government, is set to appear at the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) next week for questioning over the death of a taxi driver shot by soldiers during the unrest.

But the Oxford-educated career politician told reporters that he rejected the credibility of the charge, which was announced by the DSI on Thursday.

"This case has a hidden political agenda," said Abhisit, who was swept into opposition last year by Yingluck Shinawatra, the sister of ousted former premier Thaksin, and her Red Shirt-backed Puea Thai party.

Thailand has been repeatedly rocked by street protests by the Reds and rival royalist Yellow Shirts since Thaksin was toppled by royalist generals in a 2006 coup.

Around 90 people died and nearly 1,900 were wounded in clashes between Red Shirt demonstrators and security forces, which culminated in a bloody military crackdown in May 2010. Two foreign journalists were among those killed.

DSI chief Tarit Pengdith on Thursday said Abhisit and his deputy Suthep Thaugsuban, who is also set to be charged, had repeatedly used the armed forces against civilians, showing "an intention to endanger life".

But Abhisit denied the accusation, saying the pair's "honest intention" was to "restore peace and order without a crackdown".

The British-born politician suggested that the charge against him was linked to a highly controversial reconciliation bill that opponents see as an attempt to enable the return of Thaksin, who lives abroad to avoid a jail term for corruption.

"Suthep and I will not bargain for this trial... Reconciliation should be based on truth and responsibility -- there is no reason to exchange that for an amnesty for people who corrupt this country," he said.

Tarit on Thursday insisted the investigation into the unrest had not been subject to political interference and was decided on the basis of "facts and laws".

In September an inquest -- the first into the Red Shirt protest deaths -- concluded that taxi driver Phan Kamkong was shot by troops.

Abhisit said he would present himself to hear the charge on December 13, a day after requested by the DSI.

channelnewsasia.com

Originally Posted by thegent

Over 3000 Thai citizens ranging from children to geriatrics were slaughtered at the behest of the Thaksin regime under its spurious war against drugs. This country is quite simply beyond the ludicrous.

Couldn't have put it better!

Except to add the facts that they haven't even pressed charges (not even when Mark was PM or The Court of Human Rights when Toxin was living the high life in the UK, or even when he was invited to the talk at the UN!)

Originally Posted by hazz

I would say that the leader of a government becomes culpable by being the controlling mind behind the actions or by being aware of the actions and failing to what was with his power to prevent them.

Line Tacky up for the lethal injection

DSI chief: No reason to indict me | Bangkok Post: breakingnews

DSI chief: No reason to indict me

• Published: 7/12/2012 at 03:11 PM
• Online news:

Tarit Pengdith, director-general of the Department of Special Investigation (DSI), said there is no reason to investigate his own actions as a member of the Centre for the Resolution of the Emergency Situation (CRES) durind the 2010 crackdown on red-shirt protesters, because he was just following orders - not issuing them.

Mr Tarit confirmed on Friday that former prime minister Abhisit Vejajiva and his former deputy Suthep Thaugsuban had now been formally summonsed to acknowledge the charges on Dec 12. Both men face a charge of premeditated murder over the death of Phan Khamkong, a taxi driver shot during the deadly crackdown in 2010.

The DSI chief said the date had, however, been postponed to Dec 13 because Mr Abhisit would be travelling abroad. He said he wa not involved in the decision to indict the two men.

"I was merely supervising the investigation team and played no part in the investigation itself," Mr Tarit said.

Asked about calls that he should also be indicted because he was also a member of the CRES, Mr Tarit responded that he was assigned only to attend the CRES meetings and monitor the situation. All of the orders to use force ultimately came down from Mr Abhisit, as prime minister, or Mr Suthep as director of the emergency centre.

He said not all people who were part of the CRES would be charged because most were just following orders given by their superiors.

Abhisit, Suthep: death before amnesty bill
December 8, 2012



Democrats say they will never make compromises to whitewash Thaksin

Former prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and former deputy PM Suthep Thaugsuban said yesterday that they were ready to accept their fate in relation to the murder charges levelled against them, but said they would never make compromises and let amnesty be provided to former PM Thaksin Shinawatra.

Abhisit and Suthep told the press that the charges they face had been motivated by efforts to push them into whitewashing Thaksin via an amnesty bill.

The Democrats held a press conference immediately after a Department of Special Investigation official, Pol Captain Piya Raksakul, visited the party headquarters to hand over summonses for Abhisit and Suthep to officially acknowledge the charges on Wednesday.

The DSI, in a meeting with the police and the public prosecutor on Thursday, decided that Abhisit, as then-prime minister, and Suthep, then-director of the Centre for Resolution of the Emergency Situation, would be charged as per Articles 59, 83, 84 and 288 of the Penal Code. This decision was based on a recent court ruling that taxi driver Phan Kamkong had been shot dead by military personnel during the crackdown on the 2010 anti-government protest.

Suthep said he expected the charges levelled against him and Abhisit because DSI chief Tarit Pengdith had been speaking to the press about this move for a while now. Suthep said he had told Tarit on Thursday that he and Abhisit were ready to meet investigators to acknowledge their charges and prove their innocence in court. Abhisit also said that he was not surprised by the DSI's move.

"I'm not surprised by what happened, because since early this year, signals had been sent to me and Suthep - both directly and indirectly - to check on our stance on the government's plan to push through the amnesty bill," Abhisit said. "I have always stood by my belief that the rule of law must prevail."

Abhisit noted that Tarit's statement on Thursday matched earlier comments made by Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung, so obviously any legal actions taken against him and Suthep had been planned beforehand.

"I hereby affirm that I will not negotiate for anybody's interest. I insist that wrongdoers must be brought to justice and will fight the case based on facts. I will not join the process to absolve people who cheated the country. I'll accept my fate even if the judicial process lands me in jail or gets me executed, but I will not whitewash the wrongdoings of cheaters," the opposition leader said.

nationmultimedia.com


.................................................. ......................


Abhisit gears up to battle murder rap
8/12/2012

Former PM says charges are politically motivated

Democrat leader Abhisit Vejjajiva says he would be ready to accept the death sentence if it was handed down to him as a result of the investigation into his government's crackdown on red-shirt protesters in 2010.

He was speaking after he and Democrat MP Suthep Thaugsuban were charged on Thursday by the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) with authorising the killing of anti-government protesters during the April-May 2010 political violence in Bangkok.

• Eyewitnesses:: 'Army shot Italian journalist'

Mr Suthep was deputy prime minister under the Abhisit government and headed the Centre for the Resolution of the Emergency Situation (CRES), which was set up to handle the protests.

Both are expected to turn themselves in to the DSI on Thursday.
The DSI's charges were based on a Criminal Court's ruling on the death of taxi driver Phan Khamkong during the political unrest.

Mr Abhisit said the charges laid against him and Mr Suthep were to pressure him and his party to support the government's proposed reconciliation law. He insisted that his government's action was to restore peace and order and was in line with the law.

Moreover, the red-shirt protest was a breach of the constitution, he said.
Mr Abhisit said he and Mr Suthep agreed to be investigated and tried in court after the military's actions resulted in deaths and injuries.

He said there would be no negotiations for his own benefit.

"Let justice run its course. No matter where it leads, we will accept it, be it a life sentence or a death sentence," Mr Abhisit said.

Mr Suthep said yesterday the Democrat leader was dragged into the issue to give the government leverage.

"Pressing charges against me as the CRES director is not enough, so they have to drag Mr Abhisit in as well, even though he had nothing to do with the CRES," Mr Suthep said.

He insisted he would not yield to the government's pressure.

Mr Abhisit also slammed DSI chief Tarit Pengdith's claim that the Democrat-led government and red shirts should both be held accountable to ensure justice. He said Mr Tarit's reasoning was "bizarre".

"It is quite strange to indict two parties involved in the same conflict for the sake of justice," he said.

Mr Tarit said yesterday there was no reason to investigate his own actions as a member of CRES because he never took part in any CRES meetings that involved military operations.

"The decision to use force was made by the committee in charge of operations, and the decision makers were Mr Abhisit and Mr Suthep," Mr Tarit said.

He said that not all staff working for CRES would be held accountable. They were following orders and were therefore protected by the law.

"I will be merely supervising the investigation team. I will not take part in the investigation," he said.

The DSI chief confirmed that Mr Abhisit and Mr Suthep would report to the DSI to acknowledge the charges on Thursday.

Meanwhile, army commander-in-chief Prayuth Chan-ocha has ordered army units to explain to the public what the military's role was during the 2010 political unrest in 2010, deputy army spokesman Winthai Suwari said yesterday.

Col Winthai said the DSI's decision to file charges against Mr Abhisit and Mr Suthep might mislead the public about the army's role.

He said the army's operations during the protests were carried out according to the law and several soldiers were also killed and injured.

Col Winthai said the army had submitted evidence about attacks on soldiers to the DSI but no progress has been made in the cases.

bangkokpost.com

Originally Posted by thegent

Over 3000 Thai citizens ranging from children to geriatrics were slaughtered at the behest of the Thaksin regime under its spurious war against drugs.

This country is quite simply beyond the ludicrous.

You make a very valid point Thegent , I often wonder who was held "responsible" for this Tragedy "The Tak Bai incident" ,I believe Thaksin said they died because of "weakness" due to the Muslim,s annual "fasting" period of Ramadan ,in any case no one was ever held to account or prosecuted ,it would appear that sheer hypocrisy is very much in vogue here in Thailand and if it was not so serious it would be laughable Tak Bai and Krue Se Report

Admiral Mike Mullen, former chairman, US Joint Chiefs of Staff, said, ''Few things are more damaging to our democracy than a military officer who doesn't have the moral courage to stand up for what's right or the moral fibre to step aside when circumstances dictate.''

No one is above the law | Bangkok Post: news

double standards are always interesting to watch in action and amusing when people attempt to justify or explain them away.

it would be rather nice if someone set a precedent about the unacceptability of slaughtering thai citizens, because from my view point its quite clear that the army, police, PT in all its incarnations, the dems, lord voltimore et al and most disappointingly the thai electorate don't have a problem with it as long as its for a 'good cause'

Amazing -just how much more reconciliation can this country take