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

Former Thai PM to face murder charge
Zoe Daniel
Updated 9 minutes ago


Abhisit Vejjajiva will be questioned by police over the death during 2010 unrest
(Sukree Sukplang : REUTERS)

Thai authorities have announced plans to charge former prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva with murder over the 2010 death of a taxi driver who was shot by government soldiers during civil unrest in Bangkok.

The intent to charge former Mr Abhisit and his former deputy was announced after a meeting of Thailand's Department of Special Investigation (DSI), police and Thai prosecutors.

"The tripartite meeting has decided to charge former prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and former deputy Suthep Thaugsuban under article 288," said DSI chief Tarit Pengdith, referring to the murder provision under Thailand's criminal code.

In September, an inquest found that taxi driver Phan Kamkong was shot and killed by Thai soldiers during political violence around anti-government Red Shirt protests in 2010.

An earlier court ruling found the taxi driver was killed in a volley of army bullets when he ran out of an apartment building to see what was going on after hearing gunfire.

Mr Abhisit and Mr Suthep are expected to be questioned next week.

About 90 people were killed and nearly 1,900 were wounded in a series of street clashes between demonstrators and security forces, which culminated in a bloody military crackdown.

Two foreign journalists were among those killed.

Until now, no government or military officials had faced charges over the deaths.

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.

Red Shirts, mostly supporters of ousted ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra, have raised accusations of double standards over the prosecutions of 24 of their leaders on terrorism charges for their part in the rallies.

Rights campaigners have said both the protesters and the authorities of the time should be held accountable.

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There is a pre existing thread with a load of background info here :

https://teakdoor.com/thailand-and-asi...oops-role.html (Exclusive: Probe reveals Thai troops' role in civilian deaths)

Wow, it has certainly not been a kind year for AV. If I were him, I'd get out of politics and jon the public sector. He's never going to lead the country again. Save some face, Mark.

Former Thai PM Abhisit "to face murder charge"
06 December 2012


Former Thai prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva.
(AFP/File - Pornchai Kittiwongsakul)

BANGKOK - Former Thai prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva is to face a charge of murder over the death of a taxi driver who was shot by soldiers during 2010 "Red Shirt" rallies, authorities said Thursday.

The Department of Special Investigation, police and Thai prosecutors announced the decision, which marks the first charges for deaths during the mass rallies in Bangkok against Abhisit's government.

"The tripartite meeting has decided to charge former prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and former deputy Suthep Thaugsuban under article 288," said DSI chief Tarit Pengdith, referring to the murder provision under Thailand's criminal code.

He said the group based their decision on further witness testimony as well as a court ruling that taxi driver Phan Kamkong was shot and killed by Thai soldiers during the country's worst political violence in decades.

Abhisit and Suthep will be summoned by letter to hear the charges and to be questioned on December 12, Tarit said, adding that authorities would not seek court permission to detain the men, who are both now opposition lawmakers.

About 90 people were killed and nearly 1,900 were wounded in a series of street clashes between demonstrators and security forces, which culminated in a bloody military crackdown. Two foreign journalists were among those killed.

Until now no government or military officials had faced charges over the deaths.

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.

"It was the job of the government of that day to also restore order," he told AFP last month.

Red Shirts, mostly supporters of ousted ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra, have raised accusations of double standards over the prosecutions of 24 of their leaders on terrorism charges for their part in the rallies.

Rights campaigners have said both the protesters and the authorities of the time should be held accountable.

Thailand has been riven by bitter political divisions since Thaksin was toppled by royalist generals in a 2006 coup that unleashed years of street protests by the Reds and the rival royalist Yellow Shirts.

Elections in 2011 brought Thaksin's Red Shirt-backed Puea Thai party to power, sweeping Abhisit into opposition.

The accused Red Shirts, who include five current lawmakers, could in theory face the death penalty in a case that is set to begin on December 13. They pleaded not guilty in August 2010 to terrorism charges.

AFP was not immediately able to contact Abhisit on Thursday.

Suthep said he would attend the hearing next week, adding that he would consult his lawyers before making any further comment.

The inquest into Phan's shooting in September was the first ever ruling on deaths during the 2010 rallies.

The court found that the 43-year-old was caught in a volley of gunfire when he ran out of a central Bangkok apartment block to see what was happening after hearing soldiers open fire at a minibus that had strayed into an area under army control.

Tarit said soldiers acting under orders would not face prosecution.

channelnewsasia.com

I've been predicting Abhisit to vacate the country , though now that Adhouse has been extradited to Thailand one wonders where he may go ?

Well, he's a British citizen, innit?

^^Dubai?

Thai politics,thai law,etc etc only thais could make this shite up,still its good for a laugh if nothing else.

Originally Posted by BKKBoet

^^Dubai?

I noticed that quite a while thai hiso criminals do seem to favour Dubai, china and Cambodia over London

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.

So, in other words, he really doesn't have any reason to be concerned. Oh good.

Originally Posted by thegent

This country is quite simply beyond the ludicrous.

Why do you continue to live in this ludicrous country?

Originally Posted by Anatidaephobia

Why do you continue to live in this ludicrous country?

It does have a good deal of political entertainment value

Gimmie a C
Gimmie an O
Gimmie a U
..

P is coming mate. The police and military are at odds like never before. Some shit is going to hit the fan. Here they go for the big guy, but the rich still walk. What happened to" red bull guy"? Killed a cop in cold blood. Nothing.

I am no Mark fan trust me, when he formed alliances with Suthep and Newin it was all over. Just the same old shit again.

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.

Originally Posted by gaysexbyproxy

If I were him, I'd get out of politics and join the public sector. .

Hard now to get Directorships of any firm, NGO or supra-national with a hangover from domestic events haunting him.

Originally Posted by Mr Lick

Thaksin at his piss poorest again. How does a leader of a country become responsible for a soldier murdering a civilian?

Was the President of the USA responsible for the conduct of Bales when he went on a rampage? Well if he was then to my knowledge he wasn't indicted.

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.

Originally Posted by gaysexbyproxy

Wow, it has certainly not been a kind year for AV. If I were him, I'd get out of politics and jon the public sector. He's never going to lead the country again. Save some face, Mark.

Couldn't say for sure [future in Thai politics].
He's still a dominate figure within certain circles.

....and the way that the Thai political machine operates.
One never knows.

^^^ There would have to be some form of evidence of that i fear, video or a band of trustworthy witnesses who would come forward to give an accurate account.

It is normal for high ranking military men to brief their troops on what e.g. constitutes rules of engagement. If the instructions at the brief are lax/confusing
then the commanders are normally responsible for such but again some form of evidence, video or suchlike. would be required.

Abhisit, as PM, i suspect would have wisely stayed away from any such brief. If not then he may have restricted his comments to wish the troops well in their quest to restore order to the streets of Bangkok.

In my country, if the briefing is not flawed then the individual becomes responsible for his/her actions as should be.

Originally Posted by Mr Lick

^^^ There would have to be some form of evidence of that i fear, video or a band of trustworthy witnesses who would come forward to give an accurate account.

It is normal for high ranking military men to brief their troops on what e.g. constitutes rules of engagement. If the instructions at the brief are lax/confusing
then the commanders are normally responsible for such but again some form of evidence, video or suchlike. would be required.

Abhisit, as PM, i suspect would have wisely stayed away from any such brief. If not then he may have restricted his comments to wish the troops well in their quest to restore order to the streets of Bangkok.

In my country, if the briefing is not flawed then the individual becomes responsible for his/her actions as should be.

Then....on the other hand. Whom [high entity] or what is the bottom line towards the supreme command of all things military?

^^
Yes maybe that too. It could be killing several birds with one stone. It will go nowhere though, and the overblown reporting by foreign media about its importance (without explaining the kangaroo nature of the pro-establishment justice system here is a dis-service to their foreign readers)

^^^
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.