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Waiting for the Facts

UPDATE : 19 November 2010

With the public outcry for facts surrounding the May 19 protest dispersal growing louder by the day, its becoming increasingly frustrating to see just how little headway has been made in sorting out the events of six months ago.

The issue at the top of everyone's list for clarification is undoubtedly that of the 91 deaths and over 2,000 injuries sustained amongst both protesters and security agents during the tumult. Department of Special Investigations (DSI) Director Tharit Pengdit has tried to impose some order over the matter, stating that the 89 deaths recorded in Bangkok and the two in the provinces have been categorized into two groups. The groups interestingly enough are; deaths in which evidence and witness testimony have attributed them to the red shirt group and deaths without sufficient evidence to clearly indicate instigators.

The first group is populated by 12 cases, including those of Private Singha On-song, Private Puriwat Praphan and other military and police officers. Nonspecific cases in the roster include the launching of an M79 explosive into the Sala Daeng BTS station; causing one death and 75 injuries, the shooting of a security checkpoint on Rama 4; causing one death, the ambush on officers in front of the Bangkok Bank head office; causing one death and the arson of Central World Shopping Complex.

Stating so definitively that the aforementioned actions were committed by the red shirt group poses a real threat to Tharit and the DSI, if not all agencies involved in the matter. Authorities are now compelled to back the claims and produce incontestable evidence that proves the 12 cases were directly carried out by the red shirt group, that is to say not only by its members or interlopers but actual movement sanctioned acts. Up until now, investigators have had a hard time even placing members of the group in the areas of several of the crimes, yet the DSI believes there is enough backing to publicly proclaim the group's culpability.

A sizable amount of the public however, would beg to differ. Cases such as the ambush of officers at Bangkok Bank or the slaying of Colonel Romklao Thuwatham continue to retain an air of mystery. Both incidents were committed deep in areas at the time declared to be in total control of security forces and would require an extensive infiltration to be carried out, and an even more elaborate escape plan to evade immediate apprehension.

Murder and violence are heinous crimes that must be punished. Those responsible for the 91 deaths in May, regardless of their affiliation or allegiance must be prosecuted to the extent of the law. Justice however, cannot be served by snap judgments and distorted facts. The deliberate altering of events and the truth can be seen as just as deplorable as the atrocities committed during this year's Black May. Six months, hundreds of arrests, dozens of statements and countless reviews onward and yet the Thai people are still waiting for the facts

Khao Sod, November 19 2010

Translated and Rewritten by Itiporn Lakarnchua

Please note that the views expressed in our "Analysis" segment are translated from local newspaper articles and do not reflect the views of the Thai-ASEAN News Network.