Thread: Exclusive: Probe reveals Thai troops' role in civilian deaths

Come on Hazz who's dan has he posted in this thread yet. or is he your altered ego

Men in black 'sparked unrest' | Bangkok Post: news

2010 VIOLENCE

Men in black 'sparked unrest'

• Published: 10 Apr 2013 at 00.00
• Newspaper section: News

Mysterious "men in black" did attack security forces on April 10, 2010 on Ratchadamnoen Avenue, a senate sub-committee looking into political violence has concluded.

Elected senator Somchai Sawaengkarn, chair of the sub-committee, said there were grounds to believe the men in black existed and played a significant role in setting off the turmoil during the red-shirt protests three years ago.

The men were armed with heavy weapons including assault rifles and grenades which were used against security forces.

Sen Somchai, who is a member of the Group of 40 Senators, said the panel also suspected that the 26 deaths reported after the April 10 incident at Kok Wua intersection on Ratchadamnoen Avenue were exaggerated and wanted the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) to investigate possible evidence tampering.

The committee's findings were released one day before the red-shirt United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship was to hold activities marking the third anniversary of the violence.

The inquiry focused on the violence that erupted on April 10 after security forces were sent in to reclaim the red-shirt protest venue, and on the death of Gen Romklao Thuwatham.

It questioned more than 100 witnesses and reviewed piles of material evidence, Sen Somchai said.

Lt Gen Nanthadet Meksawat, a member of the sub-committee, concluded that two M-67 grenades were thrown from the direction where red shirts were gathered and that the grenade blasts had killed Gen Romklao. He criticised the DSI for its lack of progress in investigating Gen Romklao's death.

He said there was clear evidence for the agency to work with but so far the DSI had not made much progress.

The panel also found the security forces did not spark the April 10 violence and that they had handled the situation in accordance with the law.

Wirat Panitpong, another sub-committee member, said the findings suggested that Wasan Phuthong, who was shot in the head, was not killed by security forces.

Wasan's death is among 18 cases in which state authorities are suspected of involvement.


-----
Justice for the Dead of Kok Wua | Robert Amsterdam Thailand

Justice for the Dead of Kok Wua

Terdsak Phungkinchan was only 29 when the sniper’s bullet took his life. Three years ago today, on April 10th 2010, he fell, mortally wounded, onto the hard tarmac of a Bangkok street. The force used against Terdsak – despite it being very clear to the person pulling the trigger that his victim was completely unarmed and posing no threat to anyone – was deadly and meant to be so. The only word that can be used to describe this act is murder and my law firm are still doing all we can to bring the people responsible for this to justice.



There can also be no equivocation regarding an analysis of the force used against the Red Shirts at Kok Wua that dreadful night in April 2010 – it was designed, purely, to kill. And kill it did, with 21 Red Shirts falling in a hail of bullets fired from the guns former Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva had ordered onto Bangkok’s streets. In addition five Thai Army soldiers died, their lives ending in what can only be described as mysterious circumstances, whilst an investigation into the death of the Japanese cameraman, Hiro Muromoto, is still ongoing. All these acts left behind even more grief-stricken widows and mothers.

Without justice for all victims the tragedy of April 2010 is still being played out. Thailand is not yet at peace with itself and, since that night, the families of the dead have been left with more questions than answers.

To get a sense of the depth of feeling the April 10th Kok Wua Massacre arouses you need look no further than the remarkable Thai language book published by the Democracy Martyr Foundation whose title loosely translates as “The Dead Have a Face and Those Who Were Killed Had a Life.” This book gives voice to the victims of April 2010, a cry that must be heard if Thailand wishes to move towards true reconciliation.

Take Terdsak’s mother, Suwimon, who told the authors of this exceptional book that

Deep down, I still want to fight for my son because he was innocent – he didn’t deserve to die, he shouldn’t have been treated like that. I feel as if I couldn’t do much as we are just ordinary people… I will never forget this.

It is Suwimon’s words that we should meditate on as we commemorate the fallen of April 2010 – “I still want to fight for my son.” The mothers of the fallen Red Shirts, unlike the commentators, politicians and, dare I say it, lawyers, can’t just “forget” when it comes to the destruction wrought against their offspring. We can only continue to offer the likes of Suwimon support and solidarity in her struggle for justice.

Another victim of the Kok Wua Massacre was tailor Wasan Puthong (39). His young sister, Numthip, is also quoted in “The Dead Have a Face and Those Who Were Killed Had a Life” saying

Nowadays, I am still missing him as we had been working together for such a long time – whenever I turned, I saw him there because we were together all day all night…. It is hard for me to accept this.

Numthip’s comment are an apt reflection on the death of a brother who was taken down in such abhorrent circumstance. The lack of definable justice will continue to make it hard for victims of Kok Wua to just “accept this”.

Today my office had the honour of speaking to Wasan’s brother-in-law, Klin, and it his words we end on here. These words must be our banner as we mark another year where loved ones were taken from us.

There is still not justice as the perpetrators have not yet been held to account. We will continue fighting for this justice.

^
Where is Robbin Hood when you really need him?

Originally Posted by StrontiumDog

Originally Posted by GT200 Oerator

Andrew Spooner's response to the Human Rights Watch opinion on the Truth for Reconciliation Commission of Thailand report is worth a look at, in Prachatai Online News.

Good old Andrew, calls for the immediate resignation of Sunai Phasuk, Phil Robertson and Brad Adams, and says all of whom have lied about 2010 and are participating in a cover-up of the murder of 90+ unarmed civilians.

Yes, Andrew Spooner, whose wife translates for Robert Amsterdam at red shirt rallies......

Meanwhile when Human Rights Watch posted this report....

Thailand: Army Chief Interfering in Investigations

Abuses by soldiers took place in full view of the Thai public and the world’s media, yet the Thai army chief is now trying to intimidate investigators and critics into silence. The government should prosecute all those responsible for crimes during the 2010 violence, including members of the military, who should not be above the law. Brad Adams, Asia director

Even Robert Amsterdam quoted them in full...

Human Rights Watch Condemns Thai Army Chief’s Interference - Robert Amsterdam

Human Rights Watch Condemns Thai Army Chief’s Interference

By Editor | Published: August 23, 2012

A statement was released by Human Rights Watch criticizing General Prayuth Chan-ocha, the head of the Royal Thai Army, for interfering in the investigation of the 2010 Bangkok massacres by filing defamation claims against Robert Amsterdam. The full text can be found below.

Odd, right? So one minute they all condemn HRW and the next they are quoting them....kind of pick and choose the bits you agree with....

And people like you fall for this every time, unquestioning and blind. Failing to make connections a child would notice.

Uploaded on 11 Apr 2011
Brad Adams, Human Rights' Watch Asia director speaks to an audience at the House of Lords at the UK Parliament and asserts, despite no prima facie evidence, that the Red Shirts set fire to buildings in Bangkok.

youtube.com

DSI clear officers, men 'just following orders' | Bangkok Post: news

DSI clears soldiers in 2010 clashes

• Published: 1 May 2013 at 18.09
• Online news: Politics

The chief of the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) said on Wednesday that military officers ordered to crack down on red shirt protesters in 2010 could not be held responsible for the deaths of civilians killed as a result.

Armoured personnel carrier smashes through defence lines built by red-shirt protesters during their takeover of central Bangkok in 2010. (Bangkok Post file photo)

Tarit Pengdith announced the decision after a meeting with DSI officials in charge of investigating the 91 deaths during the red shirt street protests in April and May of 2010.

He said the meeting concluded the soldiers at that time were just doing their duty as assigned by their superiors. As a result, they will not be held accountable and will be protected by Section 70 of the Criminal Code, which states that those acting on orders by their commanders are immune from prosecution.

On May 14, the DSI will summon former premier Abhisit Vejjajiva and his deputy prime minister at the time, Suthep Thaugsuban, to acknowledge additional lawsuits against them.

The new charges came after the Criminal Court ruled in two cases, calling the death of 14-year-old Kunakorn "Nong Isa" Srisuwan premeditated murder, and the wounding of Samon Maithong a case of attempted murder.

“The death of Kunakorn Srisuwan was in the same incident that killed (taxi driver) Phan Kamkong and seriously injured Samon Maithong, the van driver. All of them were affected by the same military operation, (and) as a result the three cases are merged into one case," Mr Tarit said.

“So we need to summon Mr Abhisit and Mr Suhtep to hear the additional charges so that the accused can understand charges and facts" of the cases, he said.

The Criminal Court ruled last December that Kunakorn was killed by a military gunshot on Mor Leng Road in front of the OA cinema, about 20 metres off Ratchaprarop Road, on May 15, 2010.

The court said Mr Samorn was seriously wounded by military fire as he was driving a van into the army's restricted zone near a military checkpoint at Ratchaprarop Airport Rail Link station.

The court ruled last September that taxi driver Phan Kamkong had been shot and killed by troops near the Airport Rail Link as well.

The DSI chief also said his agency is preparing to arrest three suspects believed responsible for killing Gen Romklao Thuwatham during unrest near the Democracy Monument in 2010.

Investigators would soon present evidence to the public prosecutor to ask the court for arrest warrants for three unidentified men whose images were in photographs of the crime scene.

Gen Romklao, then a colonel, was killed in a grenade attack on April 10, 2010, while he and troops were trying to reclaim an area occupied by red shirts near the Democracy Monument.

^ So there you go, the people that actually shot people wont be charged.

Just the people that gave the orders....

So all we need now is proof that the soldiers were acting under orders to shoot people dead.

A document will do...........

Anyone?

Originally Posted by StrontiumDog

He said the meeting concluded the soldiers at that time were just doing their duty as assigned by their superiors

That might work elsewhere, but it doesn't hold water for the soldiers firing at unarmed protesters & medics in the Wat, a designated place of sanctuary.

Its going to be interesting how PT sells this to the UDD. After all its hardly a secret that the DSI's leadership is loyal to those who control their immediate career prospects.

Thailand: Hold Army Accountable for 2010 Violence

Reject Proposed Amnesty, Prosecute Abuses by All Sides

May 7, 2013

• 
  Enlarge

Prime Minister Yingluck should be reminded that she came to power promising justice to the victims of political violence. Any attempt by the government to manipulate justice by shielding the army or others will break her promise to the victims and the Thai people.

Brad Adams, Asia director

(New York) – The Thai government should revoke a decision to shield military personnel from criminal prosecution for the 2010 political bloodshed, Human Rights Watch said today. A general amnesty proposed by the ruling party that would include those responsible for serious human rights abuses should be rejected.

On May 1, the director-general of the Justice Ministry’s Department of Special Investigation (DSI), Tarit Pengdith, announced that military personnel would not be held responsible for casualties during the government’s crackdown on street protests in 2010, despite overwhelming evidence that soldiers shot civilians.

“The Thai government’s decision not to prosecute military personnel for the 2010 violence signals that there is one law for the army and another for everyone else,” said Brad Adams, Asia director. “This amounts to a government policy of shielding – instead of prosecuting – soldiers who killed civilians on the streets and commanders who gave the orders.”

The Justice Ministry’s announcement follows a government policy stated repeatedly by Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yubamrung, who is in charge of justice and law enforcement affairs, that soldiers and their commanders would be treated as witnesses to these incidents rather than defendants, and would be fully protected from criminal prosecution because they were acting under orders from the previous government.

At least 98 people lost their lives and more than 2,000 were injured during the confrontations between the opposition United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD), known as “Red Shirts,” and the government of then-Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, according to the DSI. Arson attacks in Bangkok and elsewhere in Thailand caused billions in damage.

Forensic evidence and witness accounts detailed in a May 2011 Human Rights Watch report, “Descent into Chaos: Thailand’s 2010 Red Shirt Protests and the Government Crackdown,” showed that high numbers of casualties among protesters, volunteer medics, reporters, photographers, and bystanders occurred in the areas designated as “live fire zones” by the government-appointed Center for the Resolution of the Emergency Situation (CRES). Most deaths and injuries resulted from excessive and unnecessary lethal force by the Thai army and other security forces.

The CRES, established by Abhisit and chaired by then Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban, approved the use of live ammunition to contain and disperse the protests, but failed to take sufficient measures to monitor and control those military operations in line with law enforcement standards. A document signed by Suthep on April 18, 2010, later examined by Human Rights Watch, broadly authorized the deployment of sharpshooters and snipers to “protect security forces and the public.”

However, not a single soldier or official has been held accountable for the 2010 violence. The DSI announced in September 2012 that the military was responsible for 36 deaths. So far, only nine cases have been submitted to the Criminal Court for post-mortem inquests, and the court found that five victims were shot dead by soldiers acting under operational guidelines set out by the CRES.

The DSI and police investigations and inquest rulings show that insufficient efforts have been made to identify the soldiers and commanding officers responsible for the shootings. After receiving the inquest results, the DSI decided to charge only Abhisit and Suthep for killings. Based on the theory of command responsibility, which allows the prosecution of superiors for the actions of their subordinates, each has been charged with premeditated murder.

Human Rights Watch expressed concern about the politicization of decisions about prosecutions for human rights abuses. In an interview, Tarit reportedly said that, “DSI, as a government agency, has to follow policy of the government. Now the government prioritizes ‘reconciliation,’ DSI action will therefore reflect that policy.”

“It is ludicrous for the Department of Special Investigation to say it has to follow the government’s policy on reconciliation, which clearly compromises its law enforcement duties,” said Adams.

Human Rights Watch has also documented that some elements of the UDD, including armed “Black Shirt” militants, were responsible for deadly attacks on soldiers, police, and civilians. Some UDD leaders incited violence with inflammatory speeches to demonstrators, urging their supporters to carry out riots, arson attacks, and looting.

The UDD was supported by former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, whose sister Yingluck Shinawatra is the current prime minister. However, the UDD leadership, including those now holding positions in the government and the parliament, have dismissed these findings. Some have asserted there were no armed elements within the UDD, despite incidents of “Black Shirts” and some UDD protesters committing violence with weapons being captured on video and in photos.

“Prime Minister Yingluck should be reminded that she came to power promising justice to the victims of political violence,” Adams said. “Any attempt by the government to manipulate justice by shielding the army or others will break her promise to the victims and the Thai people.”

Prime Minister Yingluck should be reminded that she came to power promising justice to the victims of political violence. Any attempt by the government to manipulate justice by shielding the army or others will break her promise to the victims and the Thai people.

Brad Adams, Asia director

Yep..........

It's strange how this government is bending over backwards to let the army off.....

But the supposedly biased HRW keeps repeating the same stuff.

Justice. Prosecute all involved.

Inquest into two deaths at Bon Kai during May 2010 unrest
Fri, 17/05/2013

On 29 April, the Criminal Court began an inquest into the deaths of Mana Saenprasoetsi and Phonsawan Nakhachai who were shot at Bon Kai on Rama IV Rd on 15 May 2010 when the Centre for the Resolution of Emergency Situation was cracking down on red-shirt protests.

Mana Saenprasoetsi, 22, was a resident of Bon Kai and a rescue volunteer of the Poh Teck Tung Foundation. He was fatally shot in the back of the head near the mouth of Soi Ngam Duplee in front of a branch of Thai Farmers Bank at about 2-3 pm while he was trying to help people who had been shot there.

One of those who had been shot and was helped by Mana was Phonsawan, 23, who came from Roi Et province in northeastern Thailand. He was shot in the stomach and died later.

Mana, left, giving first aid to one of the injured on the evening of 14 May at the entrance to Soi Ngam Du Plee on Rama IV Rd.

According to the testimony of his mother Naree, 53, Mana on that day was eating at home when he received a radio call from his colleagues telling him that people had been shot near his home and asking him to go out to provide assistance. He went out and at about 6 pm she was told by his colleagues that her son had been shot dead and his body was at Lerdsin hospital.

She later learnt from the rescue staff that her son helped bring Phonsawan, who was shot in the middle of Rama IV Rd, to the footpath, and when he left his shelter to help two injured persons, he was shot and killed on the spot, while holding a red-cross flag in his hand.

Phonsawan’s elder brother Nanthawan, 34, told the court that his brother was a motorcycle driver for hire, and he was not one of the red-shirt protesters.

At about 6 pm on that day, he received a phone call from Lerdsin Hospital that his brother had been seriously shot. He went to the hospital with his brother’s girlfriend, and found that he had already died.

He later learnt from his brother’s friends that Phonsawan had taken his girlfriend to Silom and come to see friends at Soi Ngam Du Plee before being shot. They told him that the bullet came from the direction of the Lumpini Boxing Stadium.

The next hearing will be on 8 July.

In an interview with VoiceTV not long after the incident, Atthachai Thapji, Mana’s fellow rescue volunteer for the Poh Teck Tung Foundation who was crawling behind Mana before he was shot, also believed that the bullet came from the direction of the boxing stadium.

In a CRES television press conference on 20 May 2010, then Deputy Chief of Staff Lt Gen Daopong Rattanasuwon, now a general and Deputy Army Chief, used the picture of Mana shot and lying on the footpath to explain the military operation on 19 May 2010.

The picture was shown on screen as Daopong explained the situation that fires had broken out at Central World, and military troops and firefighters were prevented from entering the area due to armed resistance.

‘During the time we were waiting outside, some of those inside started a fire. They started to burn Central World, Centara Grand Hotel. The fire stopped and started again. We tried to bring fire trucks into the area. But when the fire trucks went in, they were fired at from the inside, making it inconvenient to go in and causing losses. But we tried our utmost to bring in the fire trucks, but were met with resistance all the time.’

Picture of Mana shot and lying on the footpath of Rama IV Rd on 15 May 2010.

The same picture of Mana is shown at 0.45 minutes into the clip of the CRES press conference about the burning of Central World on 19 May 2010.

In a video clip shot on the afternoon of 15 May 2010, soldiers are seen deployed in front of the Lumpini Boxing Stadium, with two snipers stationed on an upper floor of a building.

At 0.29 minutes, a voice is heard shouting ‘Don’t shoot! Put out the fire first!’ It is possible that this was the same time as when Mana was trying to extinguish a fire at a telephone booth in front of the Kasikorn Bank branch, as can be seen in several photos.

Mana (circled)

Mana and Phonsawan were among about 16 people killed at Bon Kai during 13-16 May 2010.

Source: รายงาน: 3 ปีความตาย ‘มานะ ป่à¸[at]เต็à¸�ตึ๊ง’ เหยื่à¸[at]à¸�ระสุน พ.ค.53 | ประชาไท

prachatai.com

DSI to finalise murder case against Abhisit, Suthep at meeting June 14 | Bangkok Post: news

DSI finalising Abhisit, Suthep case

Published: 5 Jun 2013 at 16.53
Online news: Crimes

The Department of Special Investigation will hold a meeting on June 14 to finalise the case against former prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and his former deputy Suthep Thaugsuban before submitting it to the prosecution, DSI chief Tarit Pengdith said on Wednesday.

Mr Tarit, speaking at the DSI's weekly press conference, was referring to the investigation into the deaths of 91 people in the political violence in 2010.

He said Mr Abhisit had submitted his defence statement.

The DSI will hold a meeting on June 14 at 4pm to finalise the investigation report, which will then be submitted to the prosecution.

After that, a letter will be sent to Mr Abhisit and Mr Suthep, who was director of the Centre for the Resolution of the Emergency Situation (CRES) responsible for the crackdown on the red-shirt protests, advising them of the date they should report to the prosecutors. It was expected to be some time late this month, Mr Tarit said.

Mr Abhisit and Mr Suthep face charges of premedidated murder in the deaths of taxi driver Phan Khamkong and a boy named Kunakorn Srisuwan, and attempted murder for the injuries incurred by Samorn Maithong.

-----
Police wrap up autopsy of first victim in 2010 political violence | MCOT.net | MCOT.net



Police wrap up autopsy of first victim in 2010 political violence

By Digital Media | 8 มิ.ย. 2556 09:13

BANGKOK, Jun 8 – An autopsy report on the first victim who was shot dead in the 2010 Bangkok’s political upheaval will be submitted to the Criminal Litigation Department for further action in court.

The victim, identified as Kriangkrai Kamnoi, 24, was a tuk-tuk taxi driver who was among nearly 100 people killed in the months-long violence in several areas of the capital.

He was shot during a demonstration in front of the Education Ministry on Rajdamnern Avenue on April 10, 2010 and was pronounced dead at nearby Vajira Hospital.

The Criminal Court would be requested to determine details and cause of Kriangkrai’s death during a crackdown by military forces against protesters of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship, known as the Red Shirts.

Police said the cases of three other victims who were killed near Bon Kai area on Rama IV Road will be wrapped up soon by the Department of Special Investigation.

One of the high-profile cases was the murder of Maj Gen Kattiya Sawasdipol, or Seh Daeng, a former specialist of the Royal Thai Army who was killed on May 13, 2010.

Investigation into the case has yet to be finalised, police said.

The Criminal Court and Bangkok South District Court have so far ruled on nine fatal cases in the 2010 political unrest including Italian journalist Fabio Polenghi.

The court announced that Polenghi, killed at Sala Daeng intersection on May 19, 2010, was shot by a high velocity bullet from the direction of army personnel which was assigned to deal with violence in the capital at the order of the government at that time. (MCOT online news)

Witnesses Recall Military Actions In May 2010 : Khaosod Online

By Khaosod Online

12 September 2013, Last upated at 18:30 GMT

Witnesses Recall Military Actions In May 2010

(12 September) A fish vendor and a rescue worker told the Criminal Court yesterday about how military personnelshot at them during clashes between the military and the Redshirts around Lumpini Park in May 2010.

The testimonies were given as part of the inquests into the deaths of 3 individuals killed at the park on 14 May 2010: Mr. Piyapong Kittiwong, Mr. Prachuab Silapan, and Mr. Somsak Silarat. The court is trying to establish whether the security forces had been responsible for the 3 deaths.

The military has repeatedly denied any responsibility to the deaths of civilians in the 2010 crackdown, arguing instead that they had been killed by the shadowy armed militants. Over 90 people lost their lives in the violence which had engulfed Bangkok for 2 months.

Mr. Thongchai Henglian, a fish vendor, told the court he was riding a motorbike to buy fish at the market, passing along Rama IV Road. He spotted a group of protesters on the road, and went to observe the gathering, parking his motorcycle at Lumpini Police Station.

Later, Mr. Thongchai said, he mingled with the protesters and journalists, while rows of soldiers armed with automatic rifles stood at some distance away.

Then, according to the witness, gunfire erupted, and he saw bullets crashing into trees and pillars along the road, so he ran toward the pavement around Lumpini Park with a journalist, who was taking shelter 5 metres away from him.

Mr. Thongchai continued that he heard the said journalist crying in pain that he was shot, so he attempted to rescue the man, but came under fire himself. He was shot twice in his hip as he had his back to the soldiers who were positioned 200-300 metres away, he said.

Soon, a group of people carried him away to safety. Doctors later extracted bullets from his body, and the wounds reportedly showed he was shot from behind.

Another witness, Mr. Preecha Nuwongsi, told the court he has been working as a medical rescue worker at Vajira Hospital for 16 years. On the day of the incident, he had received an emergency call that the soldiers were clashing with the protesters and there were injured individuals in Lumpini Park, so he and his team drove the ambulance to the scene.

Once he arrived there, Mr. Preecha said, he found a dead body in the pool near Gate 2 of the park, so he crawled toward the body (later identified as Mr. Piyapong), as there were occasional gunfires. Having reached the body, he dragged it to the ground with a rope then carried it to the ambulance.

However, Mr. Preecha testified, gunfire erupted in the direction of his unit. He said he saw "dozens" of soldiers pointing their guns at his direction, so he shouted at them to cease firing while his team waved a Red Cross flag, but, according to Mr. Preecha, the soldiers continued to fire their weapons for a while.

After his team managed to escape, they were informed by the police that a dead body had been found near Gate 3 (later identified as Mr. Prachuab). The body had gunshot wounds on the chest, Mr. Preecha said, and there were soldiers in the vicinity where Mr. Prachuab′s body was found.

The witness told the court that no weapon was found on neither Mr. Piyapong nor Mr. Prachuab.

Meanwhile, Mr. Saengpetch Ruenrom, a security guard of the park, testified that he had not seen any armed militants in the park, but he had seen a large group of soldiers armed with M-16 rifles and shotguns around the park.

The last witness, Mr. Terdsak Duangpapeng, another security guard, confirmed to the court that he had seen no armed militants among the protesters throughout the incident.

The next trial will be held on 8 October.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/loca...tical-violence

Prayuth slams investigators looking into political violence

Published: 20 Sep 2013 at 00.00
Newspaper section: News

Army commander Prayuth Chan-ocha yesterday lambasted investigators looking into 91 deaths related to the 2010 political violence whom he accused of going back on their word.

Without naming anyone, Gen Prayuth said some of the investigators were part of the Centre for the Resolution of the Emergency Situation (CRES) set up to handle political violence at that time.

His remarks came after the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) said it was considering if charges should be pressed against any members of the CRES in the wake of court decisions during inquests into the 91 deaths.

Earlier, the Bangkok South Criminal Court ruled that soldiers killed six civilians in Wat Pathum Wanaram during the crackdown against red-shirt protesters.

Gen Prayuth said an earlier investigation found it was difficult to establish who had committed the violence.

The new investigation, however, pointed the finger at state authorities.

"I don't understand how they conducted the investigation," he said. "It is the same team of police investigators.

"But when there is a change in leadership, the investigation turns upside down.

"Some of them were in the CRES and back then they gave us words of support for doing our job.

"These days they are saying different things."

Gen Prayuth also urged the NACC to delay taking action and allow the allegations against the military to be finalised in court trials.

The army chief said state authorities never have a chance to defend themselves.

It will be better if the allegations can be made in court so the officers will be able to tell their side of the story, he said.

"I think there is enough evidence for a trial to take place," Gen Prayuth said.

"A ruling is needed otherwise the public will be confused."

He admitted he is worried that his men would not understand how the legal proceedings would unfold.

He said he has told his men not to be intimidated by the prospect of legal action.

2010 protester 'killed by military fire'
25/03/2014

The South Bangkok Criminal Court ruled on Tuesday that a United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) protester was killed by a gunshot fired by soldiers during the military crackdown on anti-government protesters on May 19, 2010.

The court made the ruling after prosecutors from the Office of the Criminal Litigation 4 asked it to establish Narin Srichomphu's cause of death.

Narin was shot on the pavement in front of Ban Ratchadamri condominium on Ratchadamri Road, near Sarasin intersection.

The court said Narin was hit in the head with a high-velocity bullet fired from a line of soldiers during an operation to retake an area between Sala Daeng and Ratchadamri from protesters, as ordered by the Centre for the Resolution of Emergency Situation (CRES).

He died at the Police General Hospital.

It is not know who fired the fatal shot.

bangkokpost.com