Victims of May 19 crackdown await justice – eight years later

By THE SUNDAY NATION

 

Photo credit: Human Rights Watch

 

WHILE reconciliation has been a major item on the government’s agenda, a senior researcher for the New-York-based Human Rights Watch (HRW), Sunai Phasuk, complained there had been no justice eight years after the bloody crackdown on red shirts that left nearly a hundred people dead and thousands injured.

 

In the statement that he wrote and published on the HRW’s official website yesterday, on the eighth anniversary of the violence that erupted in 2010, Sunai slammed as outrageous that impunity for state-sponsored violence remained a standard operating policy of the Thai military. 

 

“This simply encourages Thailand’s policymakers and soldiers to believe that they can get away with murder,” he said. “It also remains a major impediment to reconciliation between victims and supporters of the red shirts, a group that does not trust the Army and political establishment. Without justice, this is unlikely to change.”

 

Sunai’s statement commemorated victims of the crackdown on May 19, 2010, when at least 98 people were killed and some 2,000 injured after the government decided to use force against anti-government protesters who had been rallying for weeks. Among the victims were medic volunteers, media reporters and bystanders.

Although evidence showed the military was behind most of these abuses, no one has been held accountable so far. The red-shirt umbrella organisation, the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD), has constantly lodged petitions with the National Anti-Corruption Commission to review the cases and hold officials involved in the killings accountable but so far without success. 

 

The families and friends of the victims return every year to the Ratchaprasong intersection as well as to Wat Pathum Wanaram to hold activities in memory of their loved ones and call on the authorities to bring the culprits to justice.

 

The Ratchaprasong intersection sign on the footpath was enclosed with barricades, preventing the red shirts from using the area to hold their activities. Prominent pro-rights activist Sombat Boonngamanong had planned to hold a symbolic activity at a fast-food restaurant near the intersection but the restaurant was closed ahead of their meeting.

 

A religious ceremony held at Wat Pathum Wanaram, where a medic volunteer Kamolkate Akkahad was among others killed, saw dozens of attendees including Ivo Sieber, the ambassador of Switzerland to Thailand. The event was observed by scores of police officers.

 

Kamolkate’s mother, Phayaw Akkahad, who became an activist after her daughter was killed, with others also performed a short play at the temple, demonstrating the lack of justice in the massacre case. She wore an apron similar to the one Kamolkate had worn when she was killed.

 

Phayaw, along with Pansak Srithep, the father of Samaphan Srithep who was also killed in the crackdown, and another activist eventually managed to march to the Ratchaprasong intersection and stood for a brief moment in silence to commemorate the victims of the crackdown. The activity was watched closely by police officers.

 

In a related development, UDD leader Nuttawut Saikuar yesterday attended a religious ceremony held for the victims of the crackdown at another temple in Bangkok’s Bangkhen district and said the UDD would continue to fight for justice for those killed.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/politics/30345822

 

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-05-20

"...“This simply encourages Thailand’s policymakers and soldiers to believe that they can get away with murder,” he said. “It also remains a major impediment to reconciliation between victims and supporters of the red shirts, a group that does not trust the Army and political establishment. Without justice, this is unlikely to change.”

Sunai’s statement commemorated victims of the crackdown on May 19, 2010, when at least 98 people were killed and some 2,000 injured after the government decided to use force against anti-government protesters who had been rallying for weeks. Among the victims were medic volunteers, media reporters and bystanders..."

 

Thailand needs to have a version of a "Truth and Reconciliation Commission" to look back at those times and (perhaps) find some closure for all concerned. No, I am not holding my breath waiting for that to happen.

 

No matter which side of the political divide one stands on, it is simply impossible to have an event where 100 or so were killed, thousands were injured and have 100% of the blame on one side only; blame can be apportioned but as the old adage says "it takes two to tango".

 

Until there is some kind of reckoning/resolution, this will remain a festering wound on Thailand's soul.

 

Edited May 19, 20188 yr by Samui Bodoh
Lack of coffee

Due to the fact that all yellow factions (army, dems, PDRC...) are united on this case, the odds the will get justice are narrowing to zero.....

24 minutes ago, rooster59 said:

“This simply encourages Thailand’s policymakers and soldiers to believe that they can get away with murder,”

And they do. Young recruits die while serving in the forces. People caught up at checkpoints either disappear or are shot under unclear circumstances. There appears to be no-one with the power to properly investigate the military, something that ultimately must be rectified to provide a body that serves the people not scares them.

"Accountability"

is a myth here, 

ethics and professionalism ...in very short supply

Edited May 20, 20188 yr by mok199
speliings

Why didn't Yingluck do anything about this injustice when PTP were re-elected back in 2011?

Many dead.

No responsibility.

Sad. Very sad.

2 hours ago, Samui Bodoh said:

"...“This simply encourages Thailand’s policymakers and soldiers to believe that they can get away with murder,” he said. “It also remains a major impediment to reconciliation between victims and supporters of the red shirts, a group that does not trust the Army and political establishment. Without justice, this is unlikely to change.”

Sunai’s statement commemorated victims of the crackdown on May 19, 2010, when at least 98 people were killed and some 2,000 injured after the government decided to use force against anti-government protesters who had been rallying for weeks. Among the victims were medic volunteers, media reporters and bystanders..."

 

Thailand needs to have a version of a "Truth and Reconciliation Commission" to look back at those times and (perhaps) find some closure for all concerned. No, I am not holding my breath waiting for that to happen.

 

No matter which side of the political divide one stands on, it is simply impossible to have an event where 100 or so were killed, thousands were injured and have 100% of the blame on one side only; blame can be apportioned but as the old adage says "it takes two to tango".

 

Until there is some kind of reckoning/resolution, this will remain a festering wound on Thailand's soul.

 

I still have the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship booklet issued at the time of the protests. It is printed in both English and Thai languages. Makes interesting reading.

I will quote the final paragraph:

Abhisit Vejjajiva, how many people are you going to kill? We want to propose the following fighting slogan of the people as food for thought. "You cannot kill all the population. You cannot eradicate them all."

And another little gem:

Abhisit Vejjajaiva, SuthepThuangsuban and the Democratic Party are playing a satanic, not an angelic role. They are demons that occasionally transform themselves into "gods" in order to deceive the population.

 

Edited May 20, 20188 yr by Cadbury

4 hours ago, merlin2002 said:

Why didn't Yingluck do anything about this injustice when PTP were re-elected back in 2011?

 

Too many skeletons in every cupboard.

 

Besides, someone may of starting probing the money trails for the financing of the "protests", including the hiring of black shirted gunmen; including alleged "bag ladies" for that money.

4 hours ago, Cadbury said:

I still have the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship booklet issued at the time of the protests. It is printed in both English and Thai languages. Makes interesting reading.

I will quote the final paragraph:

Abhisit Vejjajiva, how many people are you going to kill? We want to propose the following fighting slogan of the people as food for thought. "You cannot kill all the population. You cannot eradicate them all."

And another little gem:

Abhisit Vejjajaiva, SuthepThuangsuban and the Democratic Party are playing a satanic, not an angelic role. They are demons that occasionally transform themselves into "gods" in order to deceive the population.

 

 

Interesting propaganda indeed.

 

Did it mention who recruited and financed the black shirted gunmen firing at the military and civilians? Or perhaps mention how the "leaders" of the UDD came to be appointed?

 

 

2 hours ago, Baerboxer said:

 
Too many skeletons in every cupboard.
 
Besides, someone may of starting probing the money trails for the financing of the "protests", including the hiring of black shirted gunmen; including alleged "bag ladies" for that money.

Yea probably the same as the blue shirts.
 

Edited May 20, 20188 yr by monkfish

2 hours ago, Baerboxer said:

 

Interesting propaganda indeed.

 

Did it mention who recruited and financed the black shirted gunmen firing at the military and civilians? Or perhaps mention how the "leaders" of the UDD came to be appointed?

 

 

You say it's propaganda.......more a premonition

7 hours ago, merlin2002 said:

Why didn't Yingluck do anything about this injustice when PTP were re-elected back in 2011?

There was an inquiry but it was totally white washed of course.

Edited May 20, 20188 yr by monkfish

The redshirts deserved everything they got and more !The government at the time was far too lenient on these thugs, allowing them to set up a fortress in central Bangkok and basically terrorize the city centre.

5 hours ago, phantomfiddler said:

The redshirts deserved everything they got and more !The government at the time was far too lenient on these thugs, allowing them to set up a fortress in central Bangkok and basically terrorize the city centre.

Who are you Pol Pot's grandson? No one deserved to die, it could have been resolved peacefully. The protesters weren't taking up that much space. It was the wrong decision to storm the protest site.