Thai PM Abhisit Under Fire Over Deadly Crackdown

[webfact]

Thai PM under fire over deadly crackdown

by Thanaporn Promyamyai

BANGKOK (AFP) -- Thailand's prime minister faced accusations Monday of violating human rights by ordering a deadly army crackdown on opposition protesters, during a heated no-confidence debate in parliament.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva survived more than two months of street protests by the anti-government "Red Shirts" but is now facing questions about his administration's handling of the unrest, which left 88 people dead.

Opposition whip Wittaya Buranasiri said Abhisit had "violated human rights, ordering the military to crack down on protesters who were rallying within the constitution."

He added: "The crackdown was not based on international standards, which led to many deaths and injuries. The government has also failed to solve economic problems. The nation will enter a crisis that will be difficult to resolve if this government is allowed to carry on."

The Red Shirts' street rally, broken up on May 19 in an army assault on their vast encampment in the retail heart of Bangkok, sparked outbreaks of violence that left 88 people dead, mostly civilians, and nearly 1,900 injured.

Abhisit -- who has surprised many by remaining in power during the crippling street protests -- is expected to survive the no-confidence motion thanks to his ruling coalition's majority in the lower house.

Ahead of the two-day censure debate, Abhisit defended the deadly military crackdown on the Red Shirts' protests.

"The government and army had no intention to attack people," he told reporters.

"What had happened was there was a militia group which attacked the military and that led to clashes. We will explain this fact and we show our sincerity by allowing an independent committee to investigate" the events, he added.

Lawyers for Thaksin Shinawatra, the fugitive former prime minister accused by the government of bankrolling the protests and inciting unrest, said they had hired an international war crimes expert to help investigate the crackdown.

Dutch professor GJ Alexander Knoops, previously involved in cases on the former Yugoslavia, Rwanda and Sierra Leone, will help attempt to bring the Thai government to court on alleged human rights violations, a statement said.

Thaksin's legal team accused the government of "flagrantly breaching its obligations as a member of the international community and the United Nations Human Rights Council".

A Thai court last week approved an arrest warrant on terrorism charges for the former telecoms tycoon, who was ousted in a bloodless military coup in 2006 and lives in self-imposed exile to avoid a jail term for corruption.

Thaksin says the charges against him are "politically motivated".

During the censure debate, the main opposition Puea Thai party is expected to demand answers from Abhisit's administration on why it sent armed soldiers -- instead of riot police -- to restore order in the protest-hit capital.

The Red Shirts were campaigning for elections they hoped would oust the government, which they view as undemocratic because it came to power with the backing of the army after a court ruling threw out the previous administration.

Abhisit, who does not have to go to the polls until the end of next year, had proposed November elections in a bid to end the rally, but shelved the plan because demonstrators refused to disperse.

He said Saturday it was "difficult" to have elections before the end of the year because protesters had not fully joined his reconciliation plan.

Protest leaders surrendered after the army stormed their rally base but enraged demonstrators set fire to dozens of major buildings in the capital.

The government on Saturday lifted a night-time curfew imposed 10 days earlier, saying the situation was returning to normal, but it left in place emergency rule across more than one third of the country, including Bangkok.

-- ©Copyright AFP 2010-05-31

Published with written approval from AFP.

[newsfooter][/newsfooter]

[webfact]

Thai PM defends crackdown ahead of censure debate

BANGKOK (AFP) -- Thailand's premier on Monday defended a deadly army crackdown on anti-government protesters as he prepared for a grilling in parliament on his handling of the crisis.

"The government and army had no intention to attack people," Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said ahead of the two-day no confidence debate.

"What had happened was there was a militia group which attacked the military and that led to clashes. We will explain this fact and we show our sincerity by allowing an independent committee to investigate" the events, he added.

The Red Shirts' street rally, broken up on May 19 in an army assault on their vast encampment in the retail heart of Bangkok, sparked outbreaks of violence that left 88 people dead, mostly civilians, and nearly 1,900 injured.

The Red Shirts were campaigning for elections they hoped would oust the government, which they view as undemocratic because it came to power with the backing of the army after a court ruling threw out the previous administration.

The main opposition Puea Thai party is expected to demand answers from Abhisit's administration on why it sent armed soldiers firing live rounds -- instead of riot police -- to restore order in the protest-hit capital.

Both sides want to produce photographs, videos and documents related to the protests and bloodshed during the censure debate.

But the opposition boycotted a panel set up to review footage of the violence, casting doubt on whether they would be allowed to show their own evidence in parliament.

"If we can't show clips then after the debate we will show them on stages in different provinces that are not under a state of emergency," Puea Thai spokesman Prompong Nopparit said over the weekend.

The government lifted a night-time curfew on Saturday, saying the situation was returning to normal, but it left in place emergency rule across more than one third of the country, including Bangkok.

Abhisit banned public gatherings of more than five people and gave broad powers to police and military under the state of emergency invoked on April 7 after Red Shirts occupied a commercial district and stormed parliament.

-- ©Copyright AFP 2010-05-31

Published with written approval from AFP.

[newsfooter][/newsfooter]

[pedro01]

Some of the things being said in this debate are just plain stupid.

On Apr 10 PM "requested return of occupied area", Sunai says, "just like Hitler requested return of (economic) area from Jews

These comparisons of people to Hitler are quite ridiculous and a sign of immaturity on the behalf of the accusers. Is this what passes off as debate here ?

Anyone with a balanced view will know these comparisons are both unfair and inflammatory. It is sad that Thailand has people making such comments in positions of power. Can you imagine the furore if such comments were made in parliament in any developed nation ?

In Thailand, it's just par for the course. It is very sad indeed.

[hammered]

The censure debate is nothing about establishing what happened. It is just about spin. Waste of time watching it or listening to any of the nonsense either

[sgtpeppers]

Abhisit is starting to sound like a clown with his pathetic excuses and inability to take responsibility.

[webfact]

Abhisit insists govt sought reconciliation with protesters

BANGKOK: -- Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva insisted Monday that his government wants to create reconciliation with the red-shirt protesters and had no intention to break up the demonstration at the Rajprasong Intersection.

Responding to allegations made by Pheu Thai MP Sunai Jullapongsathorn that his government was similar to the past dictatorial regimes to deploy troops to crush protesters, Abhisit said the government had no intention to use force to suppress the protesters.

Abhsit said the operation to reclaim traffic space in the afternoon on April 10 did not cause any death.

Abhisit said mayhem broke out at night when terrorists fired M79 grenades at troops in the evening on April 10.

The prime minister said the government did not plan to break up the rally at Rajprasong where there were women and children but the government had to act against armed gunmen at the outer areas of the protest zone.

He said the government simply wanted to besiege the protesters at Rajprasong to convince them to disperse on their own.

Abhisit said the government did not regard that all protesters were terrorists.

-- The Nation 2010-05-31

[newsfooter][/newsfooter]

[Ulysses G.]

The PM bent over backwards to avoid violence, but the protesters refused to cooperate. The responsibility is on those who took over downtown, ruined thousands of businesses, refused to disperse when they were ordered to do so and then burned much of Bangkok to the ground.

[atyclb]

"During the censure debate, the main opposition Puea Thai party is expected to demand answers from Abhisit's administration on why it sent armed soldiers -- instead of riot police -- to restore order in the protest-hit capital."

For starters; police were largely on Thaksin's payroll.

Are rubber bullet equipped soldiers not allowed to switch to live rounds if they are being fired upon?

Abjisit has my respect and sympathy, a bright well educated guy up against a mountain of irrationality.

[sgtpeppers]

The PM bent over backwards to avoid violence, but the protesters refused to cooperate.

Newsflash: Killing 80+ people isn't exactly "bending over backwards to avoid violence".

[Ulysses G.]

Newsflash: Over a TWO MONTH period of civil disorder it is.

Edited May 31, 2010 by Ulysses G.

[sgtpeppers]

Newsflash; Over a TWO MONTH period it is.

Maybe its just me, but putting a time limit on the value of a human life like that is unacceptable.

[ozzieman05]

Abhisit is starting to sound like a clown with his pathetic excuses and inability to take responsibility.

This is what we would expect from Thaskin disciples

[Ulysses G.]

You are right. Anyone who wants to should be able to commit complete anarchy and ruin other peoples businesses and lives and destroy BTS stations and fire rifles and grenade launchers and do whatever they want with no repercussions - wouldn't want to be a killjoy.

Edited May 31, 2010 by Ulysses G.

[chaoyang]

It's a tough one.

* A mob takes over part of the city and basically says it will never go away unless it gets everything it wants.

* An extremist member member (Seh Daeng) is assassinated and his still-breathing corpse is charged with terrorism.

* Finally the army moves in with live ammunition and 80+ civilians are killed.

* After the group is fired on by the army of its own country, some members apparently torch highly valuable properties.

Ya, there are a few human rights violations in there, but then Abhisit tried every other means and showed a great deal of patience (either that of the army refused to move earlier).

If a group had taken and terrorized Times Square in New York, the US National Guard would have opened fire after about the second day, not the 60th, but then in "free" America, protesters wouldn't have been able to pull off what the Reds did in BKK. They would have been shot before the barricades ever got up.

[Insight]

Newsflash; Over a TWO MONTH period it is.

Maybe its just me, but putting a time limit on the value of a human life like that is unacceptable.

There was no "time limit". The govt, along with the entire country, realised that the red shirt leaders could not be reasoned with. Senators even made a very early trip to the camp one last time to try and talk some sense into them but to no avail.

You know this though.

[ChangMaiSausage]

peppers your talking out of your ass.

Quote: Abhisit is starting to sound like a clown with his pathetic excuses and inability to take responsibility

I thought this is what he did, it's all of the hicks who are unable to take responsibility and accept responsibility.

No matter who take sover the Thai PM role there will be one party or another who is not happy.

[givenall]

The censure debate is nothing about establishing what happened. It is just about spin. Waste of time watching it or listening to any of the nonsense either

The international news are always biased toward what it could be done better, so they focus on the bad things that has happened. If they don’t they do not sell their news which is focused on sensationalism.

As far as me a one of the witness to the whole situation, Ahbisit was too slow to act and he give the Red Shirt all opportunities to compromise, but the fact is their objective was not democracy and they were set from the beginning to start a civil was in Thailand. As the evidences shows, all the weapons and explosive they had accumulated in the Ratchaprasong area.

My advice to Ahbisit is to listen to the media with a grain of salt and do the right thing. Start by creating a better police force, one everyone can count on not just the gangs

[chuang]

Thai PM defends crackdown ahead of censure debate

BANGKOK (AFP) -- Thailand's premier on Monday defended a deadly army crackdown on anti-government protesters as he prepared for a grilling in parliament on his handling of the crisis.

"The government and army had no intention to attack people," Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said ahead of the two-day no confidence debate.

[newsfooter][/newsfooter]

"The government and army hand no intention to attack people " but had the intention to shoot and killed....and many civilians were shot in the back....

[monkfish]

Here are videos from the conference Abhisit gave to foreign diplomats on saturday.

At points in the video the signal is lost.

Edited May 31, 2010 by monkfish

[gl9999]

Abhisit is starting to sound like a clown with his pathetic excuses and inability to take responsibility.

And when are the Red Shirts going to take responsibility for burning down our city? It's so hypocritical of Pheu Thai to attack the Prime Minister when one of their own was right out there inciting the riots.

Most of the 80 killed were killed trying to violently overthrow the government. Just because they call themselves 'peaceful protesters' doesn't make it so. They got what was coming to them.

[gl9999]

Newsflash; Over a TWO MONTH period it is.

Maybe its just me, but putting a time limit on the value of a human life like that is unacceptable.

If 'peaceful protesters' want to live, they shouldn't be packing assault rifles and grenade launchers.

Duh.

[Moruya]

The PM bent over backwards to avoid violence, but the protesters refused to cooperate.

Newsflash: Killing 80+ people isn't exactly "bending over backwards to avoid violence".

It's just a couple of days road kill here

[jdinasia]

Abhisit is starting to sound like a clown with his pathetic excuses and inability to take responsibility.

Please share with us your sources that show what you claim are pathetic excuses and inability to take responsibility. Maybe something different is being shown in France that you can share with those of us here in Thailand!

[jonclark]

Some of the things being said in this debate are just plain stupid.

On Apr 10 PM "requested return of occupied area", Sunai says, "just like Hitler requested return of (economic) area from Jews

These comparisons of people to Hitler are quite ridiculous and a sign of immaturity on the behalf of the accusers. Is this what passes off as debate here ?

Anyone with a balanced view will know these comparisons are both unfair and inflammatory. It is sad that Thailand has people making such comments in positions of power. Can you imagine the furore if such comments were made in parliament in any developed nation ?

In Thailand, it's just par for the course. It is very sad indeed.

The opposition should be thankful he isn't like Hitler otherwise it would be off to the gas chamber with all PTP MP's, and if they think Hitler would sit down and talk about reconcilliation and / or allow a censure debate on his leadership they are clearly mad, or obviously taking direction form someone who is mad. The 'hitler' reference is clearly there to garner support or sympathy for the reds from a western audience. Since when did Thais use western figures to cross reference and compare Thai figures, unless it is for a wider audience that has little understanding of the complexities of the politics and only see the spin. PTP MP's talking out their fat, well paid backsides.

[jdinasia]

The PM bent over backwards to avoid violence, but the protesters refused to cooperate.

Newsflash: Killing 80+ people isn't exactly "bending over backwards to avoid violence".

Newsflash --- The protesters were ARMED. The protesters KILLED people. Of the 88 killed we do not at the moment know how many were killed by the protesters. The protest leaders CONSTANTLY threatened violence.

When people join an armed insurrection and then attack static security forces (forces that were NOT closing in on the main protest site, and were only creating a perimeter) then the blame ONLY lies with the protesters.

Individual deaths that it can be determined were caused by security forces violating orders should be dealt with individually.

Maybe in France they have already proven who caused each death, including those on April 10th that were shot from INSIDE red controlled area where there were no governent troops.

[473geo]

How would they fill their time, and vent their angst, without you sgtpeppers....

[BLUEEYEDTHAI]

Abhisit is starting to sound like a clown with his pathetic excuses and inability to take responsibility.

Please share with us your sources that show what you claim are pathetic excuses and inability to take responsibility. Maybe something different is being shown in France that you can share with those of us here in Thailand!

Oh, he's from France then, that explains everything.

[jdinasia]

Thai PM defends crackdown ahead of censure debate

BANGKOK (AFP) -- Thailand's premier on Monday defended a deadly army crackdown on anti-government protesters as he prepared for a grilling in parliament on his handling of the crisis.

"The government and army had no intention to attack people," Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said ahead of the two-day no confidence debate.

[newsfooter][/newsfooter]

"The government and army hand no intention to attack people " but had the intention to shoot and killed....and many civilians were shot in the back....

Shot in the back most likely by redshirts.

[Thai at Heart]

Some of the things being said in this debate are just plain stupid.

On Apr 10 PM "requested return of occupied area", Sunai says, "just like Hitler requested return of (economic) area from Jews

These comparisons of people to Hitler are quite ridiculous and a sign of immaturity on the behalf of the accusers. Is this what passes off as debate here ?

Anyone with a balanced view will know these comparisons are both unfair and inflammatory. It is sad that Thailand has people making such comments in positions of power. Can you imagine the furore if such comments were made in parliament in any developed nation ?

In Thailand, it's just par for the course. It is very sad indeed.

The opposition should be thankful he isn't like Hitler otherwise it would be off to the gas chamber with all PTP MP's, and if they think Hitler would sit down and talk about reconcilliation and / or allow a censure debate on his leadership they are clearly mad, or obviously taking direction form someone who is mad. The 'hitler' reference is clearly there to garner support or sympathy for the reds from a western audience. Since when did Thais use western figures to cross reference and compare Thai figures, unless it is for a wider audience that has little understanding of the complexities of the politics and only see the spin. PTP MP's talking out their fat, well paid backsides.

Whenever reference is made to Western or "outside" Thailand political personalities, the references are normally nonsense. Vis a vis the red leader wearing a Ghandi T-shirt, or people here likening the reds to the civil rights movement and Martin Luther King in the US.

History or political history isn't a strong point in Thailand, hence why it appears ok to have an illegal protests and attempt and sometimes succeed to overthrow governments. Understanding real political sacrifice doesn't extend much beyond sitting in the sun for a long time when it comes to doing it Thai style.

[chadintheusa]

Does anyone know the international standards for evicting a large mob of criminals from a barricaded section of a major city? What is done in the UK or the USA when armed terrorists occupy the streets and attack security forces? Suggesting that there is a standard method for dealing with the Thai crisis is ridiculous, when has a similar event happened anywhere else?