Mum To Sue Thai Govt Over Daughter's Death

[webfact]

Mum to sue govt over daughter's death

By Pongphon Sarnsamak

The Nation

Grieving families of those slain in temple 'safe zone' still seek answers a year later

Almost a year since her precious daughter died during the bloody crackdown on May 19 last year, Phayao Akkahad, mother of nurse Kamolkate who was killed at Wat Pathum Wanaram, will this week file a civil lawsuit against the government. It will ask the court to order relevant agencies to provide more evidence to reveal the truth behind who and what killed her daughter.

" I have only a half of an autopsy report on my daughter and I will use it as evidence to file the lawsuit before the court to get justice for my daughter," Phayao said.

"It was difficult for me to collect evidence related her death. It has been totally destroyed during the past year," the 46year old mother added.

On May 19 last year, during the military crackdown on redshirt protesters at Ratchaprasong intersection and nearby areas, Kamolkate was shot while helping people inside a medical tent at Wat Prathum Wanaram. Eyewitness Narongsak Singmae, who was shot in the leg while inside the temple on the same night, said the trajectory of the bullet that hit him was from the elevated Skytrain line.

Kittichai Khangkhan, a 43year old Khon Kaen resident dodging the bullets inside Wat Prathum Wanaram, said he saw a group of men wearing jackets that looked like soldiers' uniforms on the Skytrain railway line in front of the temple and that the men fired at people in the supposed "safe zone" at 6pm on May 19.

Two video clips, which had been presented by opposition Pheu Thai MP Worawat Uapinyakul during the no confidence debate in Parliament last year, also showed a group of soldiers on the Skytrain tracks and people taking refuge inside the temple amid the sound of gunfire.

Additionally, a human rights report, the socalled "Descent into Chaos : Thailand's 2010 Redshirt Protesters and the Government Crackdown" by New Yorkbased Human Rights Watch, claims that on May 19, the Thai government mobilised troops from regular and Special Forces units, with support from armoured personnel carriers, to break down the DAAD barricades around Ratchaprasong camp.

Some soldiers fired live ammunition at unarmed protesters, medic volunteers, and journalists behind the barricades. Human Rights Watch found that soldiers fatally shot at least four people, including a medic volunteer treating the wounded, in or near Bangkok's Wat Prathum Wanaram, where thousands of protesters sought refuge after their leaders surrendered to the authorities, according to the 139page report.

An investigation into the deaths inside the temple has been conducted by the Department of Special Investigation and a medical team from the Police General Hospital. It studied the autopsy report into Kamolkate's death but no results have been released by the authorities.

"That was why I need a court's jurisdiction to order relevant agencies to give me a clue and evidence to find the truth and bring justice for my daughter," Phayao said.

Phayao has filed complaints with several state agencies including the National Police Office and National AntiCorruption Commission Office - to conduct another investigation into her daughter's death, but no agency has responded.

Meanwhile, Pansak Srithep, whose 17yearold son Samaphan Srithep was killed on May 15 at Soi Rang Nam, said he would also file a civil lawsuit asking for compensation from the government.

"Will the government take any responsibility for my son's death as he was killed during a military operation on May 15 ?" he asked, saying he would take legal action against the government.

"I am now waiting for the right time to achieve justice for my son," he said.

A police officer - who wanted to be unnamed as he had conducted an investigation into the deaths in Soi Rang Nam and nearby areas - said during the past year he had tried to collect more evidence, especially from military officers on the Army operation and crackdown on protesters. But only a few persons had cooperated with him.

-- The Nation 2011-05-18

[ianf]

Justice = money.

That's Thailand!

[HaleySabai]

Good Luck getting blood from a crab..... That's what the Thai's say!!

You don't live in a democracy. The torrents of raw and violent tribalism where might is right is the controlling under-currents here. Chok-Dee,Krup!

[tartempion]

On May 19 last year, during the military crackdown on redshirt protesters at Ratchaprasong intersection and nearby areas, Kamolkate was shot while helping people inside a medical tent at Wat Prathum Wanaram. Eyewitness Narongsak Singmae, who was shot in the leg while inside the temple on the same night, said the trajectory of the bullet that hit him was from the elevated Skytrain line.

It is sad the truth will never see the light

[ginjag]

Good Luck getting blood from a crab..... That's what the Thai's say!!

You don't live in a democracy. The torrents of raw and violent tribalism where might is right is the controlling under-currents here. Chok-Dee,Krup!

If proven beyond doubt, then the powers that be((((( ARMY)))) pay up.

But there are thousands out there who don't get 1 Baht, war on drugs-families of the dead- and half the accidents in Thailand-yes-because of no control, no laws applied to prevent. The driving test here is a joke, half would not die if they had proper testing-tuition- So to my mind the government is responsible for these and many other examples.

[pisico]

On May 19 last year, during the military crackdown on redshirt protesters at Ratchaprasong intersection and nearby areas, Kamolkate was shot while helping people inside a medical tent at Wat Prathum Wanaram. Eyewitness Narongsak Singmae, who was shot in the leg while inside the temple on the same night, said the trajectory of the bullet that hit him was from the elevated Skytrain line.

It is sad the truth will never see the light

Just one more coincidence

[Suradit]

Justice = money.

That's Thailand!

Undeniably true, but name one country where the law treats the wealthy & powerful the same as the poor & marginal.And in the so called developed western world the divide between the rich and the poor is widening.

Just as one high profile example, think of all the people whose lives have been ruined irreparably by the US Gulf oil spill disaster compared to the consequences for those responsible, the executives of TransOcean or BP who were still paid millions for their "fine work," while others will probably have to wait decades for some sort of inadequate compensation.

Transocean had a great safety record in 2010, oh, apart from the Deepwater Horizon rig, (which it manufactured) and which unfortunately exploded, causing the death of 11 workers and the US' largest oil spill.

With a seeming deaf ear, Transocean gave its top executives bonuses for its excellent safety record in 2010, according to the Proxy filing it made last week:

"notwithstanding the tragic loss of life in the Gulf of Mexico, we achieved an exemplary statistical safety record as measured by our total recordable incident rate and total potential severity rate. As measured by these standards, we recorded the best year in safety performance in our Company's history."

Access to justice or the avoidance of it depends more on who you are than where you happen to be living.

Edited May 18, 2011 by Suradit