Terrorism Charges Against Red Shirts Were 'Inflated', Police, Public Prosecutors Claim

[webfact]

Charges against red shirts were 'inflated'

By The Nation

Police, public prosecutors claim they were forced to file terrorism charges

Police investigators and public prosecutors claim they were pressured by policy-makers to file terrorism charges against red-shirt demonstrators last year despite a lack of solid evidence, the Truth for Reconciliation Commission (TRC) said yesterday.

It was unveiling the draft of its second report to be submitted later to the government of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra.

Somchai Hom-laor, chairman of the TRC's fact-finding subcommittee, said many charges had been inflated and 53 red shirts now faced accusations of arson and terrorism, carrying a maximum penalty of death.

He said police investigators and public prosecutors admitted to being pressured by the Abhisit Vejjajiva government's policy-makers to inflate the charges and they had ended up filing "indiscriminate" charges against red-shirt demonstrators.

"The feeling of the [red-shirt] demonstrators is that they are victims of a one-sided judicial process while state officers who have committed crimes to a greater or lesser extent are not being put through the judicial process," Somchai said.

The TRC's chairman of the subcommittee on care, rehabilitation and prevention of violence, Ronnachai Kongsakon, proposed that an independent body handle the long-term challenge of caring for and rehabilitating those affected by the April-May protests and clashes that ended with 92 deaths, 2,000 injuries and many buildings burned.

He said many people, civilians and non-civilians, still suffered from the trauma of the incidents. Many have yet to be properly cared for or compensated.

Ronnachai said 643 people and organisations were still seeking compensation, including schools such as Pathumwanaram Temple School. About Bt300,000 worth of electricity and water bills are unpaid and 105 red shirts remain detained without bail. Ten detainees have developed severe stress, with two exhibiting suicidal tendencies.

Ronnachai made an eight-point recommendation including the psychological and physical rehabilitation of people on all sides, and the setting up of an ad hoc organisation to distribute compensation money and other forms of assistance in a systematic fashion. Those especially in need are relatives of poor detained red shirts who have to seek money from loan sharks.

The subcommittee also proposed publicising what happened last year and sending it to all those affected to foster forgiveness and reconciliation. Commemoration, for all sides, should also be organised.

Another proposal was urgent assistance of red shirts suffering from stress, depression and suicidal tendencies. The government should speed up guaranteeing bail to those who may have been detained on flimsy evidence.

An independent body should also be set up to act as mediator for future political conflicts, the subcommittee concluded.

TRC chairman Kanit na Nakorn meanwhile said a proposal to remove the chief of the Department of Special Investigation, Tharit Pengdit, was a political decision for the new government and would not affect the reconciliation process, since the DSI was only involved in investigating.

He said the TRC would continue its work despite having been set up by the previous government and would soon submit its second report to the new government.

Kanit was asked whether the 13 deaths initially concluded by the DSI as having been caused by security officers needed to be reinvestigated, since some witnesses had backtracked on their accounts.

Kanit said there would be a concrete proposal on the matter when the second report is submitted.

-- The Nation 2011-08-12

[random]

At last, the truth is starting to emerge, many of us already knew this but the blinkered few on here still believed otherwise, and no doubt will go on believing otherwise.

[mca]

I'm confused. Reading TVF I thought the Dems were squeaky clean in everything they do. My bad.

[hagler]

uuuhhh huuhhhhh. nothing surprising here.

[scorecard]

I'm confused. Reading TVF I thought the Dems were squeaky clean in everything they do. My bad.

Who said that? Please share.

What you are really trying to say is those who are opposed to the paymaster and his thugs also believe that the dems are totally clean. Same old stuff, if your not red you therefore must be yellow.

It's been said a million times, but here we go again; many who dislike the paymaster and his antics have negative or at least some negatives opinions about the dem government and their coalition partners.

Anybody who give all of this some logical thought knows that it's not just black or white.

Edited August 12, 2011 by scorecard

[pisico]

I'm confused. Reading TVF I thought the Dems were squeaky clean in everything they do. My bad.

Yes, Dems, progressives and liberals are squeaky clean... in their own minds.

To those people, what' is good for them, the elite and the "powers that were", is what has to be good for the country.

One can see that even here, a forum of foreigners, the "usual suspects" resort to insults, intimidation, epithets and condescending comments to silence those who do not share their views.

It comes to no surprise that in a climate of openness (after a truly democratically administration was elected) these details about inflated charges of terrorism will continue surfacing.

Expected from an administration made possible by the military.

Nevertheless, rabid fanatical people will say that it is OK to punish the Reds because they are so bad and uneducated.

These are the same individuals that resent Yingluck because she was elected by the uneducated Thais.

They will label anyone a Red and/or a Thaksin supporter when one dislikes with the perfection of their idol and leader of their hearts: Abhisit.

Thailand is the lovely country of Thais, not ours.

Just because a person was born in a developed country (and retired in Thailand) does not mean that person is superior to Thais: different yes, not superior.

.

[Thailand]

I guess those that were involved in forcing the authorities in to filing false/inflated charges will now no doubt be charged themselves?

Encouraging "setting up" persons with false charges is probably illegal! Or will parliamentary privilege hold sway?

[mca]

I'm confused. Reading TVF I thought the Dems were squeaky clean in everything they do. My bad.

Who said that? Please share.

Interpretation not literal of course.

[jonclark]

Lets hope there's not a coup soon or the TRC will do another political U turn to save tits own backsides. Truth and Reconciliation has nothing to do with this. It's just having the view of those in power forced on you as the truth.

Wait for it.TRC announces..Army ordered to shoot own soldiers and bomb sky train stations, Army ordered to burn down Center One, Central World and Bangkok Bank on Rama 4 by an invisible hand.

Shift the blame, avoid the truth, close the book and get the noses back in the trough. That is and always has been the remit of the TRC under the Abhisit and now the Yingluck Governments.

Yingluck cannot afford having members of PTP being implicated in the arson and looting of Bangkok no matter how minor (remember the boss wants a clean government) so the notion that PTP will allow the TRC to find the reds responsible is laughable, just as laughable as if the Dems would allow the TRC to find the army at fault.

Today we see the softening up of the public, incremental releases of information that gently 're-educates' the populace until a complete 180^o turn has been achieved. At which point the TRC no longer becomes relevant.

[Thai at Heart]

Once again, the legal system is politicised. This is the single biggest issue in the country, be it 6 to 5 with Thaksin's hiding his assets, or coups where wrongdoing is instantly wiped away. I know that we harp on about other countries not being relevant, but it has been very interesting to see the discussion going on between the politicians and the police in the UK during the riots. At the end of the day, the police are saying, we know best, and we will handle this as WE see fit, not how a politician of the day tells us to handle it.

Comparing this with the creation of the CRES who basically could suspend normal governmental operation if they wanted to shows how different countries handle these issues. The major difference is that the accountability for actions in one instance is clearly defined, and in the situation of Thailand, it becomes extremely confused very quickly. No admits anything, no one apparently is responsible, and a huge feeling of injustice is allowed to fester.

People can lean on the courts to get the result they want be it red or yellow, TRT or Dem, depending on who is in the box seat on a given day.

I wonder if Thailand will ever go to trial by jury and a form of precedent law.

[KhunBJ]

""Police investigators and public prosecutors claim they were pressured by policy-makers to file terrorism charges against red-shirt demonstrators last year despite a lack of solid evidence, the Truth for Reconciliation Commission (TRC) said yesterday.""

Maybe Abhisit and Sutthep were so naive that they thought they would remain in power forever so no one would ever find out ? There is probably a lot more interesting stuff hidden under the carpets...

[Thraz]

When or if Democrats return to power someday, you will read the following: ""Police investigators and public prosecutors claim they were pressured by policy-makers to stop filing terrorism charges against red-shirt demonstrators despite plentiful of solid evidence, the Truth for Reconciliation Commission (TRC) said yesterday."" And maybe you are so naive to hope to know all the truth about everything.

Edited August 12, 2011 by Thraz

[mic6ard]

It really sickens me to read about this type of stuff. Especially all the U-turns that have been going on regarding the fugitive Ex-PM. He got the German to sing to his tune, let's see what Japan can do. Are they going to deemed him legible for a visa?

I'm not even Thai system, WOW talking about a U-turn,

Wonder what will happen now, will there be an uprising? or is this a way to get a amnesty clause through.

Of course historical record is written by the victor, but in this case, will there be one soon?

Totally FUBARed.

[brianb1944]

I'm confused. Reading TVF I thought the Dems were squeaky clean in everything they do. My bad.

Yes, Dems, progressives and liberals are squeaky clean... in their own minds.

To those people, what' is good for them, the elite and the "powers that were", is what has to be good for the country.

One can see that even here, a forum of foreigners, the "usual suspects" resort to insults, intimidation, epithets and condescending comments to silence those who do not share their views.

It comes to no surprise that in a climate of openness (after a truly democratically administration was elected) these details about inflated charges of terrorism will continue surfacing.

Expected from an administration made possible by the military.

Nevertheless, rabid fanatical people will say that it is OK to punish the Reds because they are so bad and uneducated.

These are the same individuals that resent Yingluck because she was elected by the uneducated Thais.

They will label anyone a Red and/or a Thaksin supporter when one dislikes with the perfection of their idol and leader of their hearts: Abhisit.

Thailand is the lovely country of Thais, not ours.

Just because a person was born in a developed country (and retired in Thailand) does not mean that person is superior to Thais: different yes, not superior.

.

Perhaps the officers involves realise who is now paying their wages and have testified accordingly.

[brianb1944]

When or if Democrats return to power someday, you will read the following: ""Police investigators and public prosecutors claim they were pressured by policy-makers to stop filing terrorism charges against red-shirt demonstrators despite plentiful of solid evidence, the Truth for Reconciliation Commission (TRC) said yesterday."" And maybe you are so naive to hope to know all the truth about everything.

Right on, he (she) who pays the piper calls the tune

[Crushdepth]

Is anyone surprised to find that public officials have no independence or integrity? The only question here is whether they were lying under the former government, or whether they are lying under this one.

[ozziebloke]

I'm confused. Reading TVF I thought the Dems were squeaky clean in everything they do. My bad.

Yes, Dems, progressives and liberals are squeaky clean... in their own minds.

To those people, what' is good for them, the elite and the "powers that were", is what has to be good for the country.

One can see that even here, a forum of foreigners, the "usual suspects" resort to insults, intimidation, epithets and condescending comments to silence those who do not share their views.

It comes to no surprise that in a climate of openness (after a truly democratically administration was elected) these details about inflated charges of terrorism will continue surfacing.

Expected from an administration made possible by the military.

Nevertheless, rabid fanatical people will say that it is OK to punish the Reds because they are so bad and uneducated.

These are the same individuals that resent Yingluck because she was elected by the uneducated Thais.

They will label anyone a Red and/or a Thaksin supporter when one dislikes with the perfection of their idol and leader of their hearts: Abhisit.

Thailand is the lovely country of Thais, not ours.

Just because a person was born in a developed country (and retired in Thailand) does not mean that person is superior to Thais: different yes, not superior.

.

Well said

[Thaddeus]

Is anyone surprised to find that public officials have no independence or integrity? The only question here is whether they were lying under the former government, or whether they are lying under this one.

Or both.

[SomTumTiger]

I'm confused. Reading TVF I thought the Dems were squeaky clean in everything they do. My bad.

Who said that? Please share.

Interpretation not literal of course.

Therein lies the fault.

[Crushdepth]

I'm confused. Reading TVF I thought the Dems were squeaky clean in everything they do. My bad.

Yes, Dems, progressives and liberals are squeaky clean... in their own minds.

To those people, what' is good for them, the elite and the "powers that were", is what has to be good for the country.

One can see that even here, a forum of foreigners, the "usual suspects" resort to insults, intimidation, epithets and condescending comments to silence those who do not share their views.

It comes to no surprise that in a climate of openness (after a truly democratically administration was elected) these details about inflated charges of terrorism will continue surfacing.

Expected from an administration made possible by the military.

Nevertheless, rabid fanatical people will say that it is OK to punish the Reds because they are so bad and uneducated.

These are the same individuals that resent Yingluck because she was elected by the uneducated Thais.

They will label anyone a Red and/or a Thaksin supporter when one dislikes with the perfection of their idol and leader of their hearts: Abhisit.

Thailand is the lovely country of Thais, not ours.

Just because a person was born in a developed country (and retired in Thailand) does not mean that person is superior to Thais: different yes, not superior.

.

Actually it's people like you that keep going on about this 'uneducated' and 'superior' rubbish.

[whybother]

OK, so they're saying they shouldn't have been charged with terrorism. What should they have been charged with then? Surely they're not innocent of everything.

[hbullinger]

Now the big whitewash has truly began. So when Jatuporn and his disciples occupy Ratchaprasong the next time, don't be surprised to see them all turning up in sparkling white shirts.

[whatsupdoc]

I'm confused. Reading TVF I thought the Dems were squeaky clean in everything they do. My bad.

Yes, Dems, progressives and liberals are squeaky clean... in their own minds.

To those people, what' is good for them, the elite and the "powers that were", is what has to be good for the country.

One can see that even here, a forum of foreigners, the "usual suspects" resort to insults, intimidation, epithets and condescending comments to silence those who do not share their views.

It comes to no surprise that in a climate of openness (after a truly democratically administration was elected) these details about inflated charges of terrorism will continue surfacing.

Expected from an administration made possible by the military.

Nevertheless, rabid fanatical people will say that it is OK to punish the Reds because they are so bad and uneducated.

These are the same individuals that resent Yingluck because she was elected by the uneducated Thais.

They will label anyone a Red and/or a Thaksin supporter when one dislikes with the perfection of their idol and leader of their hearts: Abhisit.

Thailand is the lovely country of Thais, not ours.

Just because a person was born in a developed country (and retired in Thailand) does not mean that person is superior to Thais: different yes, not superior.

.

Actually it's people like you that keep going on about this 'uneducated' and 'superior' rubbish.

[Nisa]

Were they pressured to file the charges or being pressured now to drop the charges?????????????????????????????????

[Gary A]

Has anyone ever given any thought to why the many countries that Thaksin visited refused the Thai government requests to extradite him?

Interpol was and is of the opinion that it was politically motivated. HMMMMMMM!

If all Thai politicians were investigated the way Thaksin was investigated, there wouldn't be enough politicians from all the parties to form a government.

[siampolee]

Any entrepreneurial types out there ?

I'm seeking a partner for the next boom industry here in Thailand.

Invest in Le Blanco It Turns Red To White.

We are specialists in the supply of large paint brushes and paint rollers along with the supply of unlimited whitewash to politicians past and current assorted government agencies and private and public individuals from leading politicians to village headmen.

We also supply deodorization products designed to remove the lingering aroma of male bovine solid waste fecal matter, the aroma of deceased rodents and piscis carcasses

This is your chance to make gazillions tax free in the new upcoming fasr growing WHITEWASHING INDUSTRY here in Thailand.

Approved, endorsed and sponsored by the new government..

Le Blanco It Turns Red To White

Edited August 12, 2011 by siampolee

[thaicbr]

Has anyone ever given any thought to why the many countries that Thaksin visited refused the Thai government requests to extradite him?

Interpol was and is of the opinion that it was politically motivated. HMMMMMMM!

If all Thai politicians were investigated the way Thaksin was investigated, there wouldn't be enough politicians from all the parties to form a government.

Hey THAT may be a good idea... but then they get banned....... and their son, daughter, sister, brother or wife becomes an MP and wins because of who the father..... or brother is.

[Bakseedaa]

At last, the truth is starting to emerge, many of us already knew this but the blinkered few on here still believed otherwise, and no doubt will go on believing otherwise.

It was these same policemen, who turned a blind eye to the Red Shirts in the first place and allowed them to set up their fortress in Bangkok... Thaksin was a policeman and many of his comrades owe him Big Time... What about all the law abiding citizens who lost their jobs/businesses due to those unlawful Red Shirts and their unlawful protest..! At least Yinluck had the sense to Snub them from any cabinet posts.. seems she could not find one who knew a word longer than 3 letters long..!

[ib1b4]

Any entrepreneurial types out there ?

I'm seeking a partner for the next boom industry here in Thailand.

Invest in Le Blanco It Turns Red To White.

We are specialists in the supply of large paint brushes and paint rollers along with the supply of unlimited whitewash to politicians past and current assorted government agencies and private and public individuals from leading politicians to village headmen.

We also supply deodorization products designed to remove the lingering aroma of male bovine solid waste fecal matter, the aroma of deceased rodents and piscis carcasses

This is your chance to make gazillions tax free in the new upcoming fasr growing WHITEWASHING INDUSTRY here in Thailand.

Approved, endorsed and sponsored by the new government..

Le Blanco It Turns Red To White

Yes I have looked into the business opertunity you are now offering ,but I found out it would be breaking patent laws ,its all been done already and too much compertition. sorry. Edited August 12, 2011 by ib1b4

[Colin Yai]

Once again, the legal system is politicised. This is the single biggest issue in the country, be it 6 to 5 with Thaksin's hiding his assets, or coups where wrongdoing is instantly wiped away. I know that we harp on about other countries not being relevant, but it has been very interesting to see the discussion going on between the politicians and the police in the UK during the riots. At the end of the day, the police are saying, we know best, and we will handle this as WE see fit, not how a politician of the day tells us to handle it.

Comparing this with the creation of the CRES who basically could suspend normal governmental operation if they wanted to shows how different countries handle these issues. The major difference is that the accountability for actions in one instance is clearly defined, and in the situation of Thailand, it becomes extremely confused very quickly. No admits anything, no one apparently is responsible, and a huge feeling of injustice is allowed to fester.

People can lean on the courts to get the result they want be it red or yellow, TRT or Dem, depending on who is in the box seat on a given day.

I wonder if Thailand will ever go to trial by jury and a form of precedent law.

Have you never heard of "jury tampering" I read this was one of Al Capones specialty s, here in Thailand it would be "babys work" to either threaten or "sugar the jury" to give the "right decision" ,