Suthep Hands In Red Shirt Crackdown Documents To Police

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Suthep hands in Red Shirt crackdown documents to police

BANGKOK, Dec 14 - Thailand's former deputy prime minister Suthep Thaugsuban on Wednesday submitted documents and video footage concerning the then government's security operations against Red Shirt protesters which claimed 16 lives last year, while saying he can "get over it" if criminal offence is filed against him.

Mr Suthep, ex-deputy premier who supervised national security during the Abhisit Vejjajiva administration and directed the Centre for the Resolution of the Emergency Situation (CRES), testified to police investigators for the second time after his first testimony on Dec 8.

Former prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva testified to police on Dec 9.

The police summoned Mr Suthep and Democrat Party leader Abhisit after witnesses testified that 16 persons were killed during the security operation under the order of the CRES, the agency set up to handle the street protests mounted by the anti-government United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) during April and May, 2010 after a state of emergency was imposed to maintain law and order as demonstrations turned violent.

Mr Suthep said two sets of documents, both papers, pictures and video clips, were given to the investigators today, one on the May 13, 2010 security operations and the other concerning the incidents on May 14, 16 and 19, 2010.

The information would shed light on how the CRES handled the situation and the submitted clips were collected from both local and foreign media, said the Democrat MP for Surat Thani.

When asked if he's worried for possible criminal charges, the former CRES chief said he is prepared for that, while pledging that the orders on security operations were lawful under the emergency decree which provides immunity for officials handling the situation.

"Some groups are trying to distort facts and write a new history. Most persons now holding power were once involved in the violent protests," Mr Suthep stated, saying he was not overly-worried as Thailand is "a democratic society adhering to the rule of law. I'm confident in the judicial process." (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2011-12-14