Govt slammed for not providing justice to victims of crackdown

Piyanuch Thamnukasetchai

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The People's Information Centre (PIC) has attacked the government and other relevant agencies for doing little to deliver justice to victims of the April-May 2010 crackdown.

PIC released a statement earlier this week demanding that the government, the ruling Pheu Thai Party, the Democratic Alliance Against Dictatorship (DAAD), Truth for Reconciliation Commission of Thailand (TRCT) as well as the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) take immediate action in delivering justice.

Some 89 people died and thousands were injured in bloody incidents at the height of the political violence in 2010, but relevant authorities have yet to nail down the culprits.

"Justice has not been delivered yet and so far, not a single government official has been prosecuted for those deaths and injuries," the PIC said. What's worse is that there are signs that amnesty would be granted to those involved, the statement said.

The PIC added that though the courage of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra's government in compensating victims should be applauded, it was not enough.

"It will be a true betrayal if the government, the Pheu Thai Party and the DAAD follow Thaksin Shinawatra's suggestion that victims of the 2010 crackdown sacrifice their right to justice for the sake of reconciliation," the PIC said.

"No amnesty should be granted before the truth comes out and culprits are prosecuted."

The centre also lamented the fact that more than 40 red-shirt supporters were still behind bars - a clear sign that commoners are not treated as equal to yellow shirts, the conservatives and even the DAAD leaders.

As for the TRCT, the PIC said it should release a clear-cut report on the 2010 crackdown. The centre also criticised NHRC for never condemning the excessive use of force on April 10 and May 19, 2010.

"The NHRC should focus on who violated human rights, not on who will gain politically," the PIC said.

Meanwhile, Department of Special Investigation (DSI) chief Tarit Pengdith said yesterday that his agency had not yet given up on trying to find out who should be held accountable for the deaths and injuries in the crackdown.

"We are using all the means available to acquire more evidence, including satellite images," Tarit said. According to him, the DSI usually stops investigating cases if no progress is made in two years.

As for the victims, Tarit said the DSI had, at the very least, found evidence suggesting that security officials might have been responsible for at least 22 deaths, and has forwarded these cases to the Metropolitan Police Bureau.

"We have also found that some 12 deaths might have been caused by the DAAD because weapons used to kill these victims did not match the ones used by security officials," he said.

Security officials were among those killed.

-- The Nation 2012-05-19

"Justice has not been delivered yet and so far, not a single government official has been prosecuted for those deaths and injuries," the PIC said.

Government officials at the time acted legitimately, so should probably not be punished. Any protester that participated in those riots should be punished. What they were doing was illegal and they knew it.

"Justice has not been delivered yet and so far, not a single government official has been prosecuted for those deaths and injuries," the PIC said.

Government officials at the time acted legitimately, so should probably not be punished. Any protester that participated in those riots should be punished. What they were doing was illegal and they knew it.

If the yellow shirts were gunned down at the airport, the red shirts probably would not have needed to protest in the first place.

Double standards is their gripe, no?

The call for justice will never be met as you cannot bring someone back from the dead. The use of the words like justice and closure are just that words. Big T admits his part in the riots, the PM at the time and his deputy admit their part, does that really change anything.

"Justice has not been delivered yet and so far, not a single government official has been prosecuted for those deaths and injuries," the PIC said.

Government officials at the time acted legitimately, so should probably not be punished. Any protester that participated in those riots should be punished. What they were doing was illegal and they knew it.

If the yellow shirts were gunned down at the airport, the red shirts probably would not have needed to protest in the first place.

Double standards is their gripe, no?

If the Red Shirts were gunned down a full year and a half before the airport, the yellow shirts probably would not have needed to protest in the first place.

Double standards may be the Red Shirts gripe, but it's a false one.

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"Justice has not been delivered yet and so far, not a single government official has been prosecuted for those deaths and injuries," the PIC said.

Government officials at the time acted legitimately, so should probably not be punished. Any protester that participated in those riots should be punished. What they were doing was illegal and they knew it.

If the yellow shirts were gunned down at the airport, the red shirts probably would not have needed to protest in the first place.

Double standards is their gripe, no?

No there grip was Big Ts money.

Who were the victims besides those working for the government?

What about the protestors providing relief to the country? Has it already been forgotten that these people shut the country down for 7 weeks? My feeling is that if the government was guilty of anything, it was that they did not act sooner to put down the unrest. Democratic protests are one thing. Blocking major boulevards, and shutting down the capital is quite another, and should not be tolerated in any democracy. If anything the people are to account to the country. Not the government to the people!

When are they going to compensate all the people of Bangkok

who were inconvenienced and / or lost their jobs due to the

illegal protests held by the UDD?

The Yellow shirts would have been gunned down to if they had been stupid enough to open fire on the army.

They were only there for about ten days not two months. They did not invade a hospital or hold huge rallies urging their members to burn Bangkok down or negotiate in bad faith.

Like trying to compare apples to oranges.

The call for justice will never be met as you cannot bring someone back from the dead. The use of the words like justice and closure are just that words. Big T admits his part in the riots, the PM at the time and his deputy admit their part, does that really change anything.

And just where does big T say he paid for the event?

What about the protestors providing relief to the country? Has it already been forgotten that these people shut the country down for 7 weeks? My feeling is that if the government was guilty of anything, it was that they did not act sooner to put down the unrest. Democratic protests are one thing. Blocking major boulevards, and shutting down the capital is quite another, and should not be tolerated in any democracy. If anything the people are to account to the country. Not the government to the people!

The yellow shirt group can't win an election so they resort to Army coups, violence, propaganda, intimidation. They have robbed the country blind for decades and jail anyone that speaks up.

A bunch if privileged crybabies that are seeing their brutal grip on Thailand slip away.

Who were the victims besides those working for the government?

Who knows how many thousands of honest citizens were deprived of their lively hood while the red shirts partied on.

What about the protestors providing relief to the country? Has it already been forgotten that these people shut the country down for 7 weeks? My feeling is that if the government was guilty of anything, it was that they did not act sooner to put down the unrest. Democratic protests are one thing. Blocking major boulevards, and shutting down the capital is quite another, and should not be tolerated in any democracy. If anything the people are to account to the country. Not the government to the people!

The yellow shirt group can't win an election so they resort to Army coups, violence, propaganda, intimidation. They have robbed the country blind for decades and jail anyone that speaks up.

A bunch if privileged crybabies that are seeing their brutal grip on Thailand slip away.

Now you are making less sense than before first you say they can not win a election then you say they have a brutal grip on the country. Indeed you qualify for a life time membership in the red shirts organization.

The Yellow shirts would have been gunned down to if they had been stupid enough to open fire on the army.

They were only there for about ten days not two months. They did not invade a hospital or hold huge rallies urging their members to burn Bangkok down or negotiate in bad faith.

Like trying to compare apples to oranges.

Of course the yellow shirts don't shoot at the Army. The Army backs them.

The yellows do shoot at Police though. (and get away with it)

Do you know why they invaded that hospital?

Were there Army/Yellow snipers in there?

Closing down an airport is OK but closing down an intersection is not OK?

It is very obvious you get your news from The Nation.

Try reading some of the banned books about what is going on in Thailand. Just be careful not to get caught or the wonderful group you endorse will have you thrown in jail for 15 years.

Being ignorant is the safer choice...

What about the protestors providing relief to the country? Has it already been forgotten that these people shut the country down for 7 weeks? My feeling is that if the government was guilty of anything, it was that they did not act sooner to put down the unrest. Democratic protests are one thing. Blocking major boulevards, and shutting down the capital is quite another, and should not be tolerated in any democracy. If anything the people are to account to the country. Not the government to the people!

The yellow shirt group can't win an election so they resort to Army coups, violence, propaganda, intimidation. They have robbed the country blind for decades and jail anyone that speaks up.

A bunch if privileged crybabies that are seeing their brutal grip on Thailand slip away.

Careful Paul, we're yet to see the new "rulers" act any differently...

To me, it's pretty meaningless whether or not the various victims were killed by gunfire that can be linked to Army or police officers...

Of course some of them were. There was an illegal riot occurring, and had been occurring for weeks. Various acts of violence and other illegal acts had occurred. And there certainly was gunfire back and forth between the two sides.

The police and Army were there under orders from the government and enforcing the law. The demonstrators were there illegally and some/many were armed in various ways and engaging in violence.

Under those circumstances, I can't quite imagine how any legal proceeding could be brought against the Army or police.

Did some relatively innocent demonstrators die at the hands of the authorities? I'm sure they did. But unfortunately for them, they were mixed up in the middle of a giant illegality.

The only way I could see any legal case being brought against the police and Army is if it could be proved that they fired on demonstrators without legal orders and without provocation from the demonstrators. And in light of what had occurred all during that time, it would seem that's very unlikely to be the case.

The Yellow shirts would have been gunned down to if they had been stupid enough to open fire on the army.

They were only there for about ten days not two months. They did not invade a hospital or hold huge rallies urging their members to burn Bangkok down or negotiate in bad faith.

Like trying to compare apples to oranges.

Of course the yellow shirts don't shoot at the Army. The Army backs them.

The yellows do shoot at Police though. (and get away with it)

Do you know why they invaded that hospital?

Were there Army/Yellow snipers in there?

Closing down an airport is OK but closing down an intersection is not OK?

It is very obvious you get your news from The Nation.

Try reading some of the banned books about what is going on in Thailand. Just be careful not to get caught or the wonderful group you endorse will have you thrown in jail for 15 years.

Being ignorant is the safer choice...

Try reading some of the books about what is really going on in Thailand yu might not think quite so highly of your red shirt buddies. Your defense of your buddies is feeble. I hope for your sake you did not try to think it through logically.

What about the protestors providing relief to the country? Has it already been forgotten that these people shut the country down for 7 weeks? My feeling is that if the government was guilty of anything, it was that they did not act sooner to put down the unrest. Democratic protests are one thing. Blocking major boulevards, and shutting down the capital is quite another, and should not be tolerated in any democracy. If anything the people are to account to the country. Not the government to the people!

Your final sentence reads like something out of Mein Kampf

We'd all be lambs to the slaughter under this logic.

What part of "mysterious dark figures" can't everyone understand?

Edited May 19, 201214 yr by Curt1591

As far as their leaders are concerned, the dead served their purpose. They generated enough popular sympathy for PT and enough antipathy towards the Democrats to win the last election. If Thaksin can make a deal with the powers that be, they will probably be forgotten.

Closing down an airport is OK but closing down an intersection is not OK?

Being ignorant is the safer choice...

Closing down the intersection did not ignite the violence did it? Far from it!

The night after night grenade attacks on public and government buildings in Bangkok, the arson threats, the black shirts and their deadly showdown ,the invasion of a hospital created a society in a state of emergency!

Did you forget the Asean Summit invasion in Pattaya the year before, or the LPG tanker in the streets of Bangkok, or the radio host murder in Chiang Mai?

Closing down an airport, and not burn it down, was child's play compared to the red menace that hit Bangkok twice!

Edited May 19, 201214 yr by KireB

"No amnesty should be granted before the truth comes out and culprits are prosecuted."

The one who organized the protests / riots and the military weapons for use against authorities should be prosecuted. Casualties were part of his plan. Is it any wonder why he now wants a blanket amnesty?

What about the protestors providing relief to the country? Has it already been forgotten that these people shut the country down for 7 weeks? My feeling is that if the government was guilty of anything, it was that they did not act sooner to put down the unrest. Democratic protests are one thing. Blocking major boulevards, and shutting down the capital is quite another, and should not be tolerated in any democracy. If anything the people are to account to the country. Not the government to the people!

The yellow shirt group can't win an election so they resort to Army coups, violence, propaganda, intimidation. They have robbed the country blind for decades and jail anyone that speaks up.

A bunch if privileged crybabies that are seeing their brutal grip on Thailand slip away.

The "yellow shirt group" are not the same group as the old elites or the Democrat party. It's also not "Red vs. Yellow" anymore. I think this has been explained to you before. You appear to be somewhat senile.

Edited May 19, 201214 yr by hyperdimension

Who were the victims besides those working for the government?

Who knows how many thousands of honest citizens were deprived of their lively hood while the red shirts partied on.

Agree. I just find it shocking that some people can view those who took part in an armed siege of the city as victims. At the very minimum being part of the group that was armed and refused to leave when lawfully ordered to numerous times over numerous weeks, There are tons of victims but not these criminals who brought all sorts of violence with them to the city including multiple bombings.

I could care less if they were yellow, red or any other shirt or had any other belief. If you are that convicted and determined in your beliefs that you take such actions then you accept the consequences of your illegal actions. This group however are nothing but a bunch of whiners who can't stop finding things to complain about and their belief that others owe them.

Very hard to have any respect of sympathy for such an ignorant group of people that blindly follow the orders of their leaders or do so to make a few baht but really have no clue whatsoever that they are being led down a road that will not be helpful to them, Thailand and their children in the future. Any valid points their leaders have are lost because of there actions ... not much different than Muslim terrorists in this case who too also have some valid issues behind their sick and twisted actions.

What about the protestors providing relief to the country? Has it already been forgotten that these people shut the country down for 7 weeks? My feeling is that if the government was guilty of anything, it was that they did not act sooner to put down the unrest. Democratic protests are one thing. Blocking major boulevards, and shutting down the capital is quite another, and should not be tolerated in any democracy. If anything the people are to account to the country. Not the government to the people!

The yellow shirt group can't win an election so they resort to Army coups, violence, propaganda, intimidation. They have robbed the country blind for decades and jail anyone that speaks up.

A bunch if privileged crybabies that are seeing their brutal grip on Thailand slip away.

You probably live in a village then.

The Yellow shirts would have been gunned down to if they had been stupid enough to open fire on the army.

They were only there for about ten days not two months. They did not invade a hospital or hold huge rallies urging their members to burn Bangkok down or negotiate in bad faith.

Like trying to compare apples to oranges.

Of course the yellow shirts don't shoot at the Army. The Army backs them.

The yellows do shoot at Police though. (and get away with it)

Do you know why they invaded that hospital?

Were there Army/Yellow snipers in there?

Closing down an airport is OK but closing down an intersection is not OK?

It is very obvious you get your news from The Nation.

Try reading some of the banned books about what is going on in Thailand. Just be careful not to get caught or the wonderful group you endorse will have you thrown in jail for 15 years.

Being ignorant is the safer choice...

"Do you know why they invaded that hospital?

Were there Army/Yellow snipers in there?"

Well of course there were. But Scotty beamed them up to the Enterprise before they could be found. This replaces my theory that they had jetpacks, shot down because there were people all around the hospital who would have seen THAT.

Though I still keep the theory that the snipers hid under the beds, and the reds were too stupid to think of that, just as a reserve.

Try reading some of the banned books about what is going on in Thailand. Just be careful not to get caught or the wonderful group you endorse will have you thrown in jail for 15 years.

You mean Pheu Thai Party's Chalerm's LM War Room staff?

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Closing down an airport, and not burn it down, was child's play compared to the red menace that hit Bangkok twice!

Thrice.

2007, 2009, 2010

.

Edited May 19, 201214 yr by Buchholz

They need to charge and convict the red shirts for firing grenades, killing police, killing soldiers, killing civilians and for arson. They also need to charge their self exiled leader.