D.S.I. To Question Thai Army Snipers On Deaths: 2010 Political Violence

[webfact]

2010 POLITICAL VIOLENCE

DSI to question Army snipers on deaths

THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) will summon Army snipers for questioning tomorrowon Wednesday to further investigate allegations that sharpshooters were deployed to target red-shirt protesters in April and May 2010. Weapons experts will also be summoned to assist in the probe.

The DSI has urged all concerned parties to come forward with whatever evidence or rebuttals they have in order to aid the investigation.

Pol Colonel Prawase Moonpramuk, deputy director-general of the DSI, said yesterday(Monday) that a written order issued by the now-defunct Centre for the Resolution of the Emergency Situation (CRES) that was later disclosed by the DSI is not a classified document.

Prawase met with deputy Metropolitan Police chief Pol Maj-General Anuchai Lekbamrung yesterday to discuss whether more witnesses should be summoned. The DSI also plans to request documents from the House Committee on Military Affairs that contain details about the list of weapons and ammunition used, and to question some officers involved in the crackdown.

Experts will offer their opinion about the weapons used in the 2010 violence. The DSI said it is not worried that the Army may cast doubt on the qualifications of the weapons experts, since they have already received court approval.

So far, 22 deaths have been attributed to the Army by the DSI, and five more that occurred in the Bon Kai area may be added to the list. The DSI said more witnesses are coming forward to aid the investigation.

DSI chief Tharith Pengdit said the weekly meeting on the investigation into the 91 deaths is being conducted as normal and a press conference will be held when significant progress is made. He denied a claim by the Army that the DSI has lost documents crucial to the investigation. He added, however, that as someone who took part in CRES meetings back in 2010, he thought that action taken by CRES was appropriate.

Army chief General Prayuth Chan-ocha meanwhile warned the media to be careful in reporting about the DSI claims that orders were given by CRES to use snipers, and not to create more rifts in society. The Army chief said if the press continued to dig into the matter, there would be no end to the rift. Prayuth said the documents did not put any pressure on him, but added that he wouldn't say anything more to defend the Army because he was "bored" of doing so.

Asked if he was concerned about red shirts threatening him, Prayuth said he was not.

-- The Nation 2012-08-21

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2010 POLITICAL VIOLENCE

Army to help ex-soldier summoned

Gen Prayuth

BANGKOK: -- The Army will provide legal assistance to an ex-soldier summoned for requestioning on his involvement in crowd control in connection with the 2010 political strife, Army chiel General Prayuth Chanocha said Tuesday.

"The Army has always cooperated with the investigation on violent incidents," he said, voicing confidence that the truth will come out as the soldiers followed prescribed procedures on crowd control.

Prayuth was referring to news reports the Department of Special Investigation wanted to conduct a new round of questioning of the squad designated marksman involved in reining in the protesters.

The DSI had already taken statements from anti-riot forces at the end of the red shirt rally.

He said the marksman in question had already left the military service. He was a private in 2010 and subsequently promoted to the rank of corporal.

-- The Nation 2012-08-21

[waza]

More manipulation of the facts, hopefully the truth of Thaksins involvement is revealled for all the world to see. But I bet that is outside the DSI terms of reference.

[candid]

One wonders how it has taken the DSI 2 years to start questioning soldiers. I would have thought they would have been first in the queue for investigation and questioning. Let's face it, they were the only ones present who were holding weapons LEGALLY