Former Prime Minister Abhisit Questioned On 2010 Red Shirt Riots

[webfact]

Ex-premier questioned on 2010 Red Shirt riots

BANGKOK, Aug 27 - Former Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva on Monday presented his statement to the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) concerning his government's crackdown on the 2010 red-shirt protests which led to the deaths of 91 people in Bangkok.

Suthep Thaugsuban, serving as deputy premier in the Abhisit government, is scheduled to be questioned by the DSI later today.

DSI Chief Tharit Pengdit, who headed the DSI during the Abhisit government, said he will refrain from involvement in the case while his deputy, Pol Col Prawet Moolpramuk, will take charge of the investigation.

The investigation team includes Deputy Metropolitan Police Commander Pol Maj Anuchai Lekbumrung and a deputy director of the Office of Special Attorney General.

According to Mr Tharit, the former premier will be asked to explain the previous government’s rationale for its operations and announcements to respond to the political riots in March to May, 2010.

Both Mr Abhisit and Mr Suthep, said the DSI chief, were asked to present their statements for the first time as witnesses and authorities from the political side of those who supervised the crackdown.

The now-dissolved Centre for Resolution of Emergency Situation (CRES) was specially set up on April 7, 2010 to oversee the red-shirt rallies. Mr Tharit was also a CRES member.

Asked if he himself will be summoned for questioning, Mr Tharit said he was a CRES member on the civilian side which had not been involved in the crackdown operations.

He said it is the investigation committee’s judgement as to who will be asked for questioning in the future.

Before presenting his statement to the DSI early Monday morning, Mr Abhisit said that he believed Mr Tharit, in his capacity as DSI director and a CRES member, understood the reasons behind the orders issued during the rallies.

The former premier said he had earlier given separate statements to Parliament's House of Representatives, the Truth for Conciliation Commission and the National Human Rights Commission. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2012-08-27

[Moruya]

Tharit's deputy in charge of a case in which his boss is implicated.

Tharit tries to distance himself from the case a a "civilian" member of CRES.

Abhisit and Suthep weren't civilians?

More rotten smells

[billd766]

More like more double standards.

Tarit should not have been involved in any of these cases at all.

[GentlemanJim]

Asked if he himself will be summoned for questioning, Mr Tharit said he was a CRES member on the civilian side which had not been involved in the crackdown operations.

Surely that it is for an investigation to decide whether Mr Tharit was involved or not, rather than him just saying he was not involved!

Edited August 27, 2012 by GentlemanJim

[birdpooguava]

I wonder if AV used the running into bullets line or that's exclusively ST and AV has another excuse.

[jonclark]

I wonder if AV used the running into bullets line or that's exclusively ST and AV has another excuse.

I expect Abhisit has a reason, not an excuse. I wonder if you know the difference??

[webfact]

POLITICAL STRIFE

Abhisit testifies on 2010 bloody crackdown

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Former Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva on Monday testified and presented documents to the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) concerning his government's crackdown on the 2010 red-shirt protests.

Suthep Thaugsuban, serving as deputy premier in the Abhisit government, is scheduled to be questioned by the DSI later today.

Tharit Pengdit, appointed as DSI chief during the Abhisit government and as retained the position, said he will refrain from involvement in the case. His deputy, Pol Col Prawet Moolpramuk, will take charge of the investigation.

The investigation team includes Deputy Metropolitan Police Commander Pol Maj Anuchai Lekbumrung and a deputy director of the Office of Special Attorney General.

Tharit said the former premier will be asked to explain the previous government's rationale for its operations and announcements to respond to the political riots in March to May, 2010.

Both Abhisit and Suthep, said the DSI chief, were asked to present their statements for the first time as witnesses and authorities from the political side that who supervised the crackdown.

The now-dissolved Centre for Resolution of Emergency Situation (CRES) was specially set up on April 7, 2010 to oversee the red-shirt rallies. Tharit was also a CRES member.

Asked if he himself will be summoned for questioning, Tharit said he was a CRES member on the civilian side, which had not been involved in the crackdown operations.

He said it is up to the investigation committee's judgement as to who will be called for questioning in the future.

Earlier Abhisit told reporters that he believed Tharit, in his capacity as DSI director and a CRES member, understood the reasons behind the orders issued during the rallies.

The former premier said he had earlier given separate statements to Parliament’s House of Representatives, the Truth for Conciliation Commission and the National Human Rights Commission.

-- The Nation 2012-08-27

[saltandpepper]

I wonder if AV used the running into bullets line or that's exclusively ST and AV has another excuse.

Pathetic!

[Xangsamhua]

Is that a halo around Abhisit's head?

[Soi Sauce]

Will the DSI also please investigate who funded the reds and was therefore directly responsible for the carnage?

If they do this, a treason charge should be forthcoming.

[Ricardo]

Congratulations to the former-PM, for answering the DSI investigators' questions, as indeed he should.

When will former-PM Thaksin similarly be answering questions about his role in the conflict ?

Will the investigators be traveling to Dubai, to interview him, and help get to the truth of the matter ?

Or does his busy schedule not allow time,to help his sister's government achieve reconciliation, by establishing the truth ?

[WhizBang]

Will the DSI also please investigate who funded the reds and was therefore directly responsible for the carnage?

If they do this, a treason charge should be forthcoming.

Agreed, on the treason charges. I believe that's the death penalty in Thailand.

I would also like to see the DSI investigate the Royal Thai Police for their actions, or more specifically, their total and complete inaction during this entire ordeal. Deriliction of duty charges should be filed against any police officer who just stood by and did nothing, and charges of aiding and abetting should be filed against any officer who actually helped the red shirts.

Such charges should be filed against police of any and ALL ranks, from the chief of police on down.

[JeremyBowskill]

A touch off topic maybe but I seem to remember him looking alot whiter when he was in charge...... maybe a salery cut has meant less whitening products for his household.

[asiawatcher]

This is so <deleted>' boring - Police did nothing to contain or clear the rioters who laid siege to the city, destroying property and burning public and private property on the orders of their beloved leaders. Mark in his capacity as PM at the time gave every request, then command and finally gave the army the go-ahead. He was lenient beyond all call and despite patience and being accused of no spine for inaction, finally agreed to a strong arm solution. <deleted>.

And this stupidity of continued muck raking and finger pointing is simply political grandstanding by a useless government who has done nothing but spend money it does not have by borrowing and throwing the whole country into debt, and rocket the cost of living in Thailand by 100% since coming to power. Simply gross mismanagement, a waste of time and proof of unintelligent leadership on the issue. Reds started it, Govt finished it, as was their duty. If the Kwai Daeng were stupid enough to be there and get shot so what? Some of the innocent soldiers doing their duty also lost their lives.

Get on with building the country back up and ridding yourselves of the corruption and the a**holes propagating the 'system'.

Edited August 27, 2012 by asiawatcher

[looping]

I don't believe any Thai person could be considered to be impartial regarding this matter. It's so crucial for Thaksin to get something solid against Abhisit to bargain with, and crucial for Abhisit to be found not guilty. IMO its a make or break situation for both of them and this case should be conducted by an international investigation, from outside Thailand if at all possible.

This case is as politically motivated as it gets.

[tlansford]

Is that a halo around Abhisit's head?

well, that was my first question.

Then I read the article.

Question 2, does The Nation need to add a credit to the MCOT reporters?

[GentlemanJim]

Is that a halo around Abhisit's head?

well, that was my first question.

Then I read the article.

Question 2, does The Nation need to add a credit to the MCOT reporters?

For someone that likes to engage in intelligent debate that is a somewhat disappointing 'first' question.

[Bluespunk]

What was his governments rationale for the crackdown? Hmm let's think……hospitals being stormed by armed paranoid thugs, people being murdered by armed thugs ( possibly paranoid possibly drunk, probably both), the commercial district turning into a stinking cess pit by red shirts, commerce grinding to a halt because of aforementioned cess pit, people being put out of work, tourism being destroyed by publicity from the armed occupation of Bangkok. Yes that would seem about right. I know PAD carried out similar actions. Army should have stopped them as well.

[dickyknee]

Is that a halo around Abhisit's head?

That's what he looks like frozen in carbonite.

[rubl]

Is that a halo around Abhisit's head?

A few possibilities here:

- Photo-shopped by red-shirts to make him look bad ?

- theNation photographers need better equipment ?

- warn the pope?

[gemini81]

Is that a halo around Abhisit's head?

Yeah, it compensates for devil horns on Thaksin's head and buffalo horns on his followers.

[tlansford]

Is that a halo around Abhisit's head?

well, that was my first question.

Then I read the article.

Question 2, does The Nation need to add a credit to the MCOT reporters?

For someone that likes to engage in intelligent debate that is a somewhat disappointing 'first' question.

it reflects the quality of The Nation's contribution to this story... which in fact appears to be limited to a bad photoshop job of Abhisit.

[hellodolly]

I wonder if AV used the running into bullets line or that's exclusively ST and AV has another excuse.

finally a thread you can post your negativity on welcome back.

It was a long vacation what with all the negative things your Idols were up to.

Do you believe it is OK to lie if you are a minister?

Abhist needs no excuses he was doing his job and that is what he is reporting on.

If any thing he should be found guilty of it was letting it go on so long.

Especially after the red shirts made it plain that they were not going to negotiate and they were not moving.

[hellodolly]

Is that a halo around Abhisit's head?

well, that was my first question.

Then I read the article.

Question 2, does The Nation need to add a credit to the MCOT reporters?

For someone that likes to engage in intelligent debate that is a somewhat disappointing 'first' question.

it reflects the quality of The Nation's contribution to this story... which in fact appears to be limited to a bad photoshop job of Abhisit.

Still trying to dodge the bullet I see. you and poo poo make a cute couple. Tell me do you think the paymaster will give testimony as freely as Abhist did.

[moe666]

As long as it is the red shirts causing trouble it is ok with a couple of our boys here, but let the government try and contain it ooo they are the bad people. Get a life and get back to reality

[473geo]

As long as it is the red shirts causing trouble it is ok with a couple of our boys here, but let the government try and contain it ooo they are the bad people. Get a life and get back to reality

But they didn't contain it....they escalated it when they should have defused it.....

[FOODLOVER]

I wonder if AV used the running into bullets line or that's exclusively ST and AV has another excuse.

Maybe they were too weak from fasting. Troll.

[chainarong]

Just as an matter of interest, did anyone see the police action from Melbourne yesterday , with striking picketers , a democratic country too, no one is allowed to take over the streets, so do what you need to do to recover the situation , end of story, I refer back to the sixties, in the US, with students and the national guard, some of our US friends may remember.

Edited August 28, 2012 by chainarong

[webfact]

Ex-Thai PM grilled over protest crackdown

Bangkok, Aug 28, 2012 (AFP) - Former Thai prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva on Monday faced fresh questioning by investigators over a deadly military crackdown on mass opposition protests in Bangkok in 2010.

Abhisit, now opposition leader, was summoned to the Justice Ministry's Department of Special Investigation (DSI) along with his former deputy Suthep Thaugsuban for several hours of questioning about the events, which left about 90 people dead and many wounded in clashes between demonstrators and armed troops.

"I told the truth and DSI investigators don't have any further questions," Abhisit told reporters afterwards.

Observers believe the pair -- who were first questioned by the police as witnesses in December 2011 -- could face eventual prosecution.

More than 90 people, mostly civilians, were killed and nearly 1,900 were wounded during the April and May 2010 rallies, which drew about 100,000 "Red Shirt" demonstrators at their peak.

Thailand now has a new government allied to the Red Shirts' hero, fugitive former leader Thaksin Shinawatra, whose sister Yingluck is prime minister.

Thaksin was toppled by royalist generals in a 2006 coup that unleashed years of street protests by the pro-Thaksin Red Shirts and the rival Yellow Shirts, who claim allegiance to the throne.

Abhisit's government invoked emergency rule to deal with the Red Shirt rallies in early 2010, giving broad powers to the military, which deployed thousands of troops in the capital.

New York-based Human Rights Watch has accused the army of using "excessive and unnecessary lethal force" in the crackdown.

Last week the rights watchdog said army chief Prayut Chan-O-Cha was trying to intimidate investigators probing the military's role in the deadly events.

-- (c) Copyright AFP 2012-08-28

[webfact]

Ex-PM Abhisit testifies on 2010 Red Shirt protests

BANGKOK, Aug 28 - Former Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva spent more than seven hours at the Justice Ministry’s Department of Special Investigation (DSI) on Monday to testify about his government’s response to the ‘Red Shirt’ political rallies and related violence in Bangkok in 2010.

Mr Abhisit said he provided the investigation committee with full accounts based on facts, adding that the Ministry of Justice committee was satisfied with his statement and would not ask for further testimony.

An informed source in the investigation committee said that in inviting Mr Abhisit and former deputy premier Suthep Thaugsuban for questioning on the disorder which led to the deaths of 91 persons, the Ministry of Justice committee concentrated on the government orders announced and enforced during the rallies in April and May 2010.

Both Mr Abhisit and Mr Suthep asserted that they followed the laws in accord with the royal decrees on the emergency with the objective of calming down the situation.

It took more than seven hours for Mr Abhisit at the DSI as he had to review and sign more than 500 pages of written statements.

Mr Suthep, a deputy premier and interior minister charged with coordinating security matters in the Abhisit government, was questioned after the former premier left the DSI. The process was also lengthy.

DSI Chief Tharit Pengdit, who also held his DSI position during the Abhisit government, said earlier yesterday that he would refrain from involvement in the case while his deputy, Pol Col Prawet Moolpramuk, would take charge of the investigation.

The investigation team includes Deputy Metropolitan Police Commander Pol Maj Anuchai Lekbumrung and a deputy director of the Office of Special Attorney General.

Mr Tharit said the former premier was asked to explain his government’s rationale behind its operations and announcements responding to the political demonstrations and related actions from March through May, 2010.

Both Mr Abhisit and Mr Suthep, said the DSI chief, were asked to present their statements for the first time as witnesses and authorities on the political side overseeing the crackdown.

The Centre for Resolution of Emergency Situation (CRES) was specially set up on April 7, 2010 to oversee the red-shirt rallies. Mr Tharit was also a CRES member.

Asked if he himself will be summoned for questioning, Mr Tharit said he was a CRES member on the civilian side which had not been involved in the crackdown operations.

He said it is up to the investigation committee’s judgement who will be asked for questioning in the future.

Mr Abhisit said before presenting his statement to the DSI early Monday morning that he believed Mr Tharit, in his capacity as both DSI director and a CRES member, understood the reasons behind orders issued during the rallies.

The former premier said he earlier gave separate statements to the lower house of Thailand’s Parliament, the House of Representatives, as well as to the Truth for Conciliation Commission and the National Human Rights Commission. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2012-08-28