Truth For Reconciliation Commission Report: Each Claims His Own Version Of The Truth

[webfact]

THAI TALK

TRCT report: Each claims his own version of the truth

Suthichai Yoon

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- I am not sure how many people have read the 276-page full report issued last week by the Truth for Reconciliation Commission of Thailand (TRCT) headed by Dr Kanit na Nakhon. But I am certain that few Thais appreciate the gruelling task the commission undertook in very trying circumstances.

Most people probably like the parts of the report that fit their own biases. That's why most citizens will still be divided after reading the findings. They will all wish that the other portions of the report - those that aren't very favourable to their side of the story - were left out.

Basically, the report concludes that both sides in the violent confrontation of May 2010 must take the blame for the deaths and injuries in the street face-off. In other words, both the Abhisit Vejjajiva government at the time and the red-shirt leaders who engineered the demonstrations must be responsible for what followed.

A Dusit Poll found 53.7 per cent of respondents in support of the findings. But what irked red-shirt leaders was the commission's confirmation that reports of armed "men in black" shooting and killing government troops. They are still at large. The report also said that the armed men were close to the late Major General Katiya Sawasdiphol, and were given assistance by red-shirt guards, though no evidence was found to prove that they were also close to the red-shirt leaders.

On the other side of the scale, the TRCT pointed an accusing finger at the government's control command centre for using real weapons against the demonstrators. It said that, even if troops claimed that "men in black" were mingling with the protesters, that wasn't a valid excuse for soldiers to fire live bullets at the demonstrators.

The report blames the government for its failure to use the police to control the demonstrators, necessitating the deployment of military personnel. And the lack of an efficient monitoring system resulted in heavy losses on the part of the protesters.

Any neutral observer would think the TRCT is trying hard to walk a tightrope. It was never going to be an easy balancing act - and many members of the commission knew from the outset that, whatever the conclusions of the panel, they were going to be the target of criticism.

Now the ruling Pheu Thai Party has demanded a new investigation into the 2010 violence, arguing that it is "dismayed" by the TRCT's report. The new committee will try to prove that the TRCT is wrong about its findings regarding the "men in black" - and the trajectories of the bullets fired by security forces during the violence.

Former premier Abhisit's reaction to the report wasn't altogether favourable either. He asked that the commission provide more details of the findings to the public despite the fact that its term has ended.

Neither Premier Yingluck Shinawatra nor Abhisit can really challenge the TRCT's findings. After all, Abhisit appointed the commission in the first place. It was made clear from the beginning that the panel would be "independent" of any political influence. And when Yingluck took over as premier she extended the commission's term, confirming that her government would continue to respect its independent endeavour to get to the bottom of the 2010 violence.

The premier did set up another committee to "follow up" on the TRCT's work. That panel was headed by her own deputy premier, Yongyuth Vichaidit, whose role was never clearly defined in the first place. Now it will have to decide whether to "endorse" the Kanit commission's findings or not.

Before the Pheu Thai Party's spokesman went public to demand a new investigation committee on the issue, red-shirt leader Thida Tavornseth made a similar plea. She demanded that the government should not allow the TRCT report to be translated for distribution abroad - and that a new panel should revise its content before publicising it abroad.

Setting up a new commission to investigate the original commission's findings certainly won't solve the problem - especially when the conclusions of the new panel have already by prescribed by the proponents of the new investigation committee. After all, if you don't like the first report and demand a second report that you like, the other side will inevitably demand a third commission to produce another report to their liking. There could be no end to finding "answers" to fit the question.

Perhaps critics should heed the very reasonable advice of TRCT Chairman Kanit himself: "Please read the full report in detail before making any comments, favourable or otherwise."

-- The Nation 2012-09-27

[cloudhopper]

Truth and reconciliation are two words I would not associate with this culture.

[asiawatcher]

So there is an admission of men in black who, until this day, remain anonymous. Pretty obvious they WERE mercenaries paid to be there. And the Commission confirms that, but then they say the Govt was at fault for not using the police to handle the issue? Are they deaf, dumb, blind and all stupid? The Police were supporters of the Reds and refused instruction. The stand off delay was caused by the deliberate inactivity of police and their refusal to take orders from the Govt. The Govt should have put a broom through all ranks above sergeant and inducted the remaining lower ranks into the army. That would have stopped a lot of the corruption and ignorance of rule and given the Govt a chance to rebuild.

Edited September 27, 2012 by asiawatcher

[intothefuture]

Why and how can the Red Shirts continue to say that the Men In Black were not "with" them? I don't need an investigation to know, no one does. I saw the live video clips of the men in black walking around behind the red shirt barriers talking and cajoling with the red shirts. They were the red shirts armed guard. There is no dispute, no question. It is fact.

I think the Truth for Reconciliation Commission did a pretty good job, given the extreme polarization of the politics in Thailand. If they had cleared Abhisit government completely, the red shirts/Phuea Thai would have gone bizerk. So, I think they needed to put some blame on government for innocent unarmed civilian deaths. But...in truth...in any civilized society...If you have a demonstration with armed demonstrators who have killed police....there is no more guilt on the part of the police or military if they take armed action. I am a pacifist, but this is just basic laws of all civilized lands. You can't have a demonstration which includes violent armed guards killing police and then blame the government for taking violent action to quell the demonstration. IMHO

Also, what's with Thaksin...talking about there needs to be justice for those innocents killed at a "peaceful" demonstration. Why doesn't he explain why its ok that he killed 73 innocent demonstrators from Thai Bak (sp?), by piling them all on top of each other in closed up vans and driving 6 hours to Sri Thamarat. Many of those gathered up and killed like cattle, were truly by standers, just watching the demonstrations. That was one of the most atrocious crimes of police I have ever learned about. And this was Thaksin.

[TheKrayTriplet]

So there is an admission of men in black who, until this day, remain anonymous. Pretty obvious they WERE mercenaries paid to be there. And the Commission confirms that, but then they say the Govt was at fault for not using the police to handle the issue? Are they deaf, dumb, blind and all stupid? The Police were supporters of the Reds and refused instruction. The stand off delay was caused by the deliberate inactivity of police and their refusal to take orders from the Govt. The Govt should have put a broom through all ranks above sergeant and inducted the remaining lower ranks into the army. That would have stopped a lot of the corruption and ignorance of rule and given the Govt a chance to rebuild.

Just one problem, Asiawatcher, there was no

"stand off delay (was) caused by the deliberate inactivity of police and their refusal to take orders from the Govt."

The Internal Security Act was brought in on the 13th March 2010 and the Security Forces (30,000 +) were placed in charge of security alongside the police.

Thailand enacts internal security act

2010-03-11 13:18 BJT

The Thai cabinet has passed the Internal Security Act in reaction to the mass rallies scheduled to start Friday.

The measures were to take effect Thursday. As the rallies draw closer, more measures are being adopted.

The government says more than 30-thousand security officers will be deployed around Bangkok, and 46-thousand "civilian defense volunteers" are on standby.

http://english.cctv.com/program/newshour/20100311/102753.shtml

[AleG]

So there is an admission of men in black who, until this day, remain anonymous. Pretty obvious they WERE mercenaries paid to be there. And the Commission confirms that, but then they say the Govt was at fault for not using the police to handle the issue? Are they deaf, dumb, blind and all stupid? The Police were supporters of the Reds and refused instruction. The stand off delay was caused by the deliberate inactivity of police and their refusal to take orders from the Govt. The Govt should have put a broom through all ranks above sergeant and inducted the remaining lower ranks into the army. That would have stopped a lot of the corruption and ignorance of rule and given the Govt a chance to rebuild.

Just a sample of a reality many wish to deny:

the participation of the Australian PM told us that she took

a photo of the Pattaya police chief strolling arm in arm with

redshirt demonstrators the morning of April 11

participating in UDD protests.

Poor Thida seems to have an allergic reaction to truth.

[moe666]

The Red shirts will never take responsibility for the part in this just as Big T will never take responsibility for Tai Bak or any of his other crimes.

[SICHONSTEVE]

Why and how can the Red Shirts continue to say that the Men In Black were not "with" them? I don't need an investigation to know, no one does. I saw the live video clips of the men in black walking around behind the red shirt barriers talking and cajoling with the red shirts. They were the red shirts armed guard. There is no dispute, no question. It is fact.

I think the Truth for Reconciliation Commission did a pretty good job, given the extreme polarization of the politics in Thailand. If they had cleared Abhisit government completely, the red shirts/Phuea Thai would have gone bizerk. So, I think they needed to put some blame on government for innocent unarmed civilian deaths. But...in truth...in any civilized society...If you have a demonstration with armed demonstrators who have killed police....there is no more guilt on the part of the police or military if they take armed action. I am a pacifist, but this is just basic laws of all civilized lands. You can't have a demonstration which includes violent armed guards killing police and then blame the government for taking violent action to quell the demonstration. IMHO

Also, what's with Thaksin...talking about there needs to be justice for those innocents killed at a "peaceful" demonstration. Why doesn't he explain why its ok that he killed 73 innocent demonstrators from Thai Bak (sp?), by piling them all on top of each other in closed up vans and driving 6 hours to Sri Thamarat. Many of those gathered up and killed like cattle, were truly by standers, just watching the demonstrations. That was one of the most atrocious crimes of police I have ever learned about. And this was Thaksin.

The armed demonstrators killed the army and not the police as the army are pretty much 'Democrat supporters' on the whole whereas the reds are dedicated Thaksinites. The 'black shirts' were a renegade police faction - I saw them operating clearly when things got particularly nasty with them sneaking out of vans before firing in the direction of where the army were stationed and then disappearing back into the shadows!!! Anyone who denies this, having seen it on the news, is a liar!!!

Thaksin has used the police as his enforcement tool in the past - noticeably in his infamous and disastrous 'drugs off the street' massacre of the innocents. After all, he was in the police after studying 'criminology' and has many old police buddies in positions in his (sorry Yingluck's), no, got it right first time, government.

Being in his police cadet's class means that you can choose where you want to operate in government as long as it can contribute towards obtaining that amnesty for Thaksin. Merit, I hear you say!!! whats that?? Not in the Shinawatra Thai dictionary I'm afraid!!!

[hanuman2543]

"They will all wish that the other portions of the report - those that aren't very favourable to their side of the story - were left out."

Isn't that not what "Thainess" is all about?

Perfect example for me

[OzMick]

Good old Thida's read the commie handbook - never admit to anything that will hurt the cause.

Anybody want to guess at the names on PTP's independent commission? Chalerm would be a good start, he's had experience re-writing history.

[asiawatcher]

So there is an admission of men in black who, until this day, remain anonymous. Pretty obvious they WERE mercenaries paid to be there. And the Commission confirms that, but then they say the Govt was at fault for not using the police to handle the issue? Are they deaf, dumb, blind and all stupid? The Police were supporters of the Reds and refused instruction. The stand off delay was caused by the deliberate inactivity of police and their refusal to take orders from the Govt. The Govt should have put a broom through all ranks above sergeant and inducted the remaining lower ranks into the army. That would have stopped a lot of the corruption and ignorance of rule and given the Govt a chance to rebuild.

Just one problem, Asiawatcher, there was no

"stand off delay (was) caused by the deliberate inactivity of police and their refusal to take orders from the Govt."

The Internal Security Act was brought in on the 13th March 2010 and the Security Forces (30,000 +) were placed in charge of security alongside the police.

Thailand enacts internal security act

2010-03-11 13:18 BJT

The Thai cabinet has passed the Internal Security Act in reaction to the mass rallies scheduled to start Friday.

The measures were to take effect Thursday. As the rallies draw closer, more measures are being adopted.

The government says more than 30-thousand security officers will be deployed around Bangkok, and 46-thousand "civilian defense volunteers" are on standby.

http://english.cctv....11/102753.shtml

Not sure if you were here or not but Reds were in place with only (supportive) police until it started to get out of hand by the police ignoring Govt directives. The internal security act was simply not enforced despite what you quoted here. The (30,000 + 46,000 - ha ha ha - mainly red supporters) civilian defense volunteers and security forces were also a joke. They certainly were not around the barricaded areas or near the melee, bar a few with arm bands which was making them a target. I even saw one guy remove his and join the reds. Sorry - you don't want to believe everything you read! Not even our misguided blogs.

Edited September 27, 2012 by asiawatcher

[ramrod711]

Basically, the report concludes that both sides in the violent confrontation of May 2010 must take the blame for the deaths and injuries in the street face-off. In other words, both the Abhisit Vejjajiva government at the time and the red-shirt leaders who engineered the demonstrations must be responsible for what followed.

It was all Abhisit, Abhisit, Abhist, we done nuffink wrong......Thida.