Terrorism Trial Of Thai Red Shirt Leaders Postponed

[webfact]

Trial of Thai 'Red Shirt' leaders postponed

by Thanaporn Promyamyai

BANGKOK, Nov 29, 2012 (AFP) - A Thai court on Thursday postponed the start of the terrorism trial of 24 leaders of "Red Shirt" protests that rocked Bangkok in 2010 until next month because one of the defendants was ill.

The accused, who include five current lawmakers, could in theory face the death penalty for their roles in the rallies, which at their height drew around 100,000 people, mostly supporters of ousted ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra.

About 90 people were killed and nearly 1,900 were wounded in a series of street clashes between demonstrators and security forces, which culminated in a bloody military crackdown and the arrests of the movement's leaders.

The Reds were demanding immediate elections, accusing the government at the time of being undemocratic because it took office in 2008 through a parliamentary vote, after a court stripped Thaksin's allies of power.

The judge postponed the first hearing until December 13 because a lawyer for Red Shirt militant leader Arisman Pongreungrong said his client could not attend the trial due to food poisoning.

"The court will only allow this one postponement," the judge said, as hundreds of police stood guard outside the court.

Arisman drew international attention when he narrowly avoided capture by police commandos in April 2010 by climbing out of the third-floor window of a Bangkok hotel in front of the media.

He surrendered last year after almost 20 months on the run.

The leaders pleaded not guilty in August 2010 to terrorism charges. Hearings can only be held when parliament is not in session as sitting lawmakers have immunity.

The Red Shirt leaders, most of whom surrendered to police after the government sent in armoured vehicles and troops firing live rounds, deny they incited their followers to cause violence.

"I'm certain that the protesters did not need any speeches to provoke them. They saw more and more people injured and dying. The situation was already very heated," Red Shirt leader Nattawut Saikuar, now deputy commerce minister, told AFP ahead of the hearing.

After the crackdown, protest leaders asked their supporters to disperse, but authorities accused hardcore demonstrators of setting fire to dozens of buildings, including a shopping mall and the stock exchange.

No government or military officials from the time who oversaw the army operation have been charged over the deaths of protesters, prompting accusations by the Red Shirts of double standards.

Thaksin, adored by many poor Thais for his populist policies while in power, was toppled by royalist generals in a 2006 coup that unleashed years of street protests by the Reds and the rival royalist Yellow Shirts.

Elections in 2011 brought Thaksin's Red Shirt-backed Puea Thai party to power and swept his sister Yingluck into office.

-- (c) Copyright AFP 2012-11-29

[MunterHunter]

Too ill? Too scared and made himself sick i suspect

[Nickymaster]

Now one is ill, poor guy. They looked so strong and healthy in 2010 when they were telling their supporters to commit acts of terrorism.

Edited November 29, 2012 by Nickymaster

[hellodolly]

Surprise surprise surprise

O I am so shocked

[jbrain]

Arisman drew international attention when he narrowly avoided capture by police commandos in April 2010 by climbing out of the third-floor window of a Bangkok hotel in front of the media.

Oh yeah where are the times 100-99-98- Evereybody hiding now ....................49-48-47-..who's not hiding will be seen............................5-4-3-2-1,,,,,,we're coming now,who's not gonne will be caught

[cowboydog]

"I'm certain that the protesters did not need any speeches to provoke them..

& Germany would have gone to war without Hitler, yea right.

[spidermike007]

Again, a display of tremendous courage, which is the hallmark of most Thai men. They are willing to commit the act, whether it be stealing one billion baht from the water resources management project, or running over, and killing a policeman while speeding at 200KM. per hour on the streets of Bangkok, but when it comes time to face the piper, all courage is lost, and they start wimpering, and behaving like 12 year old girls. So typical. I have seen this for years. Where is the big man now? Who expected this trial to happen? Imaging a Thai person in a position of authority or wealth being held responsible for their actions, even if it is a so called act of terrorism, or shooting someone (and killing them) in a restaurant, with a machine gun, that was next to your table? How is Thai society ever going to evolve, if the Thai people cannot understand the most basic concepts of being responsible for your actions, and the tremendous degradation to society, when nobody accepts this responsibility? Where does that leave us, when it comes to the future? Especially with the latest generation of Thai men being brought with far less in the way of principles, and morals than earlier generations. The legal and judicial systems here seem to be completely broken. I am a bit afraid of the direction this country may be going in. Am I the only one?

[bigbamboo]

He's probably contracted Thaksinitus.

Or as it's known in Faranglish...... the runs.

[rixalex]

Again, a display of tremendous courage, which is the hallmark of most Thai men. They are willing to commit the act, whether it be stealing one billion baht from the water resources management project, or running over, and killing a policeman while speeding at 200KM. per hour on the streets of Bangkok, but when it comes time to face the piper, all courage is lost, and they start wimpering, and behaving like 12 year old girls. So typical. I have seen this for years. Where is the big man now? Who expected this trial to happen? Imaging a Thai person in a position of authority or wealth being held responsible for their actions, even if it is a so called act of terrorism, or shooting someone (and killing them) in a restaurant, with a machine gun, that was next to your table? How is Thai society ever going to evolve, if the Thai people cannot understand the most basic concepts of being responsible for your actions, and the tremendous degradation to society, when nobody accepts this responsibility? Where does that leave us, when it comes to the future? Especially with the latest generation of Thai men being brought with far less in the way of principles, and morals than earlier generations. The legal and judicial systems here seem to be completely broken. I am a bit afraid of the direction this country may be going in. Am I the only one?

Totally agree but feel you are being a little unfair on twelve year old girls.

[zaphodbeeblebrox]

Justice delayed is justice denied.

[theajarn]

Food poisoning?! That's what English teachers use when they're absent! Imagine... a THAI person having food poisoning! Where did he eat at... McDonald's?

[theajarn]

We can all predict the next headlines: "Trial postponed because Nattawut has a headache" or "Trial postponed because Jatuporn sneezed"

[theajarn]

The REAL reason why the trial was postponed is obviously they need more time to funnel some funds err... "DONATIONS" into one of the judges' accounts...

[rixalex]

We can all predict the next headlines: "Trial postponed because Nattawut has a headache" or "Trial postponed because Jatuporn sneezed"

Ear infection perhaps? Seems to be a bit of that going around.

[rixalex]

Justice delayed is justice denied.

And don't forget this is just the beginning of proceedings. Things haven't even got started and things are being delayed. Why does the justice system expose itself to these ridiculous tactics? Not just talking about Thai justice either. It's the same sort of thing with people who jump bail. Why should people who do that be allowed to stall all cases against them? Hardly provides an incentive for guilty people to return does it? Perhaps if cases weren't stalled by people fleeing, people wouldn't flee in the first place. Just a thought...

[renaissanc]

This month it is Arisman's turn to be ill. According to the schedule, December is Jatuporn's turn to be "ill". January is Mor Weng's turn. And so on. By the time the trial starts they will all have died of old age.

[Moruya]

What nonsense.

I suppose he had a note from his mum?

[Mrjlh]

Put him in a wheelchair. Problem solved!

[metisdead]

A post criticizing the Thai courts had been removed as per forum rule:

15) Not to use ThaiVisa.com to post any material which is knowingly or can be reasonably construed as false, inaccurate, invasive of a person's privacy, or otherwise in violation of any law. You also agree not to post negative comments criticizing the legal proceedings or judgments of any Thai court of law.

Another post using all caps has been removed. If you don't want your posts removed, don't use all caps when posting as it bad netiquette.

[asiawatcher]

Put him in a wheelchair. Problem solved!

Make sure you have a potty underneath him as well as a spew bowl in his hand. The bowl for the food issue, the potty when the charges are read. The only thing prosecutors have to do is roll the video of these animals in full swing. There is no defence to sheer stupidity, but of course this goes before the Thai judicial system. Not one death sentence will be handed down and even if they start jail terms, they may well be out in a few years - the sort of thing required for Thai terrorism as opposed to global terrorism.

[khunken]

I think quite a few posters failed to read the Op. This is what the article said:

"The court will only allow this one postponement," the judge said, as hundreds of police stood guard outside the court.

It's the capability of the prosecution that worries me - no doubt at least some will get off with 'lack of evidence'.

[ramrod711]

Again, a display of tremendous courage, which is the hallmark of most Thai men. They are willing to commit the act, whether it be stealing one billion baht from the water resources management project, or running over, and killing a policeman while speeding at 200KM. per hour on the streets of Bangkok, but when it comes time to face the piper, all courage is lost, and they start wimpering, and behaving like 12 year old girls. So typical. I have seen this for years. Where is the big man now? Who expected this trial to happen? Imaging a Thai person in a position of authority or wealth being held responsible for their actions, even if it is a so called act of terrorism, or shooting someone (and killing them) in a restaurant, with a machine gun, that was next to your table? How is Thai society ever going to evolve, if the Thai people cannot understand the most basic concepts of being responsible for your actions, and the tremendous degradation to society, when nobody accepts this responsibility? Where does that leave us, when it comes to the future? Especially with the latest generation of Thai men being brought with far less in the way of principles, and morals than earlier generations. The legal and judicial systems here seem to be completely broken. I am a bit afraid of the direction this country may be going in. Am I the only one?

NO, if it weren't for my wife I would be gone already.

[ramrod711]

The patients that had to be evacuated from the hospital that the reds terrorized were probably ill as well, unfortunately there were no judges to help them.......only red justice.

[Bluespunk]

Quelle surprise.

[Thai at Heart]

What a system.....

[beano2274]

Did he have a doctors certificate, am sure if I did not attend work or a court case they would want to see something.

Also the others could be go on trial, nothing stopping them from attending, by the time it starts parliament will be back in session therefore most or nearly all of the defendants cannot attend.

[jerrysteve]

This is great entertainment ....no fiction writer living or dead, could ever write a comedy script like this...These people should really get an OSCAR. This stuff is far better than the Enquirer or the Star. If I could write a book it would be THE GREATEST LAUGHING STOCKS OF THE WORLD (Thailand's Judicial System).

Edited November 29, 2012 by jerrysteve

[kevvy]

we are on the merry go around again

[Arkady]

Pity Arisman didn't drink a DEET cocktail on Koh Phi Phi.

[culicine]

I think quite a few posters failed to read the Op. This is what the article said:

"The court will only allow this one postponement," the judge said, as hundreds of police stood guard outside the court.

It's the capability of the prosecution that worries me - no doubt at least some will get off with 'lack of evidence'.

Or is it one postponement per defendant? I'm sure the courts are flexible - don't see them calling in a really sick defendant from ICU At either rate this will drag ; out years, and even then they would probably appeal and be out on bail anyway.