Ex-Thai PM 'to face murder charge': officials

BANGKOK, Dec 6, 2012 (AFP) - Former Thai prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva is to face a charge of murder over the death of a taxi driver who was shot by soldiers during 2010 "Red Shirt" rallies, authorities said Thursday.

The Department of Special Investigation, police and Thai prosecutors announced the decision, which marks the first charges for deaths during the mass rallies in Bangkok against Abhisit's government.

"The tripartite meeting has decided to charge former prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and former deputy Suthep Thaugsuban under article 288," said DSI chief Tarit Pengdith, referring to the murder provision under Thailand's criminal code.

He said the group based their decision on further witness testimony as well as a court ruling that taxi driver Phan Kamkong was shot and killed by Thai soldiers during the country's worst political violence in decades.

Abhisit and Suthep will be summoned by letter to hear the charges and to be questioned on December 12, Tarit said, adding that authorities would not seek court permission to detain the men, who are both now opposition lawmakers.

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. Two foreign journalists were among those killed.

Until now no government or military officials had faced charges over the deaths.

Abhisit, who oversaw the crackdown, has insisted the protest leaders should accept responsibility and said his government had no choice but to take tough action.

"It was the job of the government of that day to also restore order," he told AFP last month.

Red Shirts, mostly supporters of ousted ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra, have raised accusations of double standards over the prosecutions of 24 of their leaders on terrorism charges for their part in the rallies.

Rights campaigners have said both the protesters and the authorities of the time should be held accountable.

Thailand has been riven by bitter political divisions since Thaksin 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, sweeping Abhisit into opposition.

The accused Red Shirts, who include five current lawmakers, could in theory face the death penalty in a case that is set to begin on December 13. They pleaded not guilty in August 2010 to terrorism charges.

AFP was not immediately able to contact Abhisit on Thursday.

Suthep said he would attend the hearing next week, adding that he would consult his lawyers before making any further comment.

The inquest into Phan's shooting in September was the first ever ruling on deaths during the 2010 rallies.

The court found that the 43-year-old was caught in a volley of gunfire when he ran out of a central Bangkok apartment block to see what was happening after hearing soldiers open fire at a minibus that had strayed into an area under army control.

Tarit said soldiers acting under orders would not face prosecution.

-- (c) Copyright AFP 2012-12-06

...and the dance continues.

unless he pulled the trigger he didn't murder anyone - rediculous

If a Thai soldier on the ground was trigger happy and there's evidence beyond any reasonable doubt that he killed an inocent taxi driver then he should be brought to court to answer the allegations

only in Thailand

Thaksin getting desperate...

Wonder if the courts will make charges against Jatupon and the others as their red shirts killed Army personnel. Doubt it very much.

Think the outside world is laughing at Thailand again

If this is the case, why didn't Taksin face murder charges for all the drug dealers shot by his orders.......ah we all know the answer to that

So by their logic one can expect that they'll soon be charging Thaksin with 2500 murders.

Smear campaign, that's all.

A complete and unconditional pardon for Thaksin would make this and any other charges go away forever.

This isn't about justice, it's about power.

Like I said numerous times, it’s handy to have the DSI on your payroll.

Just a pity that the DSI isn't interested in investigating the biggest corruption case in Thai history: the rice scam (or any other cases related to THIS government). A truly Special Department.

(And we all know this is done by the DSI (Tharit) to help Thaksin. Soon Thaksin will start his amnesty for all again, hoping that Abhisit will agree to it when under pressure with murder charges)

Yes, all this for one man: THAKSIN.

Just about every elected and unelected government leader would and probably should be on trial for murder under these types of allegations

unless he pulled the trigger he didn't murder anyone - rediculous

If a Thai soldier on the ground was trigger happy and there's evidence beyond any reasonable doubt that he killed an inocent taxi driver then he should be brought to court to answer the allegations

only in Thailand

I'm as flabberghasted as you!!! How on earth can any sane prosecutor seek murder charges against the prime minister of a country when soldiers were gunmen and he had not told them directly to murder Somchai the taxi driver.

So ridiculous and it exceeds any bounds of legal reason. Amazing how the new powers can force the prosecutors act so frivolously.

the focus should be on infrastructure projects now, the rail network is ancient, the roads are atrocious in some locations(cars don't dare enter the far left lane in places where the pavement has deep grooves than car tires). if the country expects continuous economic growth, the infrastructure must modernize. Rail and Roads matter, xPms don't.

Wonder if the courts will make charges against Jatupon and the others as their red shirts killed Army personnel. Doubt it very much.

Think the outside world is laughing at Thailand again

What makes you thnk it ever gets much of a chance to stop

My thais not that good but hows it go...

Som Num Na!!!!!!

What is "article 288 of the murder provision under Thailand's criminal code"?

edit: found this:

Section 288 Whoever, murdering the other person, shall be imprisoned by death or imprisoned as from fifteen years to twenty years.

http://www.samuiforsale.com/law-texts/thailand-penal-code.html

Not sure if it is the correct "article", cos it doesn't make sense.

Edited December 6, 201213 yr by whybother

It seems that now Thaksin has his cronies in strategic placements by way of politically based appointments he is now trying a new tact in an attempt to remove his political rivals, but he must realise that by employing this strategy he may cause some light to shine on some of the happenings during his time at the helm.

Sent from my GT-I9003

Just about every elected and unelected government leader would and probably should be on trial for murder under these types of allegations

Its time to go home.... It is beyond a joke

And still the politicians prefer to attack each other instead of bringing Thailand ahead. It's just s shame!

Time to get out the country now.

By this logic the Armed Forces Minister, generals, colonels, majors etc etc will all follow and the command structure of the army will be behind bars. Get ready to start looting.

Sad that this makes Thailand look ridiculous.

the focus should be on infrastructure projects now, the rail network is ancient, the roads are atrocious in some locations(cars don't dare enter the far left lane in places where the pavement has deep grooves than car tires). if the country expects continuous economic growth, the infrastructure must modernize. Rail and Roads matter, xPms don't.

Yes while I cant argue with your statement its a bit hard for an investigation into a muder of a taxi driver to conclude that roads and infrastructure should be upgraded... of course im missing the point you make which is focus but alas this is Thailand

Wonder if the courts will make charges against Jatupon and the others as their red shirts killed Army personnel. Doubt it very much.

Think the outside world is laughing at Thailand again

They (the outside world) has never stopped laughing and these people provide more material 24/7 for them to continue to do so.

The sad thing is that they all think that they are rocket scientists or nuclear physicists when in actual fact they have almost the lowest standard of education in all 58 Asian countries. And have a look at the average IQ's

TIT

Wait a sec... didn't Arisman just get thrown into jail for a year for defaming Abhisit by claiming that he was... a murderer?

Thai politicized "justice" at its worst!

Wonder if the courts will make charges against Jatupon and the others as their red shirts killed Army personnel. Doubt it very much.

Think the outside world is laughing at Thailand again

How is that? Abhisit was the leader when some of the most oppressive censorship, brutal crackdowns and harshest sentences anywhere in the world were carried out under his leadership. Only fitting he is held responsible.

He may be considering using his British passport soon

The Department of Special Investigation have yet to prove whether troops in the area shot at Phan on their own or were simply carrying out an unlawful order. If carrying out an order, they would not be held responsible. Legal action would be taken against those who gave the order.

It seems the DSI determined that the troops "were simply carrying out an unlawful order".

My thais not that good but hows it go...

Som Num Na!!!!!!

English may not be your strong point either.

its good that you're picking up a few Thai phrases. However I'm curious, how does "Serves you right" apply in this case? Serves you right for being prime minister?

This would not constitute murder in any country I can think of.

Som Num Na?

Edited December 6, 201213 yr by Pui

Wonder if the courts will make charges against Jatupon and the others as their red shirts killed Army personnel. Doubt it very much.

Think the outside world is laughing at Thailand again

How is that? Abhisit was the leader when some of the most oppressive censorship, brutal crackdowns and harshest sentences anywhere in the world were carried out under his leadership. Only fitting he is held responsible.

He may be considering using his British passport soon

"anywhere in the world" ... Maybe a slight exaggeration there! Probably not even "anywhere in Thailand".

not even sure if this rediculous charge will ever get a court hearing, just as well the government can't sack all the judges and have them replaced with Red Shirts

I also believe these charges were dreamed up in response to the recent bail revokation and conviction of two red shirt leaders, the head of the DSI should now be stepping down, that organisation needs to be independent just like the courts and judges - same with the anti corruption dept, what a stellar job they're all doing lol

Yet another 'Thai High Soap' being enacted! Have these people got ANY perception of what the 'Educated THINKING World' thinks about their antics?

You can kid some of the people some of the time; as the old saying goes, but eventually even they will run out of belief.

Where in hxxl is this country heading?

This will probably be the trigger point for yet another bout of political mayhem and violence.