Ex-Thai Prime Minister Abhisit ' To Face Murder Charge ': Officials

[rubl]

After the mandatory excursion into all the 'facts' on March - May 2010, can we go back to the OP with

"face a charge of murder over the death of a taxi driver"

The victim was "Phan Khamkong".

On the 17th of September 2012 the Criminal Court ruled that Phan Khamkong, a taxi driver from Yasothon, was shot and killed on May 15, 2010 by troops acting on orders issued by the Centre for the Resolution of Emergency Situations (CRES).

"Phan Kamkong, 43, 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, a Thai criminal court found."

http://www.thaivisa....-death-inquest/

The interesting part is that on the 2nd of November k. Tarit already had said "Evidence and witness testimonies in the case of taxi driver Phan Khamkong, who the court has ruled was killed by security officers in May 2010, are prima facie sufficient for taking legal action against those responsible"

[dunque]

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

bibi - don#'t let the door hit your a**e on the way out

[waza]

The article for which a link was provided by 'docno' is interesting. Read it. It has all kind of remarks like below. Obviously k. Abhisit/Suthep need to be charged for murder.

"the Red leadership was nowhere to be found. The men who had encouraged tens of thousands to risk their lives in the name of "democracy" - paralyzing the commercial heart of Bangkok in the process - had disappeared and left their followers to fend for themselves."

"Red Shirt protesters could be seen lighting the Chit Lom station of Bangkok's SkyTrain system ablaze, ostensibly to keep soldiers from advancing over the tracks. An hour later, fighters broke into the 45-storey Central World shopping mall, looting and then torching what was once one of the city's most popular destinations."

""We can't go anywhere else. We don't know who will shoot at us.""

"Someone had tossed two fireworks toward the soldiers, who by now were in control of the stage area, drawing a furious response. A gun battle raged in the fading light and into the threatening dark that followed."

"He was still near the front gate, bleeding profusely from six shotgun pellets embedded in his right thigh"

"Long hours passed. The gunfire subsided, then roared again. Mysterious explosions went off in the dark. The panic level rose."

May I add other links, equally damning ?

http://www.thaivisa....00#entry5308387

http://cpj.org/repor...-under-fire.php

Although the artticle is intersting.....

The answer was that the soldiers would then be targeted, and they can’t pick us up. We decided that we had to find a way over the back wall. It became dark. We were told that snipers were on all high-rises, and that another, unknown, force may fight the soldiers, and that therefore it would be impossible to pick us up.

There is however no mention of the taxi driver in that article.

[khaowong1]

Poor Abhisit, George W Bush should be counting his lucky stars.

As should Tony Blair and many other leaders of governments. This is so totally bullshsit. Going on this premise, Thaksin would be charged with murder of those 1900 plus people killed in the drug war he instigated. Who does the PTP think they are fooling?

[whybother]

Sorry for quoting your post whybother but there is pages of nonsense I could have quoted. I really feel sorry for the gimp. The DSI (who under dems made no progress for 2 years) have now picked what they believe is the one water tight case to hang on Abhisit. Any orders that were given must have been signed and judging by todays developments it would suggest that they believe rightly or wrongly that the signature belongs to Mark.

We all know he didnt make the call in real life and if this plays out will he fall on the sword or reveal who he received the orders from. To ensure democratic progress coups must never be allowed to happen again and clever Thaksin is making sure this one goes to the wire and I think Thaksin wants the Thai people to know who really gave the orders. There is no amnesty trade off by returning Thaksin for Abhisits acquittal because Thaksin is still the bogeyman because Mark would be seen to do nothing wrong.

As for those who somehow believe that this is to shut Dems up about the rice scam and that Abhisit is scaring the government..get real. The rice adventure is about destroying the rice exporters association who have too much power and allegdelly finance previous coups (amongst others). Thaksin is may to smart for this clusterfook amart and Dem party.

I dont believe Abhisit is guilty but will he give who his paymaster for his freedom. Finally I am a little disappointed that some of the heavyweight yellow shirt facists who post on here have yet to stick their head above the parapet. Theres a challenge

Watertight?

A van is speeding towards an army checkpoint, and the army open fire. A guy who runs out of his apartment (apparently with a sling shot) to see what is going on is shot in all the confusion.

You'd struggle to get a murder conviction at the best of times, but to try to pin a murder conviction on the guy that supposedly gave the order for the soldiers to be armed with live ammunition for their protection is seriously stretching it.

Sent from my HTC phone.

[KRS1]

...and the dance continues.

...the song remains the same

[MAJIC]

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.

Sounds like a clear case of Misadventure,by the unfortunate man. and Capitalised on by PTP.

[marstons]

Well as Truman said the buck stops here so for Abhisit the buck stops with him, but he seemed a decent guy but let Suthep pull his strings. Hope Suthep finally get the long arm of the law feel his collar but doubt it.

"All i want for Christmas is a Red v Yellow thread free day"

[Baerboxer]

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

I sort of agree that government leaders should be made to take responsibility for the actions of armed troops they put on the street. Especially when those leaders took power by force. With power comes responsibility.

I'm fairly sure Hitler, Stalin, Pol Pot et al didn't kill anyone themselves, does that make them any the less culpable?

So you'd put all politicians in the same category? Bush, Blair, Sarkozy, Putin, Obama, and countless Israeli premiers - along with Hitler, Stalin and Pol Pot. Get real.

This is a trumped up attempt to coerce Abhisit to support a general pardon so that Thaksin can return, avoid the sentence resulting from his criminal conviction, avoid charges for jumping bail, and avoid additional potentially more serious charges. About as subtle as a brick through a window.

[Artisi]

Do you expect anything better when he country is run by a company of dancing puppets controlled by a puppet master safely positioned off-shore.

[lhvdberg]

When it comes to politics I always look what's in it for me. What party is better for the Falang. I have seen the Red of Thaksin and the Yellow followed after it, and of course the Red again. I wish we could mix these 2 into Orange but maybe I lust like Orange because of my background (Holland).

Edited December 6, 2012 by lhvdberg

[MAJIC]

"adding that authorities would not seek court permission to detain the men"

That is the scariest government statement I have ever read in Thailand, they are in fact intent on circumventing the courts and the rule of law

Very scary indeed.

Which may be the Governments way of saying: We know the charges against Abhisit don't have a hope in Hel* of sticking.

[rubl]

In reply to someone asking 'wasn't it about time the government was charges after all the UDD and supporters charged'?

The other newspaper has k. Tarit saying

"Mr Tarit said the charges against Mr Abhisit and Mr Suthep would be the first legal charges over the more than 90 deaths that occurred during the 2010 mass rallies."

Those more than 90 include 16 non-red-shirts of which only one was 'friendly fire', the rest just wrong place, wrong time when grenades fell.

[FarangTalk]

only in Thailand

And Adolf Hilter, Slobodan Milosivitch? Pol Pot? Your logic really astounds me!

Interestingly Saloth Sar aka Pol Pot was given safe refuge in Thailand's Trat province during the 80's.

[philw]

only in Thailand

And Adolf Hilter, Slobodan Milosivitch? Pol Pot? Your logic really astounds me!

Interestingly Saloth Sar aka Pol Pot was given safe refuge in Thailand's Trat province during the 80's.

Sure.

Nothing beats a bit of Thai expediency..........

At all levels.

[MAJIC]

Quite right string him up , That is where the buck stops at the top.

When the same happens to Thaksin,you may gain a small measure of credibility.

[visionchaser45]

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

In the U.S. the charge would probably be conspiracy to commit murder. They organized the military crackdown and gave authorization for the military to use "live" rounds on civilians. They both deserve whatever they get.

[MAJIC]

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

What makes you think the world outside Thailand is even paying attention to the world inside Thailand?

BBC World News today 6/12/2012 ran the Story, of Abhisits Indictment, by PTP.

[whybother]

What makes you think the world outside Thailand is even paying attention to the world inside Thailand?

BBC World News today 6/12/2012 ran the Story, of Abhisits Indictment, by PTP.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-20621781

[whybother]

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

In the U.S. the charge would probably be conspiracy to commit murder. They organized the military crackdown and gave authorization for the military to use "live" rounds on civilians. They both deserve whatever they get.

That might be the case if Abhisit's aim was to commit murder.

[philw]

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

In the U.S. the charge would probably be conspiracy to commit murder. They organized the military crackdown and gave authorization for the military to use "live" rounds on civilians. They both deserve whatever they get.

That might be the case if Abhisit's aim was to commit murder.

Er...........

Maybe he authorised lethal force in the full knowledge that it would almost certainly result in deaths.

Deaths of unarmed Thai civilians.

Busy tonight eh ???

[TomTao]

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

In the U.S. the charge would probably be conspiracy to commit murder. They organized the military crackdown and gave authorization for the military to use "live" rounds on civilians. They both deserve whatever they get.

Some of the protesters were armed, in the leadup to the mass protest there were calls to burn Bangkok, why would anyone expect unarmed personnel to go up against armed protesters? It is sad that anyone on either side of the fence had to die, but why would the unfortunate taxi driver have come running out of the apartment building when he heard weapons being discharged? Who does that? Wouldn't most people have stayed safely inside for a good length of time after the shooting in that area had stopped before going out to have a look?

Sent from my GT-I9003

[rubl]

Maybe he did, maybe he didn't. Maybe some just like the (doctored) tape with 'kill me some'.

Anyway, like k. Tarit said before 'prima facie enough for a murder charge'

[DiamondKing]

FINALLY

Only another 89 indicments to go

DK

[whybother]

Er...........

Maybe he authorised lethal force in the full knowledge that it would almost certainly result in deaths.

Deaths of unarmed Thai civilians.

Busy tonight eh ???

That doesn't mean that was his aim.

Why are police armed? Why do they have live bullets? Does the fact that they're sent out armed every day and night mean that their superiors are guilty of pre-meditated murder?

[whybother]

FINALLY

Only another 89 indicments to go

DK

Quite a few of those should go to red shirts.

[philw]

Er...........

Maybe he authorised lethal force in the full knowledge that it would almost certainly result in deaths.

Deaths of unarmed Thai civilians.

Busy tonight eh ???

That doesn't mean that was his aim.

Why are police armed? Why do they have live bullets? Does the fact that they're sent out armed every day and night mean that their superiors are guilty of pre-meditated murder?

Irrelevant and you know it.

Like I said it's a busy night...........

[jrincon17]

_{Wow and I thought he would have been great for Thailand being well educated from a prestigious school. Thats crazy}

[whybother]

Er...........

Maybe he authorised lethal force in the full knowledge that it would almost certainly result in deaths.

Deaths of unarmed Thai civilians.

Busy tonight eh ???

That doesn't mean that was his aim.

Why are police armed? Why do they have live bullets? Does the fact that they're sent out armed every day and night mean that their superiors are guilty of pre-meditated murder?

Irrelevant and you know it.

Like I said it's a busy night...........

Why is irrelevant? The army were out there fighting against armed protesters. Why shouldn't they be armed?

Busy? Obviously not. Plenty of time to post here.

[philw]

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

In the U.S. the charge would probably be conspiracy to commit murder. They organized the military crackdown and gave authorization for the military to use "live" rounds on civilians. They both deserve whatever they get.

Some of the protesters were armed, in the leadup to the mass protest there were calls to burn Bangkok, why would anyone expect unarmed personnel to go up against armed protesters? It is sad that anyone on either side of the fence had to die, but why would the unfortunate taxi driver have come running out of the apartment building when he heard weapons being discharged? Who does that? Wouldn't most people have stayed safely inside for a good length of time after the shooting in that area had stopped before going out to have a look?

Sent from my GT-I9003

I quite like your implication that it was some how his fault for having the gall to go outside.

Like the army have no responsibility for discharging their weapons................

Nice try.