Ex-Thai Premier Abhisit Slams 'political' Protest Murder Charge

[webfact]

Ex-Thai PM slams 'political' protest murder charge

BANGKOK, Dec 7, 2012 (AFP) - Former Thai premier Abhisit Vejjajiva Friday said the decision to charge him with murder over 2010 "Red Shirt" rallies was "political", insisting military action against protestors was to restore order.

Abhisit, who oversaw the response to the mass demonstration in Bangkok against his government, is set to appear at the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) next week for questioning over the death of a taxi driver shot by soldiers during the unrest.

But the Oxford-educated career politician told reporters that he rejected the credibility of the charge, which was announced by the DSI on Thursday.

"This case has a hidden political agenda," said Abhisit, who was swept into opposition last year by Yingluck Shinawatra, the sister of ousted former premier Thaksin, and her Red Shirt-backed Puea Thai party.

Thailand has been repeatedly rocked by street protests by the Reds and rival royalist Yellow Shirts since Thaksin was toppled by royalist generals in a 2006 coup.

Around 90 people died and nearly 1,900 were wounded in clashes between Red Shirt demonstrators and security forces, which culminated in a bloody military crackdown in May 2010. Two foreign journalists were among those killed.

DSI chief Tarit Pengdith on Thursday said Abhisit and his deputy Suthep Thaugsuban, who is also set to be charged, had repeatedly used the armed forces against civilians, showing "an intention to endanger life".

But Abhisit denied the accusation, saying the pair's "honest intention" was to "restore peace and order without a crackdown".

The British-born politician suggested that the charge against him was linked to a highly controversial reconciliation bill that opponents see as an attempt to enable the return of Thaksin, who lives abroad to avoid a jail term for corruption.

"Suthep and I will not bargain for this trial... Reconciliation should be based on truth and responsibility -- there is no reason to exchange that for an amnesty for people who corrupt this country," he said.

Tarit on Thursday insisted the investigation into the unrest had not been subject to political interference and was decided on the basis of "facts and laws".

In September an inquest -- the first into the Red Shirt protest deaths -- concluded that taxi driver Phan Kamkong was shot by troops.

Abhisit said he would present himself to hear the charge on December 13, a day after requested by the DSI.

-- (c) Copyright AFP 2012-12-07

[alstaxi]

Nothing you can dream is too absurd when you live in Dubai.

[rubl]

DSI chief Tarit Pengdith on Thursday said Abhisit and his deputy Suthep Thaugsuban, who is also set to be charged, had repeatedly used the armed forces against civilians, showing "an intention to endanger life".

Does this mean our PM and the Minister of Interior will ask the army to withdraw troops from down South ?

[Wildliferescue]

So when will the DSI charge Thaksin for the 2,500 people that were killed during the war on drugs several years ago?

[rixalex]

I think the further this hatchet job goes, the more self-inflicted damage that PTP will bring on itself. All but the most extremist red sympathisers know that Abhisit on a murder charge is just silly, and the longer it goes on, the more damage it will do to the credence of all other cases that may be pursued.

It also could potentially reflect badly on Thaksin: if Abhisit defiantly stands his ground and faces up to charges that potentially could result in a death penalty, rather than cowardly fleeing off overseas or rushing into making some sort of whitewash pact, it could turn Abhisit into some sort of courageous victim in all this and give him the moral high ground.

[waza]

The PTP is playing with fire and I feel they will get their fingers burnt.

[AleG]

Funny how Tarit comes out with this allegations, two years after he was part of the CRES handling the protest.

I have the feeling he struck a deal to cover his ass.

[Mosha]

So when will the DSI charge Thaksin for the 2,500 people that were killed during the war on drugs several years ago?

Not forgetting Tai Bak

[carra]

You want truth and responsibility abhisit? Then tell the truth and take responsibility for the orders you gave and the unarmed people that died at the hands of the army, it's all well and good just pointing the finger at the other side and tell them what to do for reconciliation, but take a look at your own actions and man up and face the consequences.

[carra]

So when will the DSI charge Thaksin for the 2,500 people that were killed during the war on drugs several years ago?

Not forgetting Tai Bak

ThiS thread is about abhisit bleating and not taking responsibility, but since you raised this since these incidents there has been a military government and the dem government, neither brought charges for these against thaksin,

Ask yourself why

[Moruya]

Funny how Tarit comes out with this allegations, two years after he was part of the CRES handling the protest.

I have the feeling he struck a deal to cover his ass.

Exactly. What a slippery gobshite he turned out to be.

[whybother]

You want truth and responsibility abhisit? Then tell the truth and take responsibility for the orders you gave and the unarmed people that died at the hands of the army, it's all well and good just pointing the finger at the other side and tell them what to do for reconciliation, but take a look at your own actions and man up and face the consequences.

Who will take responsibility for the unarmed people that died at the hands of the red shirts?

[waza]

You want truth and responsibility abhisit? Then tell the truth and take responsibility for the orders you gave and the unarmed people that died at the hands of the army, it's all well and good just pointing the finger at the other side and tell them what to do for reconciliation, but take a look at your own actions and man up and face the consequences.

Abhist has manned up and will present himselp to the DSI for charges and he will stay and fight them. Its the convicted criminal, Thaksin that lost his bottle and fled like the coward he is.

Edited December 7, 2012 by waza

[Moruya]

You want truth and responsibility abhisit? Then tell the truth and take responsibility for the orders you gave and the unarmed people that died at the hands of the army, it's all well and good just pointing the finger at the other side and tell them what to do for reconciliation, but take a look at your own actions and man up and face the consequences.

You don't know what the truth is.

The stuff you spout is pure fantasy and it isn't even your own invention - just third hand red propaganda for those without independent thought cruising the corruption bandwagon.

Abhisit is facing up to the allegations and will fight it in the courts like a true hero not like your plastic icon in the Emirates

[Notstupid30]

Karma is a bitch? I would not like to be a red shirt fan when the yellows shirts ever come back into power that's all i'm saying about this matter i will leave it to people imagination what could follow..

Edited December 7, 2012 by Notstupid30

[carra]

You want truth and responsibility abhisit? Then tell the truth and take responsibility for the orders you gave and the unarmed people that died at the hands of the army, it's all well and good just pointing the finger at the other side and tell them what to do for reconciliation, but take a look at your own actions and man up and face the consequences.

Who will take responsibility for the unarmed people that died at the hands of the red shirts?

Which unarmed people died at the hands of the red shirts? If there is any proof of this then the offender should be charged for the offence and take his/her punishment. I still find it strange that no men in black have been arrested or even identified even during the dems reign so we can't be surprised if PTP can't find them or identify them, or is there a conspiracy and the PTP hired them?

[rixalex]

Funny how Tarit comes out with this allegations, two years after he was part of the CRES handling the protest.

Yes that is funny isn't it. Tarit claims that although he was a part of it all as Director of the CRES, he was opposed to the use of force that was employed. To my mind, if he really had been opposed as he now claims, he should have expressed that opposition by standing down from his position on a matter of principle. He didn't. He remained a part of it. If he thinks Abhisit has a murder charge to answer to, perhaps he should consider putting in a charge against himself for conspiring with the accused.

[carra]

You want truth and responsibility abhisit? Then tell the truth and take responsibility for the orders you gave and the unarmed people that died at the hands of the army, it's all well and good just pointing the finger at the other side and tell them what to do for reconciliation, but take a look at your own actions and man up and face the consequences.

You don't know what the truth is.

The stuff you spout is pure fantasy and it isn't even your own invention - just third hand red propaganda for those without independent thought cruising the corruption bandwagon.

Abhisit is facing up to the allegations and will fight it in the courts like a true hero not like your plastic icon in the Emirates

Now now calm down, I am intelligent enough to form my own opinion, why is it one side is propaganda and the other is fact in your eyes, I would say you have been brainwashed by the propaganda ner ner ner ner neeer.

I don't have a hero or icon and if I did it certainly would not be thaksin, oh I get it, anyone that does not buy into your ideals just be redshirt sympathizer haha, get real.

It seems you have a hero though, the proven liar abhisit, what. Fantastic roll model you have given yourself.

[kblaze]

You want truth and responsibility abhisit? Then tell the truth and take responsibility for the orders you gave and the unarmed people that died at the hands of the army, it's all well and good just pointing the finger at the other side and tell them what to do for reconciliation, but take a look at your own actions and man up and face the consequences.

Who will take responsibility for the unarmed people that died at the hands of the red shirts?

Which unarmed people died at the hands of the red shirts? If there is any proof of this then the offender should be charged for the offence and take his/her punishment. I still find it strange that no men in black have been arrested or even identified even during the dems reign so we can't be surprised if PTP can't find them or identify them, or is there a conspiracy and the PTP hired them?

You are so disillusioned that you are beyond the sympathy stage, now you are just a laughing-stock.

[Moruya]

You want truth and responsibility abhisit? Then tell the truth and take responsibility for the orders you gave and the unarmed people that died at the hands of the army, it's all well and good just pointing the finger at the other side and tell them what to do for reconciliation, but take a look at your own actions and man up and face the consequences.

You don't know what the truth is.

The stuff you spout is pure fantasy and it isn't even your own invention - just third hand red propaganda for those without independent thought cruising the corruption bandwagon.

Abhisit is facing up to the allegations and will fight it in the courts like a true hero not like your plastic icon in the Emirates

Now now calm down, I am intelligent enough to form my own opinion, why is it one side is propaganda and the other is fact in your eyes, I would say you have been brainwashed by the propaganda ner ner ner ner neeer.

I don't have a hero or icon and if I did it certainly would not be thaksin, oh I get it, anyone that does not buy into your ideals just be redshirt sympathizer haha, get real.

It seems you have a hero though, the proven liar abhisit, what. Fantastic roll model you have given yourself.

All your posts are at the red end of the spectrum.

And your opinion expressed as if it were fact does not make it so.

If you don't know what exact orders were given then basically you are dishonest

[lemoncake]

But Abhisit denied the accusation, saying the pair's "honest intention" was to "restore peace and order without a crackdown".

The British-born politician suggested that the charge against him was linked to a highly controversial reconciliation bill that opponents see as an attempt to enable the return of Thaksin, who lives abroad to avoid a jail term for corruption.

He is absolutely spot on.

If he did indeed give the order just to shoot, rest assured there would have been thousands dead, not just 90.

He indeed give the order to restore peace and that order was met with violent protest, doubt BKK set it self on fire

[FarangTalk]

Thaksin pulls off yet another brilliant political masterstroke.

[ramrod711]

You want truth and responsibility abhisit? Then tell the truth and take responsibility for the orders you gave and the unarmed people that died at the hands of the army, it's all well and good just pointing the finger at the other side and tell them what to do for reconciliation, but take a look at your own actions and man up and face the consequences.

I assume that your desire for people to man up and take responsibility for their actions includes your old friend Nuttawut who said he would take responsibility for violence in Bangkok " don't be afraid, I'll take responsibility" One hopes that you expect that he will be found guilty of terrorism,strangely enough, I find the prospect of your support to be doubtful.

[lemoncake]

You want truth and responsibility abhisit? Then tell the truth and take responsibility for the orders you gave and the unarmed people that died at the hands of the army, it's all well and good just pointing the finger at the other side and tell them what to do for reconciliation, but take a look at your own actions and man up and face the consequences.

You don't know what the truth is.

The stuff you spout is pure fantasy and it isn't even your own invention - just third hand red propaganda for those without independent thought cruising the corruption bandwagon.

Abhisit is facing up to the allegations and will fight it in the courts like a true hero not like your plastic icon in the Emirates

Now now calm down, I am intelligent enough to form my own opinion, why is it one side is propaganda and the other is fact in your eyes, I would say you have been brainwashed by the propaganda ner ner ner ner neeer.

I don't have a hero or icon and if I did it certainly would not be thaksin, oh I get it, anyone that does not buy into your ideals just be redshirt sympathizer haha, get real.

It seems you have a hero though, the proven liar abhisit, what. Fantastic roll model you have given yourself.

I do consider Abhisit to be a "hero", unlike many others before him, he is actually educated.Even the current PM who supposedly is US educated with masters, and yet can not string few words in English or give a decent speech.

He Abihist did not "go in to business" or became rich from being the PM unlike many others before him.

Furthermore, he hardly made any "promises" just to gain support and those facts alone is enough to admire him for his desire to make changes and represent Thailand to the world

Edited December 7, 2012 by lemoncake

[saltandpepper]

You want truth and responsibility abhisit? Then tell the truth and take responsibility for the orders you gave and the unarmed people that died at the hands of the army, it's all well and good just pointing the finger at the other side and tell them what to do for reconciliation, but take a look at your own actions and man up and face the consequences.

Ridiculous

How can you ask Abhisit to man up when your dear hero is a coward on the run?

You are so biased , so predictable that ALL your posts are way over the limit...

[kblaze]

But Abhisit denied the accusation, saying the pair's "honest intention" was to "restore peace and order without a crackdown".

The British-born politician suggested that the charge against him was linked to a highly controversial reconciliation bill that opponents see as an attempt to enable the return of Thaksin, who lives abroad to avoid a jail term for corruption.

He is absolutely spot on.

If he did indeed give the order just to shoot, rest assured there would have been thousands dead, not just 90.

He indeed give the order to restore peace and that order was met with violent protest, doubt BKK set it self on fire

Apparently one needs to let mobs rampage through a city for MORE than 2 months, because a crackdown after only 2 months is murderous.

[webfact]

2010 POLITICAL VIOLENCE

Abhisit and Suthep refuse to compromise on Thakin amnesty

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Ex-PM Abhisit Vejjajiva and former deputy PM Suthep Thaugsuban on Friday vowed to accept their fate over the charge of murder in the case of a taxi driver killed by military fire during the red shirt protests in 2010 but swore they would not compromise over an amnesty for former PM Thaksin Shinawatra.

Abhisit and Suthep told a press conference that the charges against them were motivated by efforts to pressure them to allow Thaksin to be whitewashed by an amnesty bill.

The press conference was held after an official of the Department of Special Investigation, Pol Capt Piya Raksakul, came to the Democrat head office to hand over a summons for the Democrat leader and MP to meet DSI officials on Wednesday to acknowledge the charges.

The charges were issued following a recent court judgement that taxi driver Phan Kamkong was shot dead by military personnel during the operation against the protest in 2010.

-- The Nation 2012-12-07

[MAJIC]

You want truth and responsibility abhisit? Then tell the truth and take responsibility for the orders you gave and the unarmed people that died at the hands of the army, it's all well and good just pointing the finger at the other side and tell them what to do for reconciliation, but take a look at your own actions and man up and face the consequences.

Who will take responsibility for the unarmed people that died at the hands of the red shirts?

Which unarmed people died at the hands of the red shirts? If there is any proof of this then the offender should be charged for the offence and take his/her punishment. I still find it strange that no men in black have been arrested or even identified even during the dems reign so we can't be surprised if PTP can't find them or identify them, or is there a conspiracy and the PTP hired them?

There's one thing for sure the PTP have disowned the Black shirts in their midst in 2010. No need to wonder why too much,seems pretty obvious.

[whybother]

You want truth and responsibility abhisit? Then tell the truth and take responsibility for the orders you gave and the unarmed people that died at the hands of the army, it's all well and good just pointing the finger at the other side and tell them what to do for reconciliation, but take a look at your own actions and man up and face the consequences.

Who will take responsibility for the unarmed people that died at the hands of the red shirts?

Which unarmed people died at the hands of the red shirts? If there is any proof of this then the offender should be charged for the offence and take his/her punishment. I still find it strange that no men in black have been arrested or even identified even during the dems reign so we can't be surprised if PTP can't find them or identify them, or is there a conspiracy and the PTP hired them?

A woman at Sala Daeng station was killed by a grenade launched from Lumpini park. A red shirt has been arrested for launching grenades from that area. The Colonel was killed by a grenade. Others, including journalists were injured by grenades. The cause of many of the deaths haven't been determined. Given that there were armed red shirts, it's not certainly not clear that all the civilians were killed by the army.

It was pretty easy to escape the area, and it would have been simple for the "men in black" to ditch everything and blend in with the other "peaceful" protesters.

[Skywalker69]

So when will the DSI charge Thaksin for the 2,500 people that were killed during the war on drugs several years ago?

Not forgetting Tai Bak

ThiS thread is about abhisit bleating and not taking responsibility, but since you raised this since these incidents there has been a military government and the dem government, neither brought charges for these against thaksin,

Ask yourself why

"Suthep and I will not bargain for this trial... Reconciliation should be based on truth and responsibility -- there is no reason to exchange that for an amnesty for people who corrupt this country," he said.