The Abhisit Indictment: Political Ploy?

[webfact]

The Abhisit Indictment: Political ploy?

Written by Richard S. Ehrlich

Many political observers think the former PM was indicted to spark an amnesty deal

BANGKOK: -- Thailand’s former prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and his deputy officially denied murder charges on Dec. 13 in Bangkok, saying they weren’t responsible for troops who allegedly shot dead a taxi driver during a May 2010 protest against Abhisit's widely despised administration.

The murder charges, first announced a week ago, carry a maximum penalty of death and were brought against the two politicians by the DSI, Thailand's version of the US Federal Bureau of Investigation. Abhisit and his former deputy prime minister for security affairs, Suthep Thaugsuban, were not detained after being questioned.

The charges against the two have been branded unprecedented in Thai law by legal scholars, who point out that no charges have ever been filed in previous attacks on protesters in the so-called Black May crackdown in 1992 led by Gen. Suchinda Kraprayoon, in which 52 people were gunned down and an unknown number were disappeared before King Bhumibol Adulyadej stepped in to stop the bloodletting. In another, ordered in 1976, resulted in the deaths of 46 students at Thammasat University demonstrating against the return to power of Field Marshal Thanom Kittikachorn.

In fact, the arrests of the two are widely viewed by political observers in Thailand as extremely unlikely to result in conviction or execution, however. They appear to be a political gambit by the ruling Pheu Thai Party to put Abhisit’s Democrat Party on the back foot, analysts say. Pheu Thai for months has been seeking ways to pressure the opposition into accepting broad amnesty that would include allowing Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra’s exiled brother, Thaksin, to return to Thailand from his bolt-hole in Dubai.

Full story: http://www.asiasenti...5046&Itemid=185

-- Asia Sentinel 2012-12-15

[whybother]

Why is there a question mark (?) in the headline?

[Curt1591]

How many variations of this theme will The Nation come up with?

[OzMick]

Even Blackadder's Baldrick couldn't come up with a better "cunning plan."

[Thait Spot]

How many variations of this theme will The Nation come up with?

As many as people will read

[Tropicalevo]

So - will the DSI now be after OMID for ordering the shooting of innocents during the 'Drug Dealer's Cull'?

[webfact]

How many variations of this theme will The Nation come up with?

This article is not published by The Nation but ASIA SENTINEL, an independent source

About Asia Sentinel: http://www.asiasentinel.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=47&Itemid=65

[maidu]

is water wet?

[jerrysteve]

I certainly wouldn't call it anything else but a Political Ploy? and IF THEY are going to do that, they may as well Indicte him for Knun Thaksin's crimes as well and all the rest of the criminal activity; what the hell!

Edited December 15, 2012 by jerrysteve

[siampolee]

One can but only presume that ex members of the presumed defunct but now resurrected in Thailand East German Stasi have been involved in training the P.T.P. leadership and its rank and file membership in how to distort the truth and pervert justice. as the current situation shows clearly not only in Thailand but the world..

Edited December 15, 2012 by siampolee

[daboyz1]

Why is there a question mark (?) in the headline?

I thought the same thing when I saw it.

[chainarong]

The problem lies with the commander in charge of the troops, not Abhisit, as i have stated previously, If this proceeds, has anyone penciled in the former strongman ,who is the instigator of the problems now facing the nation,on who's watch, thousands were either murdered or disappeared on drug traffic suspicion, to attend court. Of course not , its to draw attention away, allowing that strongman to return, not all of Thailand or observers around the world, came down in the last rain shower.

[smedly]

In my opinion even declaring this taxi mans death as murder is a very long shot by any standards never mind trying to convict someone - his death was no murder

The unlawful premeditated killing of one human being by another.

[Bluespunk]

Why is there a question mark (?) in the headline?

Excellent question.

[Bluespunk]

D.S.I the equivalent of the F.B.I.? I don't think so!

[bigbamboo]

It's a ploy that's failed because the defendants have shown the backbone lacking in the previous PM and stood their ground.

[Pimay1]

D.S.I the equivalent of the F.B.I.? I don't think so!

Agree. That would be like comparing the boy scouts to the Navy Seals or the SAS.

[AleG]

D.S.I the equivalent of the F.B.I.? I don't think so!

They are not the G Men, they are more like Yes Men.

[Skywalker69]

It's a ploy that's failed because the defendants have shown the backbone lacking in the previous PM and stood their ground.

Bet Thaksin didn´t count on that. As you know yourself you know others. Shot himself in the foot.......again.

[nong38]

Its a political ploy to discredit an honourable man, the opposition cannot out debate him and they see him as a dangerous opponent, Thai politics at its best or worst?

[Bluespunk]

Its a political ploy to discredit an honourable man, the opposition cannot out debate him and they see him as a dangerous opponent, Thai politics at its best or worst?

Neither. Just business as usual.

[slipperx]

If you have to ask the question, then you are clearly stupid or maybe just deranged. Seems more and more politicians are losing all sense of everything. Crazy and so harmful to nearly every Thai. This is not democracy at work. 4 year olds have more honour than this lot. Terrible!

[waza]

yes

[manfrommanteo]

Is anything political in Thailand NOT a political ploy? I do love how Abhisit responded, especially his interview with the BBC. He manned up, unlike Thaksin, who runs from his problems like a weak, wimpy, pink-panty wearing sissy ladyboy wus that he is. Abhisit stood up, faced the music, knowing these charges are trumped up and won't hold water, but willing to face the music and consequences that may come from them, even to the point of facing death. That's a real man. Thaksin, you should take lessons on manhood from Abhisit. Seems you favor the weak sissy way, instead. Hope you and your underlings read this, as I'm sure, at least, that your weak pawns read and survey everything written about you here.

One of the key problems holding Thailand back is the nonsense political situation. Instead of raising the country and its people up, all you (read Thaksin and his people) do is tear down, hold down and keep your country in its "third world" rating. You don't care about the people of the country, and would rather enrich yourselves only. If you only had a brain, you'd realize that by raising others up, you yourselves would be raised. A rising tide raises all ships. Sadly, the country of Thailand sits, immobilized, on a sandbar, not able to mobilize itself because of fools.The Thais I've met who live in other countries have done well for themselves. Had they the opportunity to do so in Thailand, they would have done well for themselves there, and in turn the country would have been better off. Sadly, they left Thailand and found better opportunities where they could actually apply their skills and talents and prosper, enriching the countries they moved to instead of their homeland. Thailand loses in that regard. That's too bad. But I'm sure Thaksin and his sister and their clan don't give a rip.

[Pimay1]

Has anyone besides me noticed that our PTP/red apologists friends are conspicuously absent on this thread? Maybe they are all taking a holiday or on a visa run. Or maybe they have finally come to realize the truth about this clone government.

Edited December 15, 2012 by Pimay1

[ratcatcher]

Is anything political in Thailand NOT a political ploy? I do love how Abhisit responded, especially his interview with the BBC. He manned up, unlike Thaksin, who runs from his problems like a weak, wimpy, pink-panty wearing sissy ladyboy wus that he is. Abhisit stood up, faced the music, knowing these charges are trumped up and won't hold water, but willing to face the music and consequences that may come from them, even to the point of facing death. That's a real man. Thaksin, you should take lessons on manhood from Abhisit. Seems you favor the weak sissy way, instead. Hope you and your underlings read this, as I'm sure, at least, that your weak pawns read and survey everything written about you here.

One of the key problems holding Thailand back is the nonsense political situation. Instead of raising the country and its people up, all you (read Thaksin and his people) do is tear down, hold down and keep your country in its "third world" rating. You don't care about the people of the country, and would rather enrich yourselves only. If you only had a brain, you'd realize that by raising others up, you yourselves would be raised. A rising tide raises all ships. Sadly, the country of Thailand sits, immobilized, on a sandbar, not able to mobilize itself because of fools.The Thais I've met who live in other countries have done well for themselves. Had they the opportunity to do so in Thailand, they would have done well for themselves there, and in turn the country would have been better off. Sadly, they left Thailand and found better opportunities where they could actually apply their skills and talents and prosper, enriching the countries they moved to instead of their homeland. Thailand loses in that regard. That's too bad. But I'm sure Thaksin and his sister and their clan don't give a rip.

"a weak, wimpy, pink-panty wearing sissy ladyboy wus"

You're welcome.

Edited December 15, 2012 by ratcatcher

[khunken]

Great article in yesterday's other English daily from Philip Cunningham about Abhisit's BBC grilling by a newsreader.

[Chrisswe]

How was responsibil then, so you men a PM or the director of CREST had no responsibility that time ????

[ratcatcher]

How was responsibil then, so you men a PM or the director of CREST had no responsibility that time ????

Who was responsible? Abhisit,was Prime Minister. His deputy P.M., Suthep was in charge of security and CRES.

There was a state of emergency (SOE) in effect. "Live fire" zones were located in several areas.

The soldiers were armed with live ammunition because they were defending themselves against armed men among the "peaceful" red Shirt protesters. There was collateral damage.

Who is responsible for the death of said taxi driver? That will come out when the trial begins.

After all,Obama is blamed for the death of Osama I hear.

[Pushit]

Have Yingluck Et Al ever heard of the word "Backfire" ?

Obviously , the DSI is nicely positioned to take the blame....Just in case Eh!!

Edited December 15, 2012 by Pushit