Inquest Not Conclusive In 2010 Shooting: Bangkok Protests

[webfact]

Inquest not conclusive in 2010 shooting

Kesinee Taengkhiao

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- An inquest into the death of a man who was killed during the 2010 political protests was inconclusive on whether he was shot by soldiers or by armed protesters.

Boonmee Rermsuk, 71, died of an infection from a gunshot wound to the abdomen, the Criminal Court said in the ruling.

He was reportedly caught in the crossfire between soldiers and armed protesters on Rama IV Road.

The bullet found in his body is suspected to have been fired from an M-16 assault rifle, but ballistics tests failed to match it with the rifles used by the 40 soldiers. Armed protesters were also using assault rifles with the same type of ammunition.

Furthermore, the court said, the victim might have been moved from wherever he was shot to where he was found at a petrol station.

There is no physical evidence or any eyewitnesses to confirm where the shooting occurred. Nor did the victim's statement given before his death pinpoint the exact location.

Boonmee's daughter Nattapat Termwichit said she found the inquest unsatisfactory and that she would think things through before deciding her next move. "My father told me the shot was fired from where the soldiers were deployed and I don't think he had any reason to lie," she said.

One thing the inquest makes clear, Democrat MP Thaworn Senneam said, is that the protesters were armed with assault rifles just like the soldiers, adding that the Department of Special Investigation had erred in trying to portray the soldiers as armed and the protesters as unarmed.

-- The Nation 2013-01-17

[dcutman]

The bullet found in his body is suspected to have been fired from an M-16 assault rifle, but ballistics tests failed to match it with the rifles used by the 40 soldiers. Armed protesters were also using assault rifles with the same type of ammunition.

Now where could that bullet have come from? Certainly not from the peaceful protesters, locked in the gun battle with military troops.

[bigbamboo]

The bullet found in his body is suspected to have been fired from an M-16 assault rifle, but ballistics tests failed to match it with the rifles used by the 40 soldiers. Armed protesters were also using assault rifles with the same type of ammunition.

Now where could that bullet have come from? Certainly not from the peaceful protesters, locked in the gun battle with military troops.

So by the laws of deduction the bullet came from one of the armed protestors. Would that mean the leader of the armed protestors should also be tried for murder?

[SABloke]

Her father can see travelling bullets with his naked eye!

[webfact]

2010 POLITICAL MAYHEM

Inconclusive inquest not affect murder charges against Abhisit : DSI

The Nation

File photo : Tharit

BANGKOK: -- The inconclusive inquest into the death of a man killed during the 2010 political unrest will not affect murder charges against the previous government, the chief of the Department of Special Investigation said Thursday.

Tarit Pengdit said the inquest into the case of Boonmee Rermsuk would not affect earlier cases, for which former prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and former deputy PM Suthep Thaugsuban are now facing murder charges.

Boonmee was the fifth victim killed during the 2010 redshirt protests and for whom the Criminal Court is conducting inquests in an attempt to find out who killed each of them.

In the four previous inquests, the court ruled that the victims were killed by troops' bullets but in the case of Boonmee, the court said there was not enough evidence to establish who fired the fatal shot.

The DSI has filed murder charges against Abhisit and Suthep in the four previous cases on the grounds that they were responsible for the establishment and controlling the Center for the Resolution of the Emergency Situation.

"Since the inquest is inconclusive, the DSI will not file charges against Abhisit and Suthep in this case," Tarit said.

"But this case will not affect other cases because the court has made a ruling for each specific case."

Tarit said that since the court had ruled there was not enough evidence to establish who shot Boonmee, the DSI would look for more information.

If further evidence pointed to Boonmee being shot by one of the "men in black" or "unknown armed fighters", the DSI would not charge the redshirt leaders because there was no evidence showing from whom they had received orders.

-- The Nation 2013-01-17

[siampolee]

So by the laws of deduction the bullet came from one of the armed protestors. Would that mean the leader of the armed protestors should also be tried for murder?

No it shouldn't.

They MUST be charged with murder.

Dual standards cannot be allowed to exist, now I wonder what the protests will be from the Red Shirts and their supporters on this forum ?

Edited January 17, 2013 by siampolee

[RubbaJohnny]

Yes finding it hard on such tough cases( thousands of witnesses,executions on live TV) the 2 Canadians don't stand much chance,perhaps it was the Aliens,Lizards or maybe the rapture.

Can anyone tell me when a rich or important conviicted wrongdoer did any time?

Seems local gaols are for the innocent or convicted poor people.

Can you prepay to run down policeman or is it pay as you go?

[whybother]

"My father told me the shot was fired from where the soldiers were deployed and I don't think he had any reason to lie," she said.

He may or may not have had a reason to die, but that doesn't mean that he wasn't mistaken.

[rixalex]

If further evidence pointed to Boonmee being shot by one of the "men in black" or "unknown armed fighters", the DSI would not charge the redshirt leaders because there was no evidence showing from whom they had received orders.

What a nonsense it is the way they word now all red shirt violence during the 2010 riots as either "men in black" or "unknown armed fighters". When the army is supposedly found guilty of having shot someone, i don't ever hear it being worded as "shot by an unknown armed soldier". It is worded as "shot by the army".

"Men in black" and "unknown armed fighters", is just a way of avoiding having to say "armed red protester", which is exactly what they were.

[Locationthailand]

This is a total waste of time and money. Why does DSI continue to propagate this BS? The Govt at the time under emergency decree worked within the confines of the law and reverted to clearing the riots and seizure of the city. The rioters had more than sufficient warning and time to vacate. So what? Wrong place wrong time? If those who were killed were not there, they would not have died. A case of Som Num Na. The Reds started it, the Govt finished it. Move on - get a life.

Edited January 17, 2013 by Locationthailand

[Tatsujin]

He was reportedly caught in the crossfire between soldiers and armed protesters on Rama IV Road.

The bullet found in his body is suspected to have been fired from an M-16 assault rifle, but ballistics tests failed to match it with the rifles used by the 40 soldiers. Armed protesters were also using assault rifles with the same type of ammunition.

Come on you red supporters . . . how many of you are still going to insist that the protests were peaceful and that they were not armed?

[rixalex]

If those who were killed were not there, they would not have died. A case of Som Num Na.

With the exception of course of those who had no choice being there, like soldiers, medics, etc

[kimamey]

If those who were killed were not there, they would not have died. A case of Som Num Na.

With the exception of course of those who had no choice being there, like soldiers, medics, etc

Probably a valid point.

[RubbaJohnny]

I suppose in a non welfare state dependants of victims compensation will relate to verdicts.Sadly like all else here money and power have an unhappy overlap.I think we will see during any future transition that these scars have not heeled in the sense that the bourgeois revolution that occurred in mercantile Europe 1750-1848 is being concertinaed with assault weapons and peasants who have so little to lose that they wll camp anywhere for 500 baht a day pity Nato didnt recruit them for the Afghan front,I'm sure thay could have helped corruption,embezzlement and drugs with Karzai faster

[GentlemanJim]

It is clear to me I care too much about this place. I should be laughing my ass off at this exhibition of world class comedy, but it makes me want to weep! Oh for just one day in power!

[MAJIC]

If further evidence pointed to Boonmee being shot by one of the "men in black" or "unknown armed fighters", the DSI would not charge the redshirt leaders because there was no evidence showing from whom they had received orders.

What a nonsense it is the way they word now all red shirt violence during the 2010 riots as either "men in black" or "unknown armed fighters". When the army is supposedly found guilty of having shot someone, i don't ever hear it being worded as "shot by an unknown armed soldier". It is worded as "shot by the army".

"Men in black" and "unknown armed fighters", is just a way of avoiding having to say "armed red protester", which is exactly what they were.

But dressed in Black,among the Reds gives them a get out clause,for anything,shrewd move by the Paymaster.

Edited January 17, 2013 by MAJIC

[Buchholz]

If further evidence pointed to Boonmee being shot by one of the "men in black" or "unknown armed fighters", the DSI would not charge the redshirt leaders because there was no evidence showing from whom they had received orders.

What a nonsense it is the way they word now all red shirt violence during the 2010 riots as either "men in black" or "unknown armed fighters". When the army is supposedly found guilty of having shot someone, i don't ever hear it being worded as "shot by an unknown armed soldier". It is worded as "shot by the army".

"Men in black" and "unknown armed fighters", is just a way of avoiding having to say "armed red protester", which is exactly what they were.

I'm sure any day now Chalerm will specifically identify those Men in Black individuals he labeled 14 months ago as policemen.

.

[rubl]

If further evidence pointed to Boonmee being shot by one of the "men in black" or "unknown armed fighters", the DSI would not charge the redshirt leaders because there was no evidence showing from whom they had received orders.

Various remarks by the late renegade general Seh Daeng, some UDD leaders, red-shirt guards, etc., etc. are just useless, hardly circumstancial evidence I guess. Also the lack of red-shirts surely indicate no relation with the peaceful red-shirts.

BTW somewhere last year the DSI started to concentrate on the 'easy' cases of the 91 death. Makes you wonder

[smedly]

I'm confused - they tested the firearms of the 40 soldiers involved and established that the bullets did not match and as the armed protestors were using the same type of firearms - would it not be safe to conclude that that is were the shot came from ?, in the other cases heard so far there is no foreinsic evidence supporting that the bullets came from soldiers weapons yet they are being blamed - isn't there a double standard here or more accurately "no standard at all" there doesn't seem to be hard evidence who fired these shots so basically they are assumtions - oh it must have been the soldiers,

Do any of these people making up these charges actually have a brain between them ? the only people that seem to have any inteligence in this country are those in the higher court system - who I believe should be acting now to stop this embarrassment - or perhaps they are actually too frightened to get involved

[hellodolly]

So by the laws of deduction the bullet came from one of the armed protestors. Would that mean the leader of the armed protestors should also be tried for murder?

No it shouldn't.

They MUST be charged with murder.

Dual standards cannot be allowed to exist, now I wonder what the protests will be from the Red Shirts and their supporters on this forum ?

Hate to have to disagree with you but in the Thailand of 2012 there are dual standards. Just put on a red shirt and you can get away with a lot. For example Abhist is being charged for murder in successfully putting down armed terrorists.

On the other hand we have Thaksin with no charges even though he financed the terrorists and would make long distance calls to root them on with there illegal tactics. Why is he not being charged with murder.

That my friend is dual standards.

[siampolee]

Hello Dolly,

You reinforced my comment succinctly..

According to this current maladministration there is equality for all .

As I said Dual standards cannot exist.

However the varying strengths of equality are plain to see as you so rightly pointed out.

Now how do the puppet P.T.P. explain that scenario ?

[webfact]

INCONCLUSIVE INQUEST

Democrats demand action against reds

The Nation

Chalerm says court yet to point out killer; DSI insists murder charges against Abhisit, Suthep will stay

BANGKOK: -- Democrat MPs yesterday called on the government to investigate and prepare to take legal measures now that the Criminal Court has found that the red shirts also used weapons during the 2010 political turmoil.

At the House meeting, Democrat MP Nipit Intarasombat asked what the government was planning to do now that the court has discovered that the ruling Pheu Thai Party's key supporters also used weapons against military officers.

However, Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung said the court's inconclusive inquest into the death of Boonmee Rermsuk did not point out the killer.

Boonmee's was the fifth case related to the 2010 crackdown that the Criminal Court launched an enquiry into, and was the only one in which witnesses and evidence showed that the protesters may have used weapons.

In four of the cases, the court ruled that the fatal shots came from the troops' side, but in Boonmee's case, the court said there was not enough evidence to establish the killer.

However, Department of Special Investigation chief Tarit Pengdith said yesterday that though Boonmee's case was inconclusive, it would have no effect on the murder charges levelled against former PM Abhisit Vejjajiva and his then deputy Suthep Thaugsuban.

The DSI has filed murder charges against Abhisit and Suthep in four previous cases on grounds that they were responsible for establishing and controlling the Centre for the Resolution of the Emergency Situation.

"Since the inquest is inconclusive, the DSI will not file charges against Abhisit and Suthep in this case," Tarit said. "But this case will not affect the other cases because the court has issued separate rulings."

Tarit said that the DSI would look for more information in Boonmee's case.

However, he said, if evidence shows that Boonmee was shot by one of the "men in black" or other unknown armed fighters, then the DSI would not charge the red-shirt leaders because there was no clear evidence showing who they had received orders from.

'Men in black' considered

Meanwhile, a DSI source said the department's new team had summoned investigators in the terrorism case to testify about the so-called "men in black". The source added that investigators are insisting that the armed men in black were part of the protesting crowds and had used guns against the troops.

The investigators reportedly testified that the red-shirt leaders had themselves said that armed fighters backed them, though the "men in black" could not be identified because their faces were hidden.

The investigators also said that the Supreme Court ruling had stated that criminals always got support from their own people.

Also yesterday, Thida Thavornseth, chairperson of the Democratic Alliance against Dictatorship, said it was not possible that the protesters killed Boonmee because none of them were armed. She added that the inquest was inconclusive because the DSI investigators had failed to provide enough information to the court.

-- The Nation 2013-01-18

[whybother]

Also yesterday, Thida Thavornseth, chairperson of the Democratic Alliance against Dictatorship, said it was not possible that the protesters killed Boonmee because none of them were armed.

Denial is not just a river in Egypt.

[dcutman]

So sorry I Just one quick off topic question.

Is there any other known cases of people being able to walk an talk with absolutely no brain function? Or is Thida the only one?

[waza]

Just peacefull protestors, huh! The last pic is blackshirts shooting at the temple.

Edited January 18, 2013 by waza

[rubl]

At the House meeting, Democrat MP Nipit Intarasombat asked what the government was planning to do now that the court has discovered that the ruling Pheu Thai Party's key supporters also used weapons against military officers.

However, Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung said the court's inconclusive inquest into the death of Boonmee Rermsuk did not point out the killer.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but till now in no case 'the killer' has been pointed out. Still k. Abhisit and k. Suthep have been charged. Does Dept. PM Pol. Captain Chalerm's remark means charges will be dropped?

[dcutman]

A series of grenade blasts shook Bangkok's business district yesterday, killing at least three people and wounding 75, heightening tensions during a showdown between troops and anti-government protesters.

Five explosions hit an area packed with soldiers and studded with banks, office towers and hotels. The grenades were fired into an area where hundreds of pro-government protesters were gathering. Four were seriously wounded, including two foreigners.

I missed the explanation by K.Tarit, why soldiers where firing grenades at themselves. Or did he not get that far into the investigation yet?

[dcutman]

At the House meeting, Democrat MP Nipit Intarasombat asked what the government was planning to do now that the court has discovered that the ruling Pheu Thai Party's key supporters also used weapons against military officers.

However, Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung said the court's inconclusive inquest into the death of Boonmee Rermsuk did not point out the killer.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but till now in no case 'the killer' has been pointed out. Still k. Abhisit and k. Suthep have been charged. Does Dept. PM Pol. Captain Chalerm's remark means charges will be dropped?

Since the inquest is inconclusive, the DSI will not file charges against Abhisit and Suthep in this case," Tarit said.

In other words: OOOOPS we thought for sure the court would determine a soldier fired the deadly shot because it was a .223 round from an M-16

Edited January 18, 2013 by dcutman

[phantomfiddler]

In all of the demonstrations by all parties two things were very clear. All the violence was instigated by the red-shirt thugs, and the government was far too lenient in dealing with them. After Big-T murders thousands of supposed drug dealers with impunity, for Abhisit to be charged with multiple murders is nothing short of complete farce. Anyone unfortunate enough to have been shot or killed in "crossfire" had to be involved or extremely stupid to have been in such a volatile area for no apparent reason. Darwin rules.

Edited January 19, 2013 by phantomfiddler

[Tatsujin]

He was reportedly caught in the crossfire between soldiers and armed protesters on Rama IV Road.

The bullet found in his body is suspected to have been fired from an M-16 assault rifle, but ballistics tests failed to match it with the rifles used by the 40 soldiers. Armed protesters were also using assault rifles with the same type of ammunition.

Come on you red supporters . . . how many of you are still going to insist that the protests were peaceful and that they were not armed?

Come on red supporters . . . where's your dismissal of this latest case? . . . you've all gone very quiet . . . !