BURNING ISSUE
Are the red shirts afraid of going to court?
Attayuth Bootsripoom

BANGKOK: -- At first glance, it seemed astonishing that red-shirt leaders would be brave enough to announce that they will not seek amnesty for themselves in the terrorism case which is before the court and which carries the maximum penalty of a death sentence.

Red-shirt leaders have even challenged former prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and his then deputy Suthep Thaugsuban to prove each side's innocence regarding the 2010 political violence.

Abhisit and Suthep face murder conspiracy charges following the deaths of red-shirt protesters in the 2010 crackdowns.

The red-shirt leaders have openly boasted that they have an advantage because they have clear evidence proving that their rallies were peaceful and that they had no hand in the resulting violence.

They cited recent rulings of the Civil Court to back their claims. The Civil Court ruled that the CentralWord shopping mall was burned down in a riot, and had not been set ablaze in an act of terrorism.

Abhisit and Suthep could be disadvantaged because inquests by the Criminal Court have concluded that many deaths in the May 2010 violence were caused by troops.

Red-shirt supporters seem to be buoyed with confidence that the two government leaders face punishment. Plus, the red-shirt leaders appear so confident of their pending victory that they declared they would not seek amnesty.

However, the latest move of the red-shirt movement contradicted the show of the leaders' confidence when, weng Tojirakarn, filed a complaint with the Department of Special Investigation, calling for the terrorism case to be dropped.

The DSI concluded it had no authority to withdraw the case which is already before the court, so it asked the justice minister to consider instructing public prosecutors to file a petition before the Criminal Court to consider dropping the case.

The move was also backed by a campaign on red-shirt TV channel, Asia Update. Several red-shirt leaders went on Asia Update to try and convince red-shirt supporters that the charges should be dropped because the red-shirts should not face a terrorism case, which is a political one.

So, it turned out that the red-shirts and their leaders agreed that they should not be tried in court, while the other side should.

This leads one to wonder whether the red-shirt movement had been planning this move from the very beginning. Did it always aim to have the case dropped after its side won power? Have red-shirt leaders planned from the beginning to claim they did not want to seek amnesty for themselves and wanted only ordinary demonstrators to be absolved?

It is not yet certain if the court will allow the case to be dropped. But it is expected the Justice Ministry, which is controlled by the government, will be able to manipulate evidence to convince the court to do so.

It is believed if the case is dropped, another round of violence will erupt because there are other groups that disagree with the red-shirt movement.

Although several people support the red-shirt movement to some extent, they still have questions regarding the violence in 2010.

They suspect the red-shirt leaders may have planned the violence that led to the tragedies with the goal to topple the government. These people would like both sides to prove their truth in court instead of abruptly allowing one side to escape trial. This would definitely lead to allegations of abuse of authority to benefit the government's side.

Nobody should forget the abuse of power to benefit his side, without caring about judicial process, once caused former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra to be politically cornered. Would something similar happen again?

The best way out is for the red-shirt leaders to defend themselves in court. Or are they afraid of the truth that could be revealed in court?


-- The Nation 2013-05-09

If the red-shirts get their way they will soon be running the courts. When that happens of course they will not be afraid of going to court.

I think the reds are so arrogant and sure of their position that they don't need to waste time with something so mundane as the judicial system. As was said after the last general election " we are in charge now, we can do what we like. "

So it was a peaceful riot?

Again and again these redshirts forget the existence of Youtube, and the cute video's of red leaders urging the baying mob to burn Siriraj hospital, central world, the SET etc etc. They also keep forgetting the PTP deputy house speaker's money trail from a bank inside parliament to the red shirt bomber that detonated explosives all across Bangkok. Rather hard to find an excuse for I would imagine.

Overthrowing the judicial system and courts is the only way they will be "not guilty".

Red shirt justice

Punish anyone but us

"... Abhisit and Suthep face murder conspiracy charges..."

What a ridiculous statement. Conspiracy? It will never be proven.

" noun ( pl. -cies)

a secret plan by a group to do something unlawful or harmful"

There was nothing unlawful in ordering clearing of streets. There was no 'conspiracy to murder'. Harmful? Again hardly a conspiracy and certainly there was nothing secretive about their action. It was openly discussed and tendered to the reds, disperse or face consequences of removal. But by that time the reds had already shot a number of people.

I always wondered that should Thailand ever go to war with another country who would be the soldiers? The Red or Yellow shirts? I mean they can't even live together in a democracy, how will they ever be able to protect their soil "together" from intruders?

It is not yet certain if the court will allow the case to be dropped. But it is expected the Justice Ministry, which is controlled by the government, will be able to manipulate evidence to convince the court to do so.

So the reporters are openly stating now that the Govt will manipulate evidence to vindicate themselves . . . interesting.

This leads one to wonder whether the red-shirt movement had been planning this move from the very beginning. Did it always aim to have the case dropped after its side won power?

Any one here think that these intellectually, emotionally and morally bereft people are capable of planning that far ahead?

If I were a protester who refused to vacate the rally site and was locked up, I certainly would not fear court... I would be relishing the opportunity to say on record why I was there, why my cause was just, and why I felt it my arrest/detainment was unjust.

However, if I was one of those on stage who called for turning Bangkok into a sea of fire, urging protesters to "burn it all" and not to worry about responsibility as I was the one calling for it, announcing the arrival of a third armed element just prior to 10 April, leading protesters into hospitals and so on, leading groups of protesters to protest outside their encampment to start fights with soldiers... I would be very afraid.

They cited recent rulings of the Civil Court to back their claims. The Civil Court ruled that the CentralWord shopping mall was burned down in a riot, and had not been set ablaze in an act of terrorism.

Riot or terrorism, it's irrelevant, as Pi Sek has already stated there is ample video evidence to show the ringleaders urging people to burn buildings etc.. The one I get the biggest kick out of is the video showing a now government minister telling people that he would take responsibility. These thugs have no idea of the concept, and no intention of ever standing up and saying "yes I did say that, and i'm proud of it".

Central world may have been burnt down "in a riot", but that doesn't stop the shooting of guns and grenades from being terrorism.

Central world may have been burnt down "in a riot", but that doesn't stop the shooting of guns and grenades from being terrorism.

And how would you police a riot then? Where hired thugs are sniping at soldiers, who are also being fired at with sling shots and petrol bombs. The rioters are also casuing wide spread criminal damage including arson.

Have you ever been in a situation where you have faced such an illegal mob?

Warnings were repeatedly given, and ignored.

Civil conflicts are always the worst, especially as the side acting illegally usually makes up large amounts of propoganda afterwards.

They suspect the red-shirt leaders may have planned the violence that led to the tragedies with the goal to topple the government.

Gee, why would they think that?

UDD co-leader Jakkrapob has told some contacts privately that he favors instigating small acts of violence in hopes of triggering an overreaction by security forces, which in turn would give momentum to red calls for systemic change.

So it was a peaceful riot?

He's not a terrorist, he's a very naughty rioter.

There was a state of emergency declared at the time brought on by the red riots which I would imagine changes the rules completely.

There is also the present PM's recent statement when the 50,000 riot police were brought out that the "Law must be obeyed".

These two taken together must form a pretty good defense for the Govt of the day.

As well as the public statements by the red leaders that were broadcast to the world I suspect there is plenty of other evidence stashed away that will be enough to nail the red leaders should it ever emerge.

Yes they are scared, that's why they have the DSI trying so hard to pin everything they can possibly find on Khun A & S in an attempt to take them out of the picture.

This is quite apt for the currents times we find ourselves in

I always wondered that should Thailand ever go to war with another country who would be the soldiers? The Red or Yellow shirts? I mean they can't even live together in a democracy, how will they ever be able to protect their soil "together" from intruders?

Maybe Thai's should start a war with one of the neighbors.

Common enemy policy seems to work for the big brother

They are not afraid of going to court, they are afraid if they are convicted they cant afford a condo next to Thaksin.

They are not afraid of going to court, they are afraid if they are convicted they cant afford a condo next to Thaksin.

A red shirt PTP MP was convicted and disqualified this afternoon.

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/564026-election-commission-seeks-a-court-ruling-to-disqualify-pheu-thai-mp-karun/?view=getlastpost

"the charges should be dropped because the red-shirts should not face a terrorism case, which is a political one." I guess the government should drop all the terrorism cases in the Deep South seeing they are 'political cases'.