Terror charge against Thaksin dropped: 2010 political crisis

[webfact]

2010 POLITICAL CRISIS
'Terror charge against Thaksin dropped'
Prapasri Osathanon
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Public prosecutors have decided not to file a charge of terrorism against former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra in connection with the unrest and riots of 2010, Democrat Party deputy leader Thaworn Senneam said yesterday.

Thaworn said he had been told this by people in the Attorney General's Office, after a decision was made last month. A request had been made for the agency to review a move by prosecutors in 2011 to charge Thaksin with acts of terrorism, for allegedly being behind the red-shirt uprising, which left nearly 100 people killed.

"I think the families of people killed, as well as people who suffered damage [during the 2010 turmoil] may bring their cases to court by themselves, without having to rely on public prosecutors," Thaworn said.

New Attorney General Athapol Yaisawang said he had no knowledge about this matter, as yesterday was just his first day in office. He expected to be informed by relevant officials if Thaworn's claim was true.


-- The Nation 2013-10-02

[klubex99]

New Attorney General Athapol Yaisawang said he had no knowledge about this matter, as yesterday was just his first day in office. He expected to be informed by relevant officials if Thaworn's claim was true.

Typical....

The newly appointed Attorney General with no clue about what is going on in the office he has been appointed to. Yet another stark reminder of 'jobs for the boys' regardless of distinct and apparent lack of qualification for the post.

This is highly unusual for Thailand to be passing out high ranking jobs to inexperienced people. Usually everyone at the top are experts in their position... Look at Yingluck..... probably the finest example of a Prime Minister a nation could hope for.

Edited October 1, 2013 by klubex99

[NongKhaiKid]

This could have been a first in the annals of jurisprudence.

Just imagine Mr. T's personal, wholly owned government indicticting him !

[Noistar]

Wow, what a surprise!

[Roadman]

Wow, what a surprise!

Wow isn't it just. And Thai muppet mouths are everywhere on the world stage proclaiming how much the world could learn from them. What a stinking dirty corrupt country Thailand is being led into by the Shinawatra mafia.

[rametindallas]

Wow, what a surprise!

Yeah, surprise it took so long.

[NongKhaiKid]

In the way of Thai's avoiding responsibilty the new AG's ' don't shoot me I'm only the piano player ' attitude is par for the course. He expects to be briefed by relevant officials but what happens if he isn't, will he bother to find out ?

He may know nothing because he's only been in the job for one day but it can't compare with his supposed PM who has been in her job for 20 months and knows even less.

[gemini81]

Since when is he the former prime minister? He came back to dictated what is done after the riots and farce of an election.

More like 'PM abroad has authorities drop charges after private discussions and probable graft and or intimidation to do as instructed.'

[mrtoad]

Not a surprise, as the whitewash to absolve the criminal,gathers pace. Are there any charges for the 2009 riots that he instigated, or has that been totally forgotten ?

What a joke this government is.

[Patje]

What a surprise and it must be a relief for the family

[Joe Mamma]

"This has been a paid political announcement".

[sscsamui]

Just more proof that if you have money you can get away with Murder and corruption.. So SadIn such a Beautiful country with Beautiful Loving people.

[hellodolly]

"Thaworn said he had been told this by people in the Attorney General's Office, after a decision was made last month." Two years ago

"I think the families of people killed, as well as people who suffered damage [during the 2010 turmoil] may bring their cases to court by themselves, without having to rely on public prosecutors," Thaworn said. Like the cases against Abhist

New Attorney General Athapol Yaisawang said he had no knowledge about this matter, as yesterday was just his first day in office. He expected to be informed by relevant officials if Thaworn's claim was true.

Well that qualifies him along with the rest of the circus performers. Has he got one of those big red noses you can honk?

[tingtongteesood]

It gets more and more like Cambodia every damn day !

[siampolee]

What a wonderful demonstration of the P.T.P. governments attitude to justice and indeed its total contempt for the rule of law if it does't go the way that the puppet master and his cronies dictate as is their want.

Now we can surely expect the charges against Abhisit and Suthep to be withdrawn and dropped as surely there are no double standards under this current government and its attitude to the judicial system are there?

So wonderful to see how democracy is espoused by the puppet master, the P.T.P. and the Red Shirt faction and its subsequent implementation...

One can only but presume that this is part of the reconciliation process designed to rehabilitate bail jumping convicted felons and open sponsors of civil disorder whilst those endeavoring to keep the nation stable are to be prosecuted for the implementation of the law of the land.

Indeed we are going down a very dangerous road as mapped out by the likes of Pol Pot, Hun Sen and Kil il Sung Kim Jong il and Kim Ung Jon along no doubt with a sprinkling of Robert Mugabe and other assorted despots.

A new stooge is appointed under the patronage system of the Thaksin clan and their brown nosing acolytes and the garrote tightens a little more around the throat of what passes for democracy here in Thaiand.

Edited October 2, 2013 by siampolee

[klauskunkel]

New Attorney General Athapol Yaisawang said he had no knowledge about this matter, as yesterday was just his first day in office. He expected to be informed by relevant officials if Thaworn's claim was true.

Poor dear, hasn't read the manual yet, and already questions, questions, questions.

[ccarbaugh]

Why has this taken so long? I mean hell, Lil Sis was "elected" 20 months ago and all the Top Departments have been Pheu-Thai appointees for quite some time now!

[tomross46]

Democracy at work?

[Trouble]

While I realize that the current government is doing all in its power to cleanse the image of Thaksin, I think bringing charges of terrorism against Thakisn was a far stretch to begin with, so it is not surprising that charges dropped. It would have been difficult to prove such charges anyway when the man was not in the country to begin with. There might be many charges the could be brought against the man but terrorism is a stretch for demonstrations that got out of hand which is not quite how most view terrorism as such.

Edited October 2, 2013 by Trouble

[nami]

I agree with the above post by Trouble, terrorism charges shouldn't be for this kind of cases. I actually think all those new terror laws are just a handy tool for the ones in power to silence everyone they don't like. There already are so many countries which are applying those laws to political dissidents as a form of retaliation that is just sick (not saying Thaksin falls into that category, but for sure he doesn't fall in the terrorist one)

[gerry1011]

I love to see you all so excited about this news

After reading that Sondhi got (an extra) 2 years' sentence (on top of the other 20 he will never serve either) you all must feel a bit shaken

[Chrisswe]

How in earth can anyone charge Khun Thaksin for terror! !?? When Abhisit, Suthep still responsible for killing 91 peoples!!! And it's cronys PAD make the worst terror attack against Thailand when they blocked the main Air-ports to Thailand! !!!!!????

[ggold]

"I think the families of people killed, as well as people who suffered damage [during the 2010 turmoil] may bring their cases to court by themselves, without having to rely on public prosecutors," Thaworn said.

So he is guilty but the courts won't act, instead they will leave it to private individuals to try and get redress. Democracy is dead in Thailand.

[siampolee]

How in earth can anyone charge Khun Thaksin for terror! !?? When Abhisit, Suthep still responsible for killing 91 peoples!!! And it's cronys PAD make the worst terror attack against Thailand when they blocked the main Air-ports to Thailand! !!!!!????

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You seem to forget that the Red Shirt movement was intent on the destruction of Bangkok as per the suggestions and indeed orders of the Red Shirt leadership ( well back position leadership) who were on Thaksins payroll and in some cases still are.

I don't see any recriminations coming from you or any other Thaksin supporters concerning the storming of a hospital the arson and looting and general civil unrest along with the disruption of life for a good many innocent people all as a result of your idol Thaksin and his sponsorship of the civil disorder along with his paid stooges.there is a vast amount of evidence concerning Thaksin and his stooges exhortations to commit crimes of violence and to destroy property for a stipend of 500 baht per day on YouTube and many others sites in the public domain

The onus for those 91 fatalities lies squarely on the shoulders of Thaksin and his cronies, there is no one else at all to blame.

Rose tinted glasses and a one sided view are indeed the attributes that lead to the rise of despots.

Thailand was and still is the arena for the Thaksin pursuit of unbridled power, unlimited income along with an unbridled lust for revenge at any cost, sadly it is the people of Thailand who are and will be picking up the bill for your idols megalomania.

Too late when the account is rendered no discounts no refusal to pay just total subjection of the population to a tyrants rule along with the enslavement of debt bondage and the death of democracy

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Edited October 2, 2013 by siampolee

[Thai at Heart]

This is the complete problem that the Democrats created at the very beginning by tarring the actions as terrorism. it makes for a neat headline, it makes the USA sit up and pay attention for about 15 minutes, it gives the army some legitimacy to shoot people, but after the event, pinning it on the people to be terrorism is very difficult, because it was essentially a politically motivated domestic riot.

They should have charged him with lesser crimes that they knew they could have pinned on him, but no, they went with a slam dunk and missed.

[Thait Spot]

All the charges against the dynasty are being suddenly dropped.

Strange that

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[khunken]

This is the complete problem that the Democrats created at the very beginning by tarring the actions as terrorism. it makes for a neat headline, it makes the USA sit up and pay attention for about 15 minutes, it gives the army some legitimacy to shoot people, but after the event, pinning it on the people to be terrorism is very difficult, because it was essentially a politically motivated domestic riot.

They should have charged him with lesser crimes that they knew they could have pinned on him, but no, they went with a slam dunk and missed.

I agree with you that the terrorism charges were OTT. We will have to wait & see if the charges are dropped - it's only an accusation by a Dem MP so far.

If they are dropped , will we see the same charges against Abhisit & Suthep dropped? With the mob in power double standards are part of their political methodology.

[confirmed3]

This is the complete problem that the Democrats created at the very beginning by tarring the actions as terrorism. it makes for a neat headline, it makes the USA sit up and pay attention for about 15 minutes, it gives the army some legitimacy to shoot people, but after the event, pinning it on the people to be terrorism is very difficult, because it was essentially a politically motivated domestic riot.

They should have charged him with lesser crimes that they knew they could have pinned on him, but no, they went with a slam dunk and missed.

Democrats didn't lay the charges down, the prosecutors did.

I think it's safe to say, however, that given all the recent examples, such as the decision not to prosecute Surapong, not to appeal the overturning of Potjaman's earlier conviction, overturning Sondhi's earlier acquittal, that the trend reflects that irregardless of any level of charges that might have been brought against the red shirt financier, none of them were going to get pursued.

No such thing as a slam dunk where he is concerned. Same as his wife. It should have a been a slam dunk to appeal her conviction reversal.

Heck, they can't even revoke his passport, even though the Ombudsman Office said to do so nearly a year ago.

.

Edited October 2, 2013 by confirmed3

[GeorgeO]

This is the complete problem that the Democrats created at the very beginning by tarring the actions as terrorism. it makes for a neat headline, it makes the USA sit up and pay attention for about 15 minutes, it gives the army some legitimacy to shoot people, but after the event, pinning it on the people to be terrorism is very difficult, because it was essentially a politically motivated domestic riot.

They should have charged him with lesser crimes that they knew they could have pinned on him, but no, they went with a slam dunk and missed.

But we can only assume now that the charges against Abhisit and Suthep must also be dropped, surely...?!

Edited October 2, 2013 by GeorgeO

[ratcatcher]

How in earth can anyone charge Khun Thaksin for terror! !?? When Abhisit, Suthep still responsible for killing 91 peoples!!! And it's cronys PAD make the worst terror attack against Thailand when they blocked the main Air-ports to Thailand! !!!!!????

How's the weather on your planet Chrisswe? We've had some flooding in Thailand,down here on earth.

And PAD occupied the airport causing AOT to close it down, under Thaksin's brother-in-law's government. You know, Somchai and friends?