Former PM Abhisit rejects murder charges in 2010 turmoil

[webfact]

Former PM Abhisit rejects murder charges in 2010 turmoil
By English News



BANGKOK, March 24 – Former prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva today denied all allegations against him in connection with his government’s crackdown on demonstrators in the 2010 political upheaval.

The Attorney General charged him and his deputy Suthep Thaugsuban with premeditated murder in ordering the now-dissolved Centre for the Resolution of the Emergency Situation (CRES) to reclaim Ratchadamnoen Road – the government office area, and Ratchaprasong intersection – the capital’s most significant shopping zone – which had been occupied by protesters during April-May 2010.

A taxi driver, identified as Pan Kamkong, 43, and a boy, Kunakorn Srisuwan, 14, were killed near the Airport Link’s Ratchaprarob station on May 15 and a van driver, Samorn Maithong, was shot and seriously injured in a shootout by government personnel who performed their duties under the state of emergency.

The Attorney General said the victims were shot with live bullets by military personnel who fire on demonstrators, adding that Mr Suthep, then deputy prime minister and CRES director, approved the use of live ammunition.

Mr Abhisit said he has already testified to the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) which has been investigating the case and has yet to finalise it. (MCOT online news)


-- TNA 2014-03-24

[TVGerry]

Charging them with "premeditated" murder is just ridiculous and obviously political. Turn about is fair play. I'm going to have a good laugh when the same thing happens to Poo and her brother's loyal guard dog, Chalerm for the deaths of the protestors who clashed with the police.

Edited March 24, 2014 by TVGerry

[djjamie]

And in breaking news on red shirt radio George Bush Jnr denies all charges of murder for authorizing live ammunition against a terrorists as well. Well he was not charged with murder because it would be amusing to say the least.

I authorized my son to ride his bike without his training wheels and he fell off. Hope the PTP don't charge me with assault!

I cannot wait for the Honorable Ahbisit and the Mandela of the East to have their day in court. There would be some UDD supporters who with one hand on a lighter and the other on 1 of those 10 million weapons that have access to will be very worried that the "wrong" truth comes out...

[Thailand]

He is not going to say he did it is he so pointless pontificating?

[ginjag]

He is not going to say he did it is he so pointless pontificating?

In fairness he DIDN"T DO IT, He didn't say go out and kill these people in question, he certainly didn't order individuals to commit murder there was no pre plan, there was no actual target to pursue.

If an individual did the shooting under the command of ????? this could be investigated for SURE, but to face murder charges himself is plain stupid.

Your sentence is true he will not say he did it because HE didn't.

[Tatsujin]

When they do have their day in Court, there will be some ugly and surprising "truths" that come to light that certain leaders in PT won't like at all, hence the preemptive denial earlier today from Thaksin's lawyer that he is never involved in nor has he ever sponsored violent acts.

[moonao]

It will be a few lifetimes at least before Abhisit gets able to clean all the blood on his hands.

[ginjag]

When they do have their day in Court, there will be some ugly and surprising "truths" that come to light that certain leaders in PT won't like at all, hence the preemptive denial earlier today from Thaksin's lawyer that he is never involved in nor has he ever sponsored violent acts.

Like everyone Thaksns lawyer knows the truth but he gets paid to lie.

[fab4]

It will be a few lifetimes at least before Abhisit gets able to clean all the blood on his hands.

I really don't think he cares. As he said, "unfortunately, some people died"

[Why ask]

It will be a few lifetimes at least before Abhisit gets able to clean all the blood on his hands.

Idiotic.

Do you live in Chiang Mai, per chance?

[kingalfred]

The attorney general of Thailand,attorney in what?A political masters plaything ,along with DSI

Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[ginjag]

It will be a few lifetimes at least before Abhisit gets able to clean all the blood on his hands.

I really don't think he cares. As he said, "unfortunately, some people died"

And I believe he meant it.

Did Thaksin say that regarding the 2500 drug murders, if you want to label someone then include them all.

[ginjag]

It will be a few lifetimes at least before Abhisit gets able to clean all the blood on his hands.

Idiotic.

Do you live in Chiang Mai, per chance?

They are right we must be crazy to answer posts like his, have to on medication to speak like this, but having said that he is entitled to his opinion

[lungmi]

Noppadon, I like him, he speaks the truth. I know everytime the opposite is the truth.

[Thailand]

He is not going to say he did it is he so pointless pontificating?

In fairness he DIDN"T DO IT, He didn't say go out and kill these people in question, he certainly didn't order individuals to commit murder there was no pre plan, there was no actual target to pursue.

If an individual did the shooting under the command of ????? this could be investigated for SURE, but to face murder charges himself is plain stupid.

Your sentence is true he will not say he did it because HE didn't.

Ultimately in charge at the time as Yingluck has been during recent atrocities. Where does the buck stop?

[tezzainoz]

He is not going to say he did it is he so pointless pontificating?

and you have proof he did

[tezzainoz]

It will be a few lifetimes at least before Abhisit gets able to clean all the blood on his hands.

My friend you made a mistake in your posting

I know you meant

It will be a few lifetimes at least before Thaskin gets able to clean all the Thai blood on his hands.

[Tatsujin]

It will be a few lifetimes at least before Abhisit gets able to clean all the blood on his hands.

Well, as you brought it up, Thaksin will NEVER be able to wash the blood off his hands, and his body count is far higher ... not that he cares as long as he gets what he wants or thinks he's entitled to.

[Dogmatix]

Charging them with "premeditated" murder is just ridiculous and obviously political. Turn about is fair play. I'm going to have a good laugh when the same thing happens to Poo and her brother's loyal guard dog, Chalerm for the deaths of the protestors who clashed with the police.

It is all part of a legal game played by Thaksin and PT. In order to make a murder charge stick in these circumstances under the Penal Code it is necessary to prove that Abhisit knew that the direct consequences of his actions in setting up CRES (in charge of the 2010 SOE), which in turn authorized the use of live ammo for troops to defend themselves when under fire from the men-in-black, were that those specific individuals would be killed. Even with corrupt prosecutors willing to play along, they know there is not a snowball's chance in hell of getting a conviction to stick all the way to the Supreme Court. If it did, as you say, Poo and Chalerm will be for the high jump too and murder cases are already filed against them. As for Tarit who investigated the case, he risks being prosecuted twice, since he was a member of CRES and CMPO.

The whole thing is a farce designed to tie Abhisit up in legal knots and make the red shirts believe something is being done about their people who died in the crackdown. But actually Thaksin couldn't give a damn about them, since he is perfectly happy to amnesty Abhisit and Suthep with his Amnesty Bill which is now dormant waiting to be reactivated by a PT government. Funnily enough reviving the Amnesty Bill would let Abhisit and Suthep off the murder charges but not Poo and Chalerm.

Just a waste of public money.

Edited March 24, 2014 by Dogmatix

[Rich teacher]

Out of the 90+ 'terrorists' killed by the army, NOT ONE was shot dead with a weapon in their possession. Oh how good it would have looked for Abhisit's regime if they had just one photo of an armed black shirt shot dead. But alas, no such evidence exists.

[jonclark]

Out of the 90+ 'terrorists' killed by the army, NOT ONE was shot dead with a weapon in their possession. Oh how good it would have looked for Abhisit's regime if they had just one photo of an armed black shirt shot dead. But alas, no such evidence exists.

There are some pretty good photos though of the injuries caused by these defenders of democracy - such as this showing the aftermath of a RPG attack injurer a solider and a foreign journalist.

Graphic

[whybother]

Out of the 90+ 'terrorists' killed by the army, NOT ONE was shot dead with a weapon in their possession. Oh how good it would have looked for Abhisit's regime if they had just one photo of an armed black shirt shot dead. But alas, no such evidence exists.

Are you calling the civilians (ie non-protesters), the journalists and the army personnel that were killed "terrorists"?

[Fryslan boppe]

" Former prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva today denied all allegations against him in connection with his government’s crackdown on demonstrators in the 2010 political upheaval.

When reading this, it seems so incongruous referring to this unelectable guy as a "Former prime minister" When contemplating what the PAD-Dem's need to do in order to become electorally competitive, one of the first things that comes to mind, is needing a leader appealing to a diverse electorate....AV is not that kinda guy.....They would really help themselves with a charismatic man-of-the-people, preferably not southern or BKK rooted. A lot of new policy development would obviously need to occur as well, but that is a subject for another day.

"...denied all allegations.."?...It would be very good if the judiciary could be de-politicized, before considering those denials.

"...government’s crackdown..."... To contextualize this thing, it must be remembered this was a coup-rooted Govt. confronting electoral advocates who naturally objected to that coup.... People who were vindicated the very next election....Also, the term "crackdown" is a misnomer.... In fact, it was an attack by one side of this confrontation upon the other side. ....."Crackdown" implies legitimate state security actions which the coup-mongers of that day try to spin it as..... And which AV will try to use in defending himself before his friends in court.

"Political upheaval".....Using such terminology, the media is seeking to hide a coup and its' aftermath. Before the coup, there was no political upheaval, other than an unelectable Opposition fulminating in their minority status. Trying to demonize those in Govt., especially their electoral nemesis Thaksin, as an excuse for forcing their way into power non-electorally, is the same as today.......

Although I agree, denying and seeking to eliminate Electoral Democracy, does lead to political upheaval. And that is as it should be.

Edited March 24, 2014 by Fryslan boppe

[Rich teacher]

Out of the 90+ 'terrorists' killed by the army, NOT ONE was shot dead with a weapon in their possession. Oh how good it would have looked for Abhisit's regime if they had just one photo of an armed black shirt shot dead. But alas, no such evidence exists.

There are some pretty good photos though of the injuries caused by these defenders of democracy - such as this showing the aftermath of a RPG attack injurer a solider and a foreign journalist.

Graphic

You state 'caused by these defenders of democracy'. Could you please also post evidence of the people who committed this crime? I was unaware that anyone has been charged.

[Rich teacher]

Out of the 90+ 'terrorists' killed by the army, NOT ONE was shot dead with a weapon in their possession. Oh how good it would have looked for Abhisit's regime if they had just one photo of an armed black shirt shot dead. But alas, no such evidence exists.

Are you calling the civilians (ie non-protesters), the journalists and the army personnel that were killed "terrorists"?

No AV & ST were the ones wantonly bandying this term around.

[whybother]

Out of the 90+ 'terrorists' killed by the army, NOT ONE was shot dead with a weapon in their possession. Oh how good it would have looked for Abhisit's regime if they had just one photo of an armed black shirt shot dead. But alas, no such evidence exists.

Are you calling the civilians (ie non-protesters), the journalists and the army personnel that were killed "terrorists"?

No AV & ST were the ones wantonly bandying this term around.

They weren't calling the journalists or the people killed at Sala Daeng terrorists.

[whybother]

Out of the 90+ 'terrorists' killed by the army, NOT ONE was shot dead with a weapon in their possession. Oh how good it would have looked for Abhisit's regime if they had just one photo of an armed black shirt shot dead. But alas, no such evidence exists.

There are some pretty good photos though of the injuries caused by these defenders of democracy - such as this showing the aftermath of a RPG attack injurer a solider and a foreign journalist.

Graphic

You state 'caused by these defenders of democracy'. Could you please also post evidence of the people who committed this crime? I was unaware that anyone has been charged.

No one has been charged with 80+ deaths from 2010.

[Fryslan boppe]

Charging them with "premeditated" murder is just ridiculous and obviously political. Turn about is fair play. I'm going to have a good laugh when the same thing happens to Poo and her brother's loyal guard dog, Chalerm for the deaths of the protestors who clashed with the police.

"Charging them with "premeditated" murder is just ridiculous and obviously political"

Same as the Thaksin's land purchase-signing-for-his-wife thing.

Murder however is a 'different kettle of fish'. Using the State Security spin will be the excuse his friends in court will need as cover for their inevitable judgment. Any impartial observer would have a problem with that however, considering the 80% female protesters camped out at R'song. Did that require the military to be sent in with all guns ablaze?

Calling little old ladies 'terrorists' is particularly galling, and not humorous, when one considers what was done to them.

[Rich teacher]

Out of the 90+ 'terrorists' killed by the army, NOT ONE was shot dead with a weapon in their possession. Oh how good it would have looked for Abhisit's regime if they had just one photo of an armed black shirt shot dead. But alas, no such evidence exists.

Are you calling the civilians (ie non-protesters), the journalists and the army personnel that were killed "terrorists"?

No AV & ST were the ones wantonly bandying this term around.

They weren't calling the journalists or the people killed at Sala Daeng terrorists.

Their justification of the crackdown, of which the courts have ruled that the army were responsible for many of the deaths, was that there were 500+ heavily armed terrorists. If their justification was valid, why weren't any of the people shot by the army armed?

Edited March 24, 2014 by Rich teacher

[Fryslan boppe]

It will be a few lifetimes at least before Abhisit gets able to clean all the blood on his hands.

I really don't think he cares. As he said, "unfortunately, some people died"

And that is why he is a "Red Flag Walking" to the majority electorate.

Why the PAD-Dem's stick with this guy is an enduring mystery to me.