Thai editorial: A blunder that could come back to haunt the govt

[webfact]

EDITORIAL
A blunder that could come back to haunt the govt
The Nation

Detaining an eyewitness to the Wat Pathum Wanaram shootings incommunicado for a week has raised suspicion of a cover-up

BANGKOK: -- Whether Nattatida Meewangpla is guilty of organising bomb attacks in Bangkok, no one can say. The jury has not yet spoken.

But this volunteer nurse deserves her day in court and nobody in this country can take that away from her.

Nattatida was a key witness in the 2010 Wat Pathum Wanaram shootings when soldiers allegedly fired at civilians during the stand-off between the Abhisit Vejjajiva government and the red shirts. The shootings at the wat marked one of the darkest moments in Thailand's recent history of political turmoil.

Nattatida was held incommunicado for a week by the military, who initially denied abducting her from her home in Samut Prakan.

But on Tuesday, the military handed her over to the Metropolitan Police Bureau. She has been charged with committing terrorist acts and denied bail.

Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha said police are investigating her for alleged involvement in a grenade attack at the Bangkok Criminal Court on March 7.

Given the highly controversial nature of her case, plus the allegations she has made against the military over the 2010 incident, it would be in the interest of the government and the law enforcers to handle this case with extreme caution.

Any action that could create the impression she is being treated unfairly should be avoided at all costs.

In this respect, abducting her and holding her incommunicado for a week was probably the least effective way of ensuring she gets a fair and speedy trial. The act itself undermined the country's justice system.

Nattatida will have her day in court, however. She has been accused of having links to the grenade attack on the Criminal Court on March 7 and the twin bomb attack near the entrance of Siam Paragon shopping centre on February 1.

Her detention this week may be in line with the martial law now in effect.

But that military law permits the authorities to hold a person incommunicado is extremely problematic, especially when the person is a key witness in a shooting that claimed the lives of six people as the Army cleared the streets of red-shirt protesters on May 19, 2010.

Does the junta not realise that holding her in secret could undermine the ongoing investigations, whether of the 2010 shooting or the bomb attacks in Bangkok over the past two months?

Moreover, do the authorities not see that the decision to detain Nattatida will be perceived as politically motivated by much of the Thai populace and the wider world?

After all, here is a woman who stepped forward to claim she saw soldiers firing into the wat, where she was stationed as a nurse, at unarmed civilians.

The junta leaders who are now running Thailand were in charge of security when the shootings took place in May 2010. At the time, General Prawit Wongsuwan was defence minister, General Anupong Pao-chinda was Army chief and General Prayut Chan-o-cha was his deputy commander.

Needless to say, the junta's spokesmen are out of their depth when it comes to giving information on this case. The three leaders who were in power in May 2010 and who are now running the country need to come forward and clear the air and their names.

They need to instruct all relevant agencies to handle this case in a transparent manner and with sensitivity, because every stupid mistake made will come back to haunt them.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/opinion/A-blunder-that-could-come-back-to-haunt-the-govt-30256396.html


-- The Nation 2015-03-20

[NeilSA1]

Agreed. "...it would be in the interest of the government and the law enforcers to handle this case with extreme caution."

And no more poor excuses. They desperately need to earn trust.

Edited March 20, 2015 by NeilSA1

[JAG]

They desperately need to go back to barracks and allow an election.

[jerojero]

Martial law means the "Government" can do anything they damn well want. No repercussions, no oversight, no consequences after they leave governance.

[MaxLee]

WOOOOWWW,..... talkin about witness THREAT AND INTIMIDATION program........

[MaxLee]

Martial law means the "Government" can do anything they damn well want. No repercussions, no oversight, no consequences after they leave governance.

And Election collection means that the protesters and its opposition leaders can hit the streets whenever THEY want, too.....

Either way, no matter who is in power, this country is still screwed within their own 2 anti-anti agenda parties, where the people in power o any party will never ever ever get punished but rewarded with inactive life post pensions....

[BSJ]

But the PM said she wasn't abducted, she was asked to accompany the soldier's and she agreed. Simple as that.

[dominique355]

Martial law and involvement of the present military government in a case against the military ... A classical case of conflict of interest.

This case should be handled entirely by civilian courts.

[yellowboat]

"In this respect, abducting her and holding her incommunicado for a week was probably the least effective way of ensuring she gets a fair and speedy trial. The act itself undermined the country's justice system."

Many would ask; what justice system?

[emilymat]

But the PM said she wasn't abducted, she was asked to accompany the soldier's and she agreed. Simple as that.

I'll get Mandy Rice-Davis to answer that.

[LuckyLew]

If the allegations against her are true make me wonder what she was doing in Wat Pathum Wanaram during the shootings

[DM07]

As if the Junta gives a hoot about, what they "should" do or not do.

They are in power now!

End of!

[Eric Loh]

If you put this abduction and the murder threats to Khun Prayao, mother of the victim Nurse Kate by people claiming to be military personel, it really reflect badly on the junta especially now that they are in absolute power. Certainly not a blunder but a planned attempt. Thankfully this was exposed by the press which will somehow safeguard her life.

[EnglishJohn]

Martial law means the "Government" can do anything they damn well want. No repercussions, no oversight, no consequences after they leave governance.

Absolutely right. And don't stop there : why did this situation arise ?.

Because the red-shirts were using terrorism to murder protestors, fully backed by Pheu-Thai and their bent police (who did not make one single arrest despite daylight attacks and clear CCTV footage).

It's funny how any red-shirt talk about 2010 does not include events before the crackdown just as talk about the coup never accepts any responsibility why it happened.

I would say people generally get what they deserve, but a LOT more red-shirts would be in jail if that were true. You are lucky to have just had a peaceful coup. Now live with the consequences of your actions.

[dinger]

Any action that could create the impression that she is being treated unfairly should be avoided at all costs

Shouldn't fair treatment be the norm and not the exception

[Balance]

If the allegations against her are true make me wonder what she was doing in Wat Pathum Wanaram during the shootings

The article states that she was stationed at the Wat as a nurse.

[Balance]

Somehow, this episode does not seem to pass the smell test. You have a nurse working at the Wat and she comes forward to state that she saw army personnel shoot into the Wat. Now, all of the sudden, she is accused of two terrorist crimes, which would certainly undermine her credibility as a witness to the 2010 incident.

[oneday]

This junta is looking less neutral every day. When they came into power I thought they were going to be neutral. I was thankfully relieved and fairly happy it had happened and I believed what they said about reconciliation and trying to bring the country back together. I feel duped.

There are many things that have happened now which suggest they are not so neutral. By the time an election happens there won't be an opposition left to oppose them. Just look at another news article today where the NBTC has shut down a red shirt news station by order of the NCPO.

[yellowboat]

This junta is looking less neutral every day. When they came into power I thought they were going to be neutral. I was thankfully relieved and fairly happy it had happened and I believed what they said about reconciliation and trying to bring the country back together. I feel duped.

There are many things that have happened now which suggest they are not so neutral. By the time an election happens there won't be an opposition left to oppose them. Just look at another news article today where the NBTC has shut down a red shirt news station by order of the NCPO.

Many middle class Thais in Bangkok feel the same way. Some spoke openly about their frustrations. It looks like the junta is taking the country backwards in terms of freedoms , innovation and investment.

[off road pat]

They desperately need to go back to barracks and allow an election.

And bring back Taksin and Hess hiper corrupt friends,...you wish...???....or are you just shooting your head of without thinking...????

Edited March 20, 2015 by off road pat

[soalbundy]

"In this respect, abducting her and holding her incommunicado for a week was probably the least effective way of ensuring she gets a fair and speedy trial. The act itself undermined the country's justice system."

Many would ask; what justice system?

agreed, how can one possibly undermine this country's justice system, it's reputation is already rock bottom.

[yellowboat]

They desperately need to go back to barracks and allow an election.

And bring back Taksin and Hess hiper corrupt friends,...you wish...???....

So you do not believe in a representative government? Sadly, countries get the governments they deserve. The populous votes. They then get to deal with the joys and consequences of their decision. What sort of system do you favor ?

[billd766]

If you put this abduction and the murder threats to Khun Prayao, mother of the victim Nurse Kate by people claiming to be military personel, it really reflect badly on the junta especially now that they are in absolute power. Certainly not a blunder but a planned attempt. Thankfully this was exposed by the press which will somehow safeguard her life.

Not another "conspiracy theory" with nothing to back it up?

[Fat Haggis]

They desperately need to go back to barracks and allow an election.

And bring back Taksin and Hess hiper corrupt friends,...you wish...???....or are you just shooting your head of without thinking...????

Has Thaksin actually ever stated in recent months that his goal is to return and take over the country again?

Do you honestly believe for one minute the Military would ever allow this to happen?

By all accounts as claimed many times here, even the majority of the population don't want him back in power, so how exactly is he going to achieve that goal?

[Srikcir]

But the PM said she wasn't abducted, she was asked to accompany the soldier's and she agreed. Simple as that.

And that was AFTER the military said it didn't know anything about where she was. When the military then admitted they were secretly holding her , then the PM says it was by invitation. Simple as that.

Edited March 20, 2015 by Srikcir

[yellowboat]

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But the PM said she wasn't abducted, she was asked to accompany the soldier's and she agreed. Simple as that.

And that was AFTER the military said it didn't know anything about where she was. When the military then admitted they were secretly holding her , then the PM says it was by invitation. Simple as that.

The military pretty much left everyone strangely impressed by their actions.

[JAG]

Martial law means the "Government" can do anything they damn well want. No repercussions, no oversight, no consequences after they leave governance.

Absolutely right. And don't stop there : why did this situation arise ?.

Because the red-shirts were using terrorism to murder protestors, fully backed by Pheu-Thai and their bent police (who did not make one single arrest despite daylight attacks and clear CCTV footage).

It's funny how any red-shirt talk about 2010 does not include events before the crackdown just as talk about the coup never accepts any responsibility why it happened.

I would say people generally get what they deserve, but a LOT more red-shirts would be in jail if that were true. You are lucky to have just had a peaceful coup. Now live with the consequences of your actions.

The situation arose because elements of the judiciary, the military and others within the establishment made damn sure that the constitutionally called election in February last failed (and lets not forget it was called by Royal Decree), the same group made sure that the police were hamstrung, and the military declined to ensure order on the streets. Elements of the military assisted those creating disorder. A vocal well funded minority was allowed to disrupt the capital, and the conditions for a coup were carefully created over a period of months. Their carefully laid plans worked, they are now in power. Power they (and everyone else) know they could never have gained through democratic or constitutional means. That is why this situation arose.

Edited March 20, 2015 by JAG

[elgordo38]

But the PM said she wasn't abducted, she was asked to accompany the soldier's and she agreed. Simple as that.

Another Pied Piper story.

[Just1Voice]

I'm not in favor of coups. I'm even less in favor or dictatorial "governments" who totally stifle free speech, freedom of the press, and "invite" people, who have no option of saying "no" to come disappear for a few days, then then lie about it, saying they have no idea where that person is.

George Orwell would be so proud.

[MaiChai]

Martial law means the "Government" can do anything they damn well want. No repercussions, no oversight, no consequences after they leave governance.

And Election collection means that the protesters and its opposition leaders can hit the streets whenever THEY want, too.....

Either way, no matter who is in power, this country is still screwed within their own 2 anti-anti agenda parties, where the people in power o any party will never ever ever get punished but rewarded with inactive life post pensions....

How would you deal with a totally corrupt, money grabbing, self interested government like the Yingluck government? Remember governments are supposed to serve the people.