2010 Crackdown: Suthep submits evidence of 'blackshirts' to NACC

[webfact]

2010 Crackdown: Suthep Submits Evidence of Blackshirts to NACC
By Khaosod English


Soldiers faced off with Redshirt demonstrators on Rama IV Road in Bangkok, 14 May 2010

BANGKOK — Former deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban has submitted further evidence to Thailand's national anti-graft agency about the shadowy militants who fought with security officers during the military crackdown on Redshirt protesters in 2010.

The evidence was submitted as part of Suthep's defense against charges filed by the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC), which is seeking to retroactively impeach Suthep and former Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva for authorizing the military crackdown in 2010 that left at least 90 people dead, mostly civilians.


After speaking to NACC representatives for nearly three hours today, Suthep emerged and told reporters that he presented the agency with video footage and photos of the so-called Blackshirt militants who fought with soldiers during the crackdown that lasted from April to May 2010.

"I showed the clip so that the NACC will see with its own eyes what really happened, what the Blackshirts were like, what kind of weapons they used," said Suthep, who joined the monkhood last year after leading six months of anti-government protests that culminated in the May 2014 coup.

"This event happened so long ago," he continued. "People have forgotten about it already. They can't remember what it was like on those days. They have forgotten about the nightmares that Bangkok people have."

The crackdown followed weeks of street protests in Bangkok by Redshirt demonstrators who were demanding a fresh election from Abhisit. The protests were eventually called off after the Redshirt leadership surrendered to authorities on 19 May 2010.

The Abhisit government and military commanders have repeatedly blamed the Blackshirts for the crackdown violence, despite several court inquests that have attributed civilian deaths to soldiers, some of whom shot indiscriminately into crowds of unarmed protesters.

Speaking to reporters today, Suthep insisted that the military operation was an appropriate response to the situation encountered by authorities. He described the military operation on 10 April 2010, which left 25 people dead, as an attempt by security officers "to ask the protesters to return the traffic area." The violence, he said, did not start until Blackshirt militants allied with the protesters attacked security officers, leading to injuries and fatalities.

After that initial attempt to disperse the crowds of Redshirts failed, the government decided to change tactics in May and surround the protesters with checkpoints, Suthep said.

Full story: http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.php?newsid=1429616305&typecate=06&section=


-- Khaosod English 2015-04-22

[webfact]

Suthep provides clips of 'men in black' in 2010
THE NATION



BANGKOK: -- FORMER deputy prime minister Suthep Thaugsuban yesterday gave the National Anti-Corruption Commis-sion video clips and pictures of the "men in black" while testifying in the case in which he is accused of malfeasance in the deadly 2010 crackdown on red-shirt protesters.

After three hours of testimony, Suthep said he presented the NACC with clips and pictures he got from the press and social media to show that the crackdown turned violent because there were armed men mingling among the protesters.

"I clearly showed the NACC what the men in black looked like, and what weapons they used, because this happened long ago and they may have forgotten what a nightmare Bangkok people had during those days," he said.

Suthep said the clashes outside National Stadium and in Ratcha-prarob and Rama IV areas were caused by "men in black" who had been trained in using heavy weapons and knew about fighting strategies.

He insisted that he changed tactics on overseeing the incident according to the changing situation. For instance, on April 10, officials failed to disperse protesters because the men in black attacked the officials, causing casualties. From May 13-18, he ordered that tactics be changed by setting up checkpoints to prevent more people from joining the protesters and blocking them from moving arms into the protest sites. Later M75 grenades were fired into a Skytrain station, killing officials and innocent people, he said.

He said that before April 10, 2010, security officials used rubber bullets, but after they were attacked by heavy weapons they used real bullets to protect themselves and innocents from the so-called men in black.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/Suthep-provides-clips-of-men-in-black-in-2010-30258472.html


-- The Nation 2015-04-22

[WhizBang]

The protests were eventually called off after the Redshirt leadership surrendered to authorities on 19 May 2010.

Surrendered? That's not how I remember it, and I was here at the time.

Also, at the time, I recall reading about a number of foreign journalists who were permitted into the red shirt camp and who interviewed and documented what these 'men in black' were up to. Whatever happened to them and their documentary footage? Could be quite revealing.

[Mango Bob]

Where has these videos been all this time and why now do they just come out?

[whybother]

Where has these videos been all this time and why now do they just come out?

They didn't just come out. They've been out there since it happened.

[halloween]

Where has these videos been all this time and why now do they just come out?

More to the point, where have you been if you think this is new?

[smedly]

The protests were eventually called off after the Redshirt leadership surrendered to authorities on 19 May 2010.

Surrendered? That's not how I remember it, and I was here at the time.

Also, at the time, I recall reading about a number of foreign journalists who were permitted into the red shirt camp and who interviewed and documented what these 'men in black' were up to. Whatever happened to them and their documentary footage? Could be quite revealing.

it was so revealing they were executed

stay off the yogurt keep the feet for dancing

[Thaddeus]

Where has these videos been all this time and why now do they just come out?

They didn't just come out. They've been out there since it happened.

I doubt he had been instructed to watch them.

[aussieinthailand]

Yu'p men in black, they were there absolutely no question.

The question is, were they the ones that started the shooting? if so where they provoked or were they defending themselves?

Were they all there for the redshirts or is it possible SOME were planted there to cause trouble therefor justifying the deadly response? A tactic commonly used!

And after several court rulings that the military were responsible for many deaths.

Was any video evidence of military firing at unarmed protectors shown to the commission? or was it only selected videos shown? We all know the answer to that one.

Any video evidence of the emergency volunteer's in the temple being targeted?

How about the shooting of journalist's? and a certain general shot in the head by a sniper, was that shown?

Australia has had some big protests before but has a habit of NOT calling in the military to shoot and kill people.

So just how is the government of the day NOT responsible for the deaths?

And finally for the record yet again, I have NO support RED or YELLOW for those that use violence on innocent protesters and volunteers to achieve their political will.

But isn't that exactly what was sanctioned by the government on the day? use deadly force.

[halloween]

Yu'p men in black, they were there absolutely no question.

The question is, were they the ones that started the shooting? if so where they provoked or were they defending themselves?

Were they all there for the redshirts or is it possible SOME were planted there to cause trouble therefor justifying the deadly response? A tactic commonly used!

And after several court rulings that the military were responsible for many deaths.

Was any video evidence of military firing at unarmed protectors shown to the commission? or was it only selected videos shown? We all know the answer to that one.

Any video evidence of the emergency volunteer's in the temple being targeted?

How about the shooting of journalist's? and a certain general shot in the head by a sniper, was that shown?

Australia has had some big protests before but has a habit of NOT calling in the military to shoot and kill people.

So just how is the government of the day NOT responsible for the deaths?

And finally for the record yet again, I have NO support RED or YELLOW for those that use violence on innocent protesters and volunteers to achieve their political will.

But isn't that exactly what was sanctioned by the government on the day? use deadly force.

"Were they all there for the redshirts or is it possible SOME were planted there to cause trouble therefor justifying the deadly response?"

In answereing this question, you should ask yourself who benefited from provoking the military into deadly response.

"Australia has had some big protests before but has a habit of NOT calling in the military to shoot and kill people."{

I can think of only one instance where protesters had armed men conspicuous in their ranks, in all other cases it was understood that "peaceful protest" excludes weaponry. Do you remember what happened at the Eureka Stockade?

[harada]

Ah this explains why the hired gunmen where on the tollways last year, there must have been heavily armed MIB's lurking around, but of course that was a long time ago, no one will remember.

[visionchaser45]

"blackshirt militants" = government false flag operation to provide "justification" for the use of deadly force against unarmed civilians

Where are the dead blackshirts and where is the direct evidence linking them to the protesters?

[SuwadeeS]

In Thailand everybody can become a monk.

How can I respect and "Waii" someone wearing orange clothes, if I know about his history.

[recycler]

It says a lot about Thailand that this man is taken serious.

[Lorn]

"blackshirt militants" = government false flag operation to provide "justification" for the use of deadly force against unarmed civilians

Where are the dead blackshirts and where is the direct evidence linking them to the protesters?

Yeah isn't it amazing that all the soldiers who died, died from being hit by rocks not by bullets from these numerous gun-wielding militants.

.

[sungod]

"blackshirt militants" = government false flag operation to provide "justification" for the use of deadly force against unarmed civilians

Where are the dead blackshirts and where is the direct evidence linking them to the protesters?

Yeah isn't it amazing that all the soldiers who died, died from being hit by rocks not by bullets from these numerous gun-wielding militants.

You may want to watch some footage from Dinso road on April 10th 2010, afterwards you will see how silly your post is.

[Equalizer]

The only palatable outcome with this man would be to lock him up for many years. This will teach future snakes of the establishment that you too will get sh@t on once you become expendable.

[Tatsujin]

Where has these videos been all this time and why now do they just come out?

There were a ton of still and video footage of the "men in black" in action at that time, and just walking near or through the areas they occupied would show you these "men in black" armed to the teeth and willing to do anything to provoke the response they were instructed to achieve by Thaksin.

A lot was shown "live" on TV, but not long after there seems to have been a systematic campaign to try to remove all the still and video footage from online as it's hard now to track down what I remember seeing on TV and what is actually still online.

This was not a "peaceful protest", it was armed terrorists going after civilians initially and then the military. They were sheltered by the "peaceful protestors" and those "protestors" also had ample opportunity to withdraw peacefully however they chose (in the end) not to do so. My sympathy for them after that point dropped to zero.

[dotpoom]

Suthep is now a Monk?

[robblok]

Its a disgrace that these things were not taken into account before. Everyone knew that about the black shirts, living in BKK i have seen them too. The previous government denied their existence.. guess why..... But its proven without a doubt they existed. This only showed that the investigation by the previous government was unfair.

I haven't heard any redshirts comment on that, but they call all the things that go against reds political.. that figures.

The government had nothing to win by violence.. only the man in Dubai.

There was an agreement after new elections were promised.. but the man in Dubai told his thugs to not honour the agreement and released his blackshirts... The rest we know.

Does not mean the army did not make any mistakes but there is at least shared responsibility here.

Edited April 22, 2015 by robblok

[Commerce]

Suthep is now a Monk?

Now? .....................................

[gazwa]

"blackshirt militants" = government false flag operation to provide "justification" for the use of deadly force against unarmed civilians

Where are the dead blackshirts and where is the direct evidence linking them to the protesters?

Yeah isn't it amazing that all the soldiers who died, died from being hit by rocks not by bullets from these numerous gun-wielding militants.

.

ROCKS??!! Seriously??....Try grenades and bullets...supply one, genuine report of death by rocks..or crawl back under your ROCK !

[Thaddeus]

And finally for the record yet again, I have NO support RED or YELLOW for those that use violence on innocent protesters and volunteers to achieve their political will.

No, of course you don't dear.

[Godders]

Why hasn't the Bangkok Post used a picture of these black-shirts, instead of a less relevant shot. Don't they have in their library any of the shots (either photos or stills from video footage) taken at the time by various agencies - including, I gather the BBC - and already published on alternative news websites such as the Alt Thai News Network?

Or was it considered that such damning evidence would be prejudicial to a fair trial?

[In Town]

"blackshirt militants" = government false flag operation to provide "justification" for the use of deadly force against unarmed civilians

Where are the dead blackshirts and where is the direct evidence linking them to the protesters?

Yeah isn't it amazing that all the soldiers who died, died from being hit by rocks not by bullets from these numerous gun-wielding militants.

You may want to watch some footage from Dinso road on April 10th 2010, afterwards you will see how silly your post is.

Friendly fire?

[Just1Voice]

My question is: With all this photographic and video "evidence", why is it that not one single MIB has ever been identified or arrested?

[robblok]

My question is: With all this photographic and video "evidence", why is it that not one single MIB has ever been identified or arrested?

Easy.. they were wearing baklava's and were aligned with the government that came to power after the 2010 incident. The PTP has denied existence of the black-shirts because it did not support their claim of a bad military attacking innocent peace loving redshirts.

[In Town]

My question is: With all this photographic and video "evidence", why is it that not one single MIB has ever been identified or arrested?

Because there is no evidence?

[GeckosDiving]

Yu'p men in black, they were there absolutely no question.

The question is, were they the ones that started the shooting? if so where they provoked or were they defending themselves?

Were they all there for the redshirts or is it possible SOME were planted there to cause trouble therefor justifying the deadly response? A tactic commonly used!

And after several court rulings that the military were responsible for many deaths.

Was any video evidence of military firing at unarmed protectors shown to the commission? or was it only selected videos shown? We all know the answer to that one.

Any video evidence of the emergency volunteer's in the temple being targeted?

How about the shooting of journalist's? and a certain general shot in the head by a sniper, was that shown?

Australia has had some big protests before but has a habit of NOT calling in the military to shoot and kill people.

So just how is the government of the day NOT responsible for the deaths?

And finally for the record yet again, I have NO support RED or YELLOW for those that use violence on innocent protesters and volunteers to achieve their political will.

But isn't that exactly what was sanctioned by the government on the day? use deadly force.

[In Town]

My question is: With all this photographic and video "evidence", why is it that not one single MIB has ever been identified or arrested?

Easy.. they were wearing baklava's and were aligned with the government that came to power after the 2010 incident. The PTP has denied existence of the black-shirts because it did not support their claim of a bad military attacking innocent peace loving redshirts.

So, is your claim the the killing in May was the "good military attacking violent redshirts"? If that is the case, where is the evidence? Just one body, or even a bullet wound suffered by the military before they opened fire in their "life fire zone"? You cannot because it doesn't exist.