Appeals Court drops alleged unlawful 2010 military crackdown case against Abhisit and Suthep

[sjaak327]

This is the reason I thought the charges were ridiculous in the first place So why put everyone through this Circus. Just don't charge them in the beginning

What a waist of court costs and manpower AMAZING THAILAND

These charges were ridiculous and should never have been brought. They were simply doing their job of stopping the 'red' murders from escalating and were perfectly within their rights and powers to do so, so hard luck Thaksin - no charges against Abhisit and Suthep AND your ploy of getting a blanket amnesty was blown out of the water!! Loser!! .

The job of govt leaders is to quell protests using minimum force, hence the army warning to the PTP govt during the last upheaval. It isn't their job to order a mass killing.

They should be taken to The Hague and tried by a court that isn't made up of their drinking buddies.

There is no evidence that they ordered a "mass killing". Such a line is straight out of the red book but doesn't represent the facts as are known.

Hmm, wonder why snipers were used....

[oldsailor35]

So to restore order they shot and killed an innocent nurse who was attending to a wounded man. Thats the sort of PM and depity that Prayuth wants .

[oldsailor35]

Its alright to shoot and kill protesters, but god help anyone that makes mistakes with the economy, even if it was'nt their mistake !

[oldsailor35]

Reasonable outcome which should come as no surprise when looking at justification was to "restore peace and order in the country" When one looks at what the UDD element did before a single bullet was fired by the military to squash the uprising one can understand that peace and order was already spiralling out of control and would have kept getting worse had the military not stepped in. Harsh words, tear gas and rubber bullets certainly didn't work and the lethargy of the govt in fact made the UDD element more brazen,

When looking at the violence perpetrated by the UDD before a single bullet was fired one could surmise that Ahbisit and Suthep should answer as to why they did not react sooner and harder to the violence instead of letting it spiral out of control to the point they did.

Anyway, a just and reasonable outcome in this instance. Well done to them both.

WHAT! Pm sends the army out against protesters with live ammunition, shoot to kill ! and you think its OK. i wonder which country you come from. Is that what they do there. We know that it has become practice in the USA, but i hope not Europe

[sjaak327]

What a shocker!!!

Why is it a shocker? The red shirts literally were burning Bangkok down. Unlawful behaviour should be punished!

Yes unlawful behaviour should be punished, normally the police would arrest the perpetrator and justice would be served by the courts.

Of course, most of the people were shot long before even a single building was on fire. You have your timing wrong.

[oldsailor35]

Chokchai Angkaew, a lawyer representing the families, said he will collect more evidence and appeal the ruling. Being prime minister and deputy prime minister, he said, did not mean they could authorize murder.

exactly.

But they obviously did just that. The pair of them are murdering illegitimates.

[oldsailor35]

It's ridiculous that the case ever went to court. It was very clear at the time that the DSI had no jurisdiction, since they were acting as govt officials not as private individuals. Since the Yingluck govt had the DSI in its pocket with the repulsive Tarit as director-general, they took advantage of that to pursue a totally frivolous case that had no chance of success but was designed to tie the defendants up in legal knots.

Now Tarit is being tried for corruption himself and Yingluck is being tried in the proper place, i.e. the Supreme Court for Political Office Holders. Som nam naa.

And the arch corruptor Suthep, the man who was advising the general on a daily basis, according to his own words, walks free, as usual. It would not surprise me to see him in the next government as his street collections must be getting a bit low by now .

[Alwyn]

What a shocker!!!

But the reasoning is sound, they were not private persons they were government employees. Just a fail by whoever filed the charge.

We also know why the chargers were filed.. to make the amnesty for Thaksin possible.. he thought to blackmail them into supporting the amnesty.

Yes, as was Yingluck. But to you, I guess "that's different".

[rixalex]

Reasonable outcome which should come as no surprise when looking at justification was to "restore peace and order in the country" When one looks at what the UDD element did before a single bullet was fired by the military to squash the uprising one can understand that peace and order was already spiralling out of control and would have kept getting worse had the military not stepped in. Harsh words, tear gas and rubber bullets certainly didn't work and the lethargy of the govt in fact made the UDD element more brazen,

When looking at the violence perpetrated by the UDD before a single bullet was fired one could surmise that Ahbisit and Suthep should answer as to why they did not react sooner and harder to the violence instead of letting it spiral out of control to the point they did.

Anyway, a just and reasonable outcome in this instance. Well done to them both.

WHAT! Pm sends the army out against protesters with live ammunition, shoot to kill ! and you think its OK. i wonder which country you come from. Is that what they do there. We know that it has become practice in the USA, but i hope not Europe

What country in the world could you join up with a violent street mob that included armed members who were firing upon the military, and that had taken over large sections of the capital, and do so with no fear for your own safety. None would be my guess.

[louse1953]

Chokchai Angkaew, a lawyer representing the families, said he will collect more evidence and appeal the ruling. Being prime minister and deputy prime minister, he said, did not mean they could authorize murder.

exactly.

[/quot

When there is insurection on the streets and the people where told to move repeatedly,bus's provided and they refused,this is what happens.When the Army was fired upon they took appropriate action to defend themselves.If people don't want to die,move when you are told by the govt.Therefore they are not guilty.

It's their constitutional right to demonstrate. The argument is whether the government has tried hard enough to negotiate and whether non lethal method should have been used. Apparently not in this case contrast with the amount of tolerance during the PDRC demonstration.

f

I'm all for peaceful rallies,been in many union rallies,myself.But these protests went on for months and where violent,therefore they had to be stopped.The police were unwilling or incapable or both.The protest leaders were warned many times but instead of being true leaders and calming and mollifiying the crowd they incited them,especially Jataporn.So the Army were called in legally and were fired upon.They did what Armies around the world do,they fired back.

[LannaGuy]

Reasonable outcome which should come as no surprise when looking at justification was to "restore peace and order in the country" When one looks at what the UDD element did before a single bullet was fired by the military to squash the uprising one can understand that peace and order was already spiralling out of control and would have kept getting worse had the military not stepped in. Harsh words, tear gas and rubber bullets certainly didn't work and the lethargy of the govt in fact made the UDD element more brazen,

When looking at the violence perpetrated by the UDD before a single bullet was fired one could surmise that Ahbisit and Suthep should answer as to why they did not react sooner and harder to the violence instead of letting it spiral out of control to the point they did.

Anyway, a just and reasonable outcome in this instance. Well done to them both.

WHAT! Pm sends the army out against protesters with live ammunition, shoot to kill ! and you think its OK. i wonder which country you come from. Is that what they do there. We know that it has become practice in the USA, but i hope not Europe

What country in the world could you join up with a violent street mob that included armed members who were firing upon the military, and that had taken over large sections of the capital, and do so with no fear for your own safety. None would be my guess.

What country would allow a mob to disrupt legally held elections. None would be my guess.

[louse1953]

Obviously home to a few blinkered anarchists on here! There is absolutely nowhere in the western world where a bunch of marauding thugs would have been permitted to barricade themselves into a central part of the city and run riot!! As someone else already pointed out, it should never have been allowed to get to that stage in the first place.

An absolute refusal to concede that there may have been some with legitimate political grievances. No, each and every one was a thug who deserve anything they get, end of.

What hope can there ever be of any kind of reconciliation if attitudes like this prevail in wider society? It really is hugely troubling.

I'm sure there were some protesting in 2010 who were driven by legitimate political grievances. And there were many protesting against an unjust Amnesty who also had legitimate political grievances.

But both get hi-jacked by either the Shins and their cronies or the established elite "old guard". Those two elements form the hardcore left when the genuine protesters have dispersed, and will never reconcile with one another. Each side wants dominance and will do anything to get it. Whilst that continues, there will be little if any political and social development; which is very troubling indeed.

That's why the Army should be in for 10 years to keep these to sides apart.

[jayboy]

These filthy murderous scumbags need to be imprisoned for life.

Not an erudite post! Why so much repressed anger from you when in fact your words could not be further from the truth. The ruling Government of the day showed great restraint, time and again, but were constantly attacked. Many of th 90+ deaths were caused by the reds and their allies and yet I doubt whether you would call them "murderous scumbags". So hardly a balanced view from you.

It's not a well considered post and I would not support it.On the other hand if you look at this thread there are also over emotional rants about redshirt culpability.

Nevertheless it remains a fact that it was right for Abhisit and Suthep to be called to account.The HRW report made it clear that while there were violent elements in the redshirt encampment there were also serious abuses on the government/military side.It is infantile to suggest that either side was fully justified in all its actions.

What however is not for dispute is that justice here is not even handed.The likes of Abhisit and Suthep are "protected" and are always given the benefit of such doubt that exists.

Those who challenge the established order always pay the full penalty.

[rixalex]

Reasonable outcome which should come as no surprise when looking at justification was to "restore peace and order in the country" When one looks at what the UDD element did before a single bullet was fired by the military to squash the uprising one can understand that peace and order was already spiralling out of control and would have kept getting worse had the military not stepped in. Harsh words, tear gas and rubber bullets certainly didn't work and the lethargy of the govt in fact made the UDD element more brazen,

When looking at the violence perpetrated by the UDD before a single bullet was fired one could surmise that Ahbisit and Suthep should answer as to why they did not react sooner and harder to the violence instead of letting it spiral out of control to the point they did.

Anyway, a just and reasonable outcome in this instance. Well done to them both.

WHAT! Pm sends the army out against protesters with live ammunition, shoot to kill ! and you think its OK. i wonder which country you come from. Is that what they do there. We know that it has become practice in the USA, but i hope not Europe

What country in the world could you join up with a violent street mob that included armed members who were firing upon the military, and that had taken over large sections of the capital, and do so with no fear for your own safety. None would be my guess.

What country would allow a mob to disrupt legally held elections. None would be my guess.

What is your point in relation to the above discussion about the military crackdown?

[louse1953]

So to restore order they shot and killed an innocent nurse who was attending to a wounded man. Thats the sort of PM and depity that Prayuth wants .

That's the way it goes these days.Millions more civilians die compared to military.

[MZurf]

Obviously home to a few blinkered anarchists on here! There is absolutely nowhere in the western world where a bunch of marauding thugs would have been permitted to barricade themselves into a central part of the city and run riot!! As someone else already pointed out, it should never have been allowed to get to that stage in the first place.

An absolute refusal to concede that there may have been some with legitimate political grievances. No, each and every one was a thug who deserve anything they get, end of.

What hope can there ever be of any kind of reconciliation if attitudes like this prevail in wider society? It really is hugely troubling.

I'm sure there were some protesting in 2010 who were driven by legitimate political grievances. And there were many protesting against an unjust Amnesty who also had legitimate political grievances.

But both get hi-jacked by either the Shins and their cronies or the established elite "old guard". Those two elements form the hardcore left when the genuine protesters have dispersed, and will never reconcile with one another. Each side wants dominance and will do anything to get it. Whilst that continues, there will be little if any political and social development; which is very troubling indeed.

That's why the Army should be in for 10 years to keep these to sides apart.

The army is one of the sides! I'm flabbergasted that there still are people who don't understand this.

[baboon]

Obviously home to a few blinkered anarchists on here! There is absolutely nowhere in the western world where a bunch of marauding thugs would have been permitted to barricade themselves into a central part of the city and run riot!! As someone else already pointed out, it should never have been allowed to get to that stage in the first place.

An absolute refusal to concede that there may have been some with legitimate political grievances. No, each and every one was a thug who deserve anything they get, end of.

What hope can there ever be of any kind of reconciliation if attitudes like this prevail in wider society? It really is hugely troubling.

I'm sure there were some protesting in 2010 who were driven by legitimate political grievances. And there were many protesting against an unjust Amnesty who also had legitimate political grievances.

But both get hi-jacked by either the Shins and their cronies or the established elite "old guard". Those two elements form the hardcore left when the genuine protesters have dispersed, and will never reconcile with one another. Each side wants dominance and will do anything to get it. Whilst that continues, there will be little if any political and social development; which is very troubling indeed.

That's why the Army should be in for 10 years to keep these to sides apart.

Leaving aside their rather dismal track record of running the country in the past, why can't they simply keep the to (sic) sides apart anyway without deciding they are the government while they are at it? What happens after those 10 years? Do you think people will simply forget what it was they were fighting about or something?

[rixalex]

It's not a well considered post and I would not support it.On the other hand if you look at this thread there are also over emotional rants about redshirt culpability.

Nevertheless it remains a fact that it was right for Abhisit and Suthep to be called to account.The HRW report made it clear that while there were violent elements in the redshirt encampment there were also serious abuses on the government/military side.It is infantile to suggest that either side was fully justified in all its actions.

What however is not for dispute is that justice here is not even handed.The likes of Abhisit and Suthep are "protected" and are always given the benefit of such doubt that exists.

Those who challenge the established order always pay the full penalty.

Nevertheless it remains a fact that it was right for Abhisit and Suthep to be called to account.

Agreed it was right for Abhisit and Suthep to be called to account. When people are killed by authorities questions must be answered. The problem here is the bungled and hapless way in which it was done. The objective was never to get to the truth and see justice done for the victims, whatever that might have meant. The objective was instead simply to get some leverage against those who might have stood in the way of an amnesty. Those deaths were seen simply as a fortunate opportunity for political and personal gain.

[jayboy]

It's not a well considered post and I would not support it.On the other hand if you look at this thread there are also over emotional rants about redshirt culpability.

Nevertheless it remains a fact that it was right for Abhisit and Suthep to be called to account.The HRW report made it clear that while there were violent elements in the redshirt encampment there were also serious abuses on the government/military side.It is infantile to suggest that either side was fully justified in all its actions.

What however is not for dispute is that justice here is not even handed.The likes of Abhisit and Suthep are "protected" and are always given the benefit of such doubt that exists.

Those who challenge the established order always pay the full penalty.

Nevertheless it remains a fact that it was right for Abhisit and Suthep to be called to account.

Agreed it was right for Abhisit and Suthep to be called to account. When people are killed by authorities questions must be answered. The problem here is the bungled and hapless way in which it was done. The objective was never to get to the truth and see justice done for the victims, whatever that might have meant. The objective was instead simply to get some leverage against those who might have stood in the way of an amnesty. Those deaths were seen simply as a fortunate opportunity for political and personal gain.

That's a point of view which many hold.I agree the cynical opportunism of Thaksin may well have been part of it.But it's not the whole truth.Until we grasp the reality that motivation is complex and sometimes even contradictory, I dont think we can reach much understanding.

[aussieinthailand]

What a shocker!!!

But the reasoning is sound, they were not private persons they were government employees. Just a fail by whoever filed the charge.

We also know why the chargers were filed.. to make the amnesty for Thaksin possible.. he thought to blackmail them into supporting the amnesty.

Yes, I do agree, the charges were not filed correctly so that is why the conclusion of the court of no authority,

Now as far as the so-called "blackmail them into supporting the amnesty" Nahhh I think not, it may have been used as additional pressure, but "blackmail" c'mon.

Question do you think that the authorizing the use of LIVE rounds on protesters is ok? and Please don't try the tired old and inaccurate they only shot at people that were shooting at them and only in self defense Bull.......T, as there's so much evidence out there that disproves it.

And the infamous Suthep comment "They ran into the bullets" is ok?

shooting into temples is ok? shooting volunteer nurses is ok? if your answer is NO not ok, then some one should be held accountable, yes? and so who gave the orders??? Yeah, The problem is that some people want to hold some politician's responsible for policy's and debit, but let those that gave the green light to shooting people and killing them off scot free.... anyone for a moral compass?

[rubl]

Chokchai Angkaew, a lawyer representing the families, said he will collect more evidence and appeal the ruling. Being prime minister and deputy prime minister, he said, did not mean they could authorize murder.

exactly.

Interesting the suggestion that private persons Abhisit and Suthep did authorize murder.

Strictly speaking any official who is involved in helping armed government personal could be accused of same. The police daily kills criminals Thai newspapers make me believe.

[rubl]

What a shocker!!!

But the reasoning is sound, they were not private persons they were government employees. Just a fail by whoever filed the charge.

We also know why the chargers were filed.. to make the amnesty for Thaksin possible.. he thought to blackmail them into supporting the amnesty.

Yes, I do agree, the charges were not filed correctly so that is why the conclusion of the court of no authority,

Now as far as the so-called "blackmail them into supporting the amnesty" Nahhh I think not, it may have been used as additional pressure, but "blackmail" c'mon.

Question do you think that the authorizing the use of LIVE rounds on protesters is ok? and Please don't try the tired old and inaccurate they only shot at people that were shooting at them and only in self defense Bull.......T, as there's so much evidence out there that disproves it.

And the infamous Suthep comment "They ran into the bullets" is ok?

shooting into temples is ok? shooting volunteer nurses is ok? if your answer is NO not ok, then some one should be held accountable, yes? and so who gave the orders??? Yeah, The problem is that some people want to hold some politician's responsible for policy's and debit, but let those that gave the green light to shooting people and killing them off scot free.... anyone for a moral compass?

Rubbish to try to talk down blackmail into something seemingly more acceptable.

Mind you, had the blanket amnesty bill really become law, there would not be a case, legally so.

[GeorgesAbitbol]

Being a member or PM of it do not excuse you from responsibilities.

The families of the (official) 90 dead are probably super happy and it will for sure help the reconciliation.

The kickoff was the extra judicial killing of Sae Daeng in front of Japanese reporters.

Plenty of videos shows thai without any weapons getting shot during the events, even if you cannot see them on thai mainstream media.

[rubl]

Being a member or PM of it do not excuse you from responsibilities.

The families of the (official) 90 dead are probably super happy and it will for sure help the reconciliation.

The kickoff was the extra judicial killing of Sae Daeng in front of Japanese reporters.

Plenty of videos shows thai without any weapons getting shot during the events, even if you cannot see them on thai mainstream media.

Now your getting off at the deep end with your 'extra judicial killing'. You seem to suggest that there was a premeditated plan to assassinate the Japanese reporter.

This rumour still comes up at times, especially when things don't go as some would like to see them go.

In the mean time it would seem court agree that Abhisit and Suthep cannot be charged as private persons. Thaksin will be happy, his war on drugs finally cleared as well, as private person that is.

[Eric Loh]

Reasonable outcome which should come as no surprise when looking at justification was to "restore peace and order in the country" When one looks at what the UDD element did before a single bullet was fired by the military to squash the uprising one can understand that peace and order was already spiralling out of control and would have kept getting worse had the military not stepped in. Harsh words, tear gas and rubber bullets certainly didn't work and the lethargy of the govt in fact made the UDD element more brazen,

When looking at the violence perpetrated by the UDD before a single bullet was fired one could surmise that Ahbisit and Suthep should answer as to why they did not react sooner and harder to the violence instead of letting it spiral out of control to the point they did.

Anyway, a just and reasonable outcome in this instance. Well done to them both.

WHAT! Pm sends the army out against protesters with live ammunition, shoot to kill ! and you think its OK. i wonder which country you come from. Is that what they do there. We know that it has become practice in the USA, but i hope not Europe

Errm, it wasn't shoot to kill, it was protect your self (from the black shirts and militant reds) - this is completely different to what you are implying and was totally justified and the right thing to do given the difficult circumstances they were placed under!!

In wars, armies don't send their troops out with rubber bullets just in case there are civilians in the vicinity that might get hit. I'm afraid that if someone is indiscriminately firing upon you, you return fire on them and with the attackers mingling in with the protesters there is bound to be collateral damage and civilian deaths, it is unfortunate but inevitable!!

Don't forget about Thaksin's 'war on drugs' whereby 1,400 people were murdered including more than 50% of the total recognised as being INNOCENT civilians - some were killed to ensure that Thaksin's ordered quotas of deaths were made (so that demotions and dismissals were not forthcoming if they were not met) whilst others were caught in the cross fire, much in the same vane as what happened with the protests. Thaksin was somehow found not guilty of what amounts to genocide of your own nations people!!

When the military advance with a superior force and , APCs fully armed and equipped with live bullets and snipers, it is silly to think that it was for protection. It's disproportionate use of lethal force on their own people and the leaders that gave the order must be held accountable. Please don't make comparison to war time as it is totally irrelevant and silly. Even more silly is quoting the war of drugs and stating the people killed as though you know the facts.

[rixalex]

When the military advance with a superior force and , APCs fully armed and equipped with live bullets and snipers, it is silly to think that it was for protection. It's disproportionate use of lethal force on their own people and the leaders that gave the order must be held accountable. Please don't make comparison to war time as it is totally irrelevant and silly. Even more silly is quoting the war of drugs and stating the people killed as though you know the facts.

What is it you expect? For the the military to advance with inferior force? Or perhaps for the military to advance with exactly equal force, just to show what gents they are and make it a fair fight? Of course the military advance with superior force. That is their job. It's very easy to sit behind your computer making pronouncements willy nilly about what was excessive and what wasn't, but it wasn't your neck on the line out there was it. The soldiers had no choice to be there. They couldn't walk away. All of the protesters, armed or not, had that choice. They chose to stay and some paid the ultimate price for their decision. My sympathy is with the soldiers and all those like the medics who weren't there of their own choosing.

[Eric Loh]

When the military advance with a superior force and , APCs fully armed and equipped with live bullets and snipers, it is silly to think that it was for protection. It's disproportionate use of lethal force on their own people and the leaders that gave the order must be held accountable. Please don't make comparison to war time as it is totally irrelevant and silly. Even more silly is quoting the war of drugs and stating the people killed as though you know the facts.

What is it you expect? For the the military to advance with inferior force? Or perhaps for the military to advance with exactly equal force, just to show what gents they are and make it a fair fight? Of course the military advance with superior force. That is their job. It's very easy to sit behind your computer making pronouncements willy nilly about what was excessive and what wasn't, but it wasn't your neck on the line out there was it. The soldiers had no choice to be there. They couldn't walk away. All of the protesters, armed or not, had that choice. They chose to stay and some paid the ultimate price for their decision. My sympathy is with the soldiers and all those like the medics who weren't there of their own choosing.

You really soaked in junta kool aid. It's not me willy nilly behind my computer saying all these things about excessive force but from the Truth for Reconciliation Commission of Thailand report putting the blame for the majority of deaths and injuries were due to the military excessive use of lethal force.

Then if you not so quick to shoot your mouth off, you may also refer to the 2014 Criminal Court verdict that Ahbisit and Suthep decision to authorize live ammunition didn't follow international standards on the use of lethal force.

You should be embarrassed by what you posted.

[lucky11]

When the military advance with a superior force and , APCs fully armed and equipped with live bullets and snipers, it is silly to think that it was for protection. It's disproportionate use of lethal force on their own people and the leaders that gave the order must be held accountable. Please don't make comparison to war time as it is totally irrelevant and silly. Even more silly is quoting the war of drugs and stating the people killed as though you know the facts.

What is it you expect? For the the military to advance with inferior force? Or perhaps for the military to advance with exactly equal force, just to show what gents they are and make it a fair fight? Of course the military advance with superior force. That is their job. It's very easy to sit behind your computer making pronouncements willy nilly about what was excessive and what wasn't, but it wasn't your neck on the line out there was it. The soldiers had no choice to be there. They couldn't walk away. All of the protesters, armed or not, had that choice. They chose to stay and some paid the ultimate price for their decision. My sympathy is with the soldiers and all those like the medics who weren't there of their own choosing.

You really soaked in junta kool aid. It's not me willy nilly behind my computer saying all these things about excessive force but from the Truth for Reconciliation Commission of Thailand report putting the blame for the majority of deaths and injuries were due to the military excessive use of lethal force.

Then if you not so quick to shoot your mouth off, you may also refer to the 2014 Criminal Court verdict that Ahbisit and Suthep decision to authorize live ammunition didn't follow international standards on the use of lethal force.

You should be embarrassed by what you posted.

OK, what have you got to say about my 3 snippets - Chalerm doesn't seem to care about the HR from what he says!! Do you still support the murderous Thaksin and his ministers and do you condone random murder? These 2 unsavoury characters seem to be happy with the execution of innocent citizens, are you?

[aussieinthailand]

Being a member or PM of it do not excuse you from responsibilities.

The families of the (official) 90 dead are probably super happy and it will for sure help the reconciliation.

The kickoff was the extra judicial killing of Sae Daeng in front of Japanese reporters.

Plenty of videos shows thai without any weapons getting shot during the events, even if you cannot see them on thai mainstream media.

Now your getting off at the deep end with your 'extra judicial killing'. You seem to suggest that there was a premeditated plan to assassinate the Japanese reporter.

This rumour still comes up at times, especially when things don't go as some would like to see them go.

In the mean time it would seem court agree that Abhisit and Suthep cannot be charged as private persons. Thaksin will be happy, his war on drugs finally cleared as well, as private person that is.

So off you go AGIAN,,, you should try harder. Was the General holding a weapon aiming and shooting at military when he was shot? NO, fact but you don't like it.

Was the nurse that was shot dead while helping the injured holding aiming and shooting at the military? NO fact and again you don't like it.

Or the reporter's, were they shooting a gun's at the military? NO.

So innocent people were killed yes, so who should be held accountable for the innocent???????

YES there were many others that did NOT shot at the military and were gunned down and yes there is still video evidence to prove it...

Again you don't like it why? it doesn't sit nicely with your agenda of claiming innocent of those charged while condemning the dead and that can not defend themselves, wow man you should be so proud...

[mrrizzla]

When the military advance with a superior force and , APCs fully armed and equipped with live bullets and snipers, it is silly to think that it was for protection. It's disproportionate use of lethal force on their own people and the leaders that gave the order must be held accountable. Please don't make comparison to war time as it is totally irrelevant and silly. Even more silly is quoting the war of drugs and stating the people killed as though you know the facts.

What is it you expect? For the the military to advance with inferior force? Or perhaps for the military to advance with exactly equal force, just to show what gents they are and make it a fair fight? Of course the military advance with superior force. That is their job. It's very easy to sit behind your computer making pronouncements willy nilly about what was excessive and what wasn't, but it wasn't your neck on the line out there was it. The soldiers had no choice to be there. They couldn't walk away. All of the protesters, armed or not, had that choice. They chose to stay and some paid the ultimate price for their decision. My sympathy is with the soldiers and all those like the medics who weren't there of their own choosing.

So the PDRC protesters that "chose" to stay there and were bombed by extremist nutters. Are they also undersiving of your sympathy or do you play a different tune for a different set of protesters?

Why didn't the army come and clear those protesters? Who also had nerferious armed elements.....