Thai PM, 12 others sued for 'attempted murder'
วันพฤหัสบดี ที่ 22 ก.ค. 2553
BANGKOK, July 22 - An independent reporter on Thursday filed a lawsuit against Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and other 12 persons for attempted murder and mayhem in the army's security operation to retake the anti-government Red Shirt rally site at Khok Wua intersection on April 10.
Bodin Watcharobol, who described himself as an independent reporter, asked Udom Prongfa, personal legal adviser of the fugitive former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra to file a suit against Prime Minister Abhisit and other 12 persons at Criminal Court.
Among the 12 named are Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban, director of the Centre for the Resolution of the Emergency Situation (CRES), Defence Minister Gen Prawit Wongsuwan, army chief Gen Anupong Paochinda, CRES spokesman Col Sansern Kaewkamnerd and acting government spokesman Panitan Wattanayagorn.
They have been accused of the attempted killing of demonstrators and of mayhem which led to a number of deaths and injuries from the army operation on Ratchadamnoen Avenue's Khow Wua intersection and at Satriwittaya School on April 10.
Mr Udom said this time it is the people themselves who filed a lawsuit against the government in order to protect their rights and freedoms, saying the government's order is inappropriate.
The lawyer said he had earlier filed a complaint at Nang Lerng police station but that no progress has been made, so he decided to lodge the complaint in court. He asserted that Mr Thaksin had nothing to do with his move.
Mr Udom said he has brought copies of a CD about the April 10 army crackdown as evidence. The court set the preliminary hearing on the case on September 13.
Twenty-five people including the deputy chief of staff of the 2nd Infantry Division Romklao Thuwatham were killed and more than 800 persons, including soldiers, were wounded in the bloody confrontation between Red Shirt protesters and army troops.
The government explained the high toll of casualties was caused by a group of unidentified persons in black outfits and masks who mingled with the red-shirted protesters. They fired M79 grenades, M67 hand grenades and automatic weapons at the troops and the crowd.
(MCOT online news)
