Court rules boy, 14, was killed by military gunshot

News > Local News

2010 CRACKDOWN

Court rules boy, 14, was killed by military gunshot

Published: 21 Dec 2012 at 00.00
Newspaper section: News

A 14-year-old boy who died during the 2010 political violence was killed by a military gunshot, the Criminal Court ruled yesterday.

Soldiers walk past the body of a protester killed during the 2010 in street violence. (AFP photo)

Khunakorn Srisuwan, also known as Isa (Jesus), was shot in the back on Mor Leng Road in front of the OA movie theatre about 20 metres off Ratchaprarop Road early on May 15, 2010.

This article is older than 60 days, which we reserve for our premium members only.You can subscribe to our premium member subscription, here.

Forum

Your comments

brilliant
Post : 1,476
Send message

Discussion 22 : 21 Dec 2012 at 09.4322
Post this to my Facebook
well, facts_only, the article states "About 12am on May 15, 2010, a van driven by Samon Maithong headed toward the bunker."

Headed toward the bunker generally implies,well, headed toward the bunker. And generally bunkers hold soldiers, so, if you used your noggin, you might conclude that the van was headed toward soldiers. I don't know the speed, but you also might conclude that if they ordered him to stop and he didn't then 1) perhaps he was going to fast to stop or 2) he had no intention of stopping. Considering reds were using Molotov cocktails and other weapons, the soldiers made a reasonable assumption that they were threatened.
Like dislike 44 people liked / 20 people disliked this comment
dao
Post : 4,666
Send message

Discussion 21 : 21 Dec 2012 at 09.3921
Post this to my Facebook
I guess when you walk around in a military zone you can get shot .
Like dislike 51 people liked / 17 people disliked this comment
OldThaiHand
Post : 658
Send message

Discussion 20 : 21 Dec 2012 at 09.3720
Post this to my Facebook
D1

I agree with you 100%. I doubt any of your critics has ever been in the military, or at least been in an urban warfare situation in which those who are hostile are not wearing uniforms.

It was also night-time and visibility was likely very limited as a result, even with street lighting. As far as I'm aware, at no time were soldiers equiped with night vision equipment.

The boy was unfortunately collateral damage. There might have been negligence on the part of the soldiers, for whatever reason. It's difficult to 2nd guess at this stage.

The question also is what was a 14 year orphan with ADD doing there at 11 at night?
Like dislike 41 people liked / 17 people disliked this comment
geoffo
Post : 2,925
Send message

Discussion 19 : 21 Dec 2012 at 09.2519
Post this to my Facebook
D6 even if you were a tiny bit right about the ratio of military to red death rates ( and the DSI says you are wrong) the fact is the reds had a choice. The hospital rampage and shooting at helicopters were a deliberate escalation ordered by the person who rejected the peace offer. Put that mystery man who ran the whole show on trial next to AV.

Reds are very brave when in a mob but not one of them is man enough to admit their role - not one
Like dislike 52 people liked / 22 people disliked this comment
airborne
Post : 337
Send message

Discussion 18 : 21 Dec 2012 at 09.1418
Post this to my Facebook
D10: peterd - police are trained to restrain, military are trained to stop.

The photo caption reads "...the body of a protester killed..."
The article copy reads, "... testified he saw the boy playing near a military bunker..."
Well, which was it, protesting or playing?
Like dislike 32 people liked / 12 people disliked this comment
ringmaster
Post : 747
Send message

Discussion 17 : 21 Dec 2012 at 09.0717
Post this to my Facebook
Not surprising. When it comes to harming defenseless civilians the Thai military are masters, whether it is towing Rohingyas out to certain death (2009), forcing Cambodian refugees through minefields (1979), stacking teenagers in trucks like cord wood until they suffocate (2004), or shooting students (1973) and other protesters in Bangkok (1992). The list goes on and is quite impressive.
Like dislike 32 people liked / 23 people disliked this comment
dao
Post : 4,666
Send message

Discussion 16 : 21 Dec 2012 at 08.5816
Post this to my Facebook
The army wouldnt have been there if the police had done their job .
The protest would have ended of Thaksin took the early election like they claimed that they wanted but instead chose to relish a body count .
If Thaksin had paid yax he would probably still be PM .
If he hadnt fled the court would have resolved this already and he would have probably got time served .Thaksin is his own worst enemy .
Like dislike 44 people liked / 19 people disliked this comment
tabaluga
Post : 123
Send message

Discussion 15 : 21 Dec 2012 at 08.5315
Post this to my Facebook
"The boy had attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder and was staying at an orphanage of the International Islamic Relief Organisation in Suan Luang district, the court said."
Besides finding out who is responsible for shooting the boy; what about the responsibility of the boys caretaker? How could the orphanage let a kid get out of its compounds into a warzone. Will they ever be held responsible for being reckless?
Like dislike 53 people liked / 7 people disliked this comment
pitanu
Post : 109
Send message

Discussion 14 : 21 Dec 2012 at 08.4714
Post this to my Facebook
D11 PJT you are quite right, this is just the beginning of a series of court cases, whether anyone will be proven guilty of manslaughter is another case. I personally believe that both AV and ST will not indicted for murder.
Like dislike 36 people liked / 12 people disliked this comment
kena
Post : 578
Send message

Discussion 13 : 21 Dec 2012 at 08.4013
Post this to my Facebook
In the bigger picture, if the protesters had been peaceful (more like Yellow demonstrators), and the police had done their jobs, the Army would not have been called out, and much harm would have been avoided.
Like dislike 44 people liked / 23 people disliked this comment

First Previous 1 2 3 4 Next Last

Court rules boy, 14, was killed by military gunshot | Bangkok Post: news