Court: Red cabbie shot by soldiers

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Court: Red cabbie shot by soldiers

Published: 26 Nov 2012 at 15.59
Online news: Politics

The Criminal Court on Monday ruled that a taxi driver who was a supporter of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) was shot dead by soldiers in the heart of Bangkok during the red-shirt street protests in 2010.

Criminal litigation prosecutors had earlier asked the court to establish the identity and circumstances surrounding the death of a man shot in front of a petrol station in Soi Rang Nam on May 15, 2010, an area where the emergency decree had been imposed by the government of Abhisit Vejjajiva.

From the questioning of witnesses, the court identified the man as Channarong Phonsrila, a red-shirt taxi driver taking part in the UDD protest. While he was helping to make a barricade with auto tyres in front of a Shell petrol station in Soi Rang Nam, shots were fired and Channarong was hit in the abdomen.

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ringmaster
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Discussion 17 : 26 Nov 2012 at 20.5617
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bangmodker #15 You're not suggesting that Thai court decisions are based on outside influences, are you? Perhaps we should revisit the Thaksin Land Deal case.
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bluebkk
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Discussion 16 : 26 Nov 2012 at 20.3316
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Shameless exploitation by red terrorists' leaders Weng and Tida..... The conveniently forget to acknowledge that these same weapons and ammo were taken by force from the army by their " peaceful grassroots".....
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bangmodken
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Discussion 15 : 26 Nov 2012 at 19.0115
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D6 : Based on what evidence? If you want to prove a case,bring conclusive evidence,not 'maybe a .223 or maybe a 5.56,maybe a M16,a HK33 or even a Tavor rifle and/or eye-witnesses who actually witnessed/saw the shooting. This Court haven't been provided anything yet it obviously felt pressured by the attendance of the red shirt extremists,Thida and Weng,to come to this conclusion.
This simply confirms that Thailand is still banana republic and the "developments" since the 2011 elections is taking the country in the wrong direction if democracy is the goal.
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pjt
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Discussion 14 : 26 Nov 2012 at 18.2214
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To those who are pushing to take Khun Ahbisit to the ICC - I wonder if the ICC would even consider something as vague as the above in evidence. It appears from the facts reported that this unfortunate victim died by the hand of a person or persons unknown, who might have been a soldier but there is no conclusive evidence that he was or to which regiment he belonged. Neither is it known why the fatal round was fired or whether this was within the rules of engagement and orders in force at the time
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Bangon
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Discussion 13 : 26 Nov 2012 at 18.1113
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The poor guy shouldn't be dead, period. Driving a Taxi is a professional activity, helping to build a barricade with tyres (in front of a gas station), is called rioting, and is a criminal activity. Doing so in an area under emergency decree is willfully exposing yourself to dire consequences. R.I.P. yet another (not)'peaceful demonstrator' of the UDD. It's highly probable he was deadly injured(!) by an army bullet, but it is certain he would still be alive when Thaksin & co would not have instigated the unrest, period, too!
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jacksprat
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Discussion 12 : 26 Nov 2012 at 18.0712
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"If you can't establish the calibre or the type of weapon used ..." .223 and 5.56mm are the same calibre. That doesn't say which weapon fired the round though.
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geoffo
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Discussion 11 : 26 Nov 2012 at 17.5511
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D6 Peterd :

none of the witnesses saw with their own eyes that they ( the soldiers ) actually fired the shots.

Conclusion : A unknown person fired the shot.
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lucy
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Discussion 10 : 26 Nov 2012 at 17.5410
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Disc 1. -- .223 calibre an 5.56mm are as near the same as makes no difference. You're looking at bullet wounds.
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bikeme
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Discussion 9 : 26 Nov 2012 at 17.239
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D6 - If you read well ... you will see that no one saw the shooting, that they aren't positive about what size bullet, that they aren't sure what type gun and that they came to their ruling based on information from reporters (who obviously also didn't see the actual shooting). The whole ruling is extremely circumstantial and wouldn't fly in an open unbiased court room.
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englishbob
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Discussion 8 : 26 Nov 2012 at 17.088
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"Mr Weng said since Channarong was shot dead by soldiers on duty under a CRES order, Mr Abhisit, then the prime minister, and then deputy prime minister Suthep Thaugsuban, director of the CRES at the time, must be held responsible."

Since as 2500 people were shot by police under Thaksin's War on Drug Suspects policy, then Thaksin Shinawatra must also be held responsible... right? Right?

And let's not ignore the fact that the taxi driver was breaking the law at the time. And 'shots were fired' doesn't preclude the possibility that soldiers shot back at someone firing from the barricade.
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