Abhisit gears up to battle murder rap

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Abhisit gears up to battle murder rap

Former PM says charges are politically motivated

Published: 8 Dec 2012 at 00.00
Newspaper section: News

Democrat leader Abhisit Vejjajiva says he would be ready to accept the death sentence if it was handed down to him as a result of the investigation into his government's crackdown on red-shirt protesters in 2010.

He was speaking after he and Democrat MP Suthep Thaugsuban were charged on Thursday by the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) with authorising the killing of anti-government protesters during the April-May 2010 political violence in Bangkok.

Mr Suthep was deputy prime minister under the Abhisit government and headed the Centre for the Resolution of the Emergency Situation (CRES), which was set up to handle the protests.

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Ian
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Discussion 13 : 08 Dec 2012 at 08.0413
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Back to the blame game again, no Thai ever seems willing to accept responsibility for their actions. 90 people are killed but no one was responsible, not the army, not the government of the time, not the Red shirts or Black shirts, so what is left.... an act of God?
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supermax
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Discussion 12 : 08 Dec 2012 at 07.5512
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If exPM Abhisit who acted according to the law is sentenced, there will be no more justice in Thailand. The country'll sink into anarchy...
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wakeup
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Discussion 11 : 08 Dec 2012 at 07.4611
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FACT: UDD leaders admitted to having 300 armed militants on the streets during the 2010 violence. They admitted they carried M-79s, but were also seen with M-16's in hand, and admittedly stole scores of army weapons. Unless you can trace the bullet back to an army rifle, and place it in a soldiers hand at the time of the shooting, you have no case. Pure politically motivated, money/time wasting stunt, another reason PTP has zero legitimacy.
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wasagabob
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Discussion 10 : 08 Dec 2012 at 07.2710
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The ONLY reason that he is being charged is to try and either black mail him or coerce him into agreeing to a deal to bring back Thaskin without Thaskin serving out his legitimate sentence in jail.

I have suggested before that Thaskin be allowed back into his beloved Thailand but the terms of his return are that he must teach school somewhere in the southern 3 provinces without an army guard for 2 years (the length of his court decreed sentence). I wonder if he would agreed to that given his history with that section of Thailand?
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oldairman
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Discussion 9 : 08 Dec 2012 at 07.059
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How strange. An ex Prime Minister and a his Deputy charged with a crime which carries the possibility of the death penalty are willing to stay in Thailand and fight the case while another ex Prime Minister is a convicted fugitive on the run from a 2 year jail sentence.
"Let justice run its course. No matter where it leads, we will accept it, be it a life sentence or a death sentence," Mr Abhisit said.
It was a political setup says Thaksin, I am not guilty.
Who are the honourable men here?
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maimeesi
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Discussion 8 : 08 Dec 2012 at 07.008
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TS should be a Man like AV...stop hiding and be brave enough to defend yourself if you are innocent...
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android
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Discussion 7 : 08 Dec 2012 at 06.537
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All dem elements like yellow PADs, Pitak Siam and multi-colour shirts kept silent and abandoned AV this time. At the same time PT is not interested to make any negotiation with AV. Av and Suthep had no other choice but to face the trial in court.
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boontong
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Discussion 6 : 08 Dec 2012 at 06.496
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Those who had their loved one killed or injured by the order of CRES, does not want any amnesty in exchange for Thaksin. It is an accusation intended to split them. Further more, Thaksin does not need amnesty; he needs a re-trial by a new panel of judges. BTW, PPP government wanted to solve the society's problem through the peaceful political channels even when the Yellow/PAD, military and DEM continued their illegal violent gatherings and invasion of government house, buildings and airports.
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whatajoke
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Discussion 5 : 08 Dec 2012 at 06.255
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Now Abhisit gets to call his case politically motivated. How clever, whoever thought that one up in Dubai is a genius, it's the same well-worn tactic we've seen from the 'S-Camp' over the years, pressure 'friendly' agencies to equally indict both parties. Doesn't matter if the charges against them are petty, when the court lets them off but not you, it will be more proof the courts are biased. Remember the EC back in 2006, same situation. But at least Thailand will get to see a leader stand up to the charges and take it like a man, pity most the electorate don't admire that sort of personal trait.
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brilliant
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Discussion 4 : 08 Dec 2012 at 06.104
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Dear Abhisit, Thank you for not bending to the will of PTP to whitewash the fugitive in Dubai. Perhaps some day, Thailand will understand that you are doing the honorable thing and willing to accept the results of any trial, be it fair or not. May this small, but significant action, provide an example to Thai people to be more responsible and willing to accept the consequences of their actions. It is a pleasure to see a man that is willing to accept the witch hunt you are going through without complaint and for the overall good of Thailand.
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