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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domdunnn
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Discussion 93 : 09 Dec 2012 at 09.5093
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brilliant D80

However when they surrounded Parliament the story was different. PAD leader Metha Chatmontri was killed when his car carrying explosives exploded near the Parliament building (11 Oct 2008).
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android
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Discussion 92 : 09 Dec 2012 at 07.3492
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Discussion 80 brilliant : Snap said "As i recall when the yellow shirts invaded the airport not one life was lost.".... You said "The government did that for sympathy."

When PADs seized the airport in November 2008, the caretaker PM was Somchai of PPP, Thaksin's brother in law. Thanks for sharing the view that the then Somchai government had taken a humane approach to deal with the PAD protestors.
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Discussion 91 : 09 Dec 2012 at 07.2091
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Discussion 80 brilliant : "They(PAD) didn't go with weapons of war, they didn't go with MIB, they went peacefully and they didn't "shut the airport" down."

On 25 November 2008, armed PAD's blockaded the main roads to the airport and even forced their way into the control tower. After hours of turmoil, the Airports of Thailand eventually decided that all Suvarnabhumi flights were suspended, leaving thousands of travelers stranded in the airport that led to the official closure of the airport later. This is what it told in the news media.
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Discussion 90 : 09 Dec 2012 at 06.3890
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Discussion 63 kasper : "Please check your facts. Thaksin had 30 days to appeal, but decided not to!"
Disc.84 RiceField checked the facts right. Supreme Court's decision is final with no further appeal being allowed.
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Discussion 89 : 09 Dec 2012 at 06.1289
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Discussion 79 brilliant : If AV does not want to accept, he has to run. There is no other alternative for AV to select but to face the DSI/police hunt for his murder charge. Of course he has to report to the DSI/police and face his trial in court for his wrongdoings.
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canuck
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Discussion 88 : 09 Dec 2012 at 02.1388
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" He insisted that his government's action was to restore peace and order and was in line with the law."

I ask you Mark, did it work? Everybody says what the PT is doing doesn't work. Not everything worked for the Dem's either. It's impossible for the government to please everybody. Make democracy work. Vote.
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canuck
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Discussion 87 : 09 Dec 2012 at 02.0787
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" Mr Abhisit said the charges laid against him and Mr Suthep were to pressure him and his party to support the government's proposed reconciliation law."

Abhisit should reconsider before it is to late to turn back. This is perhaps what Thaksin complained about when he faced the courts. Now Abhisit makes the same claim. Perhaps it is an injustice. Perhaps what happened to Thaksin was also. Maybe now you might understand why it is necessary for reconciliation to occur.
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canuck
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Discussion 86 : 09 Dec 2012 at 02.0086
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He has and English passport and can flee to England which will protect him from extradition from Thailand. The perfect crime however, he would be in jail in England, which would be more comfortable than the Thai facilities.
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orange
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Discussion 85 : 09 Dec 2012 at 00.2685
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It raises a question over the political futures of both men. Whether the case goes to court or not. What shape do you think the democrate party will be in by next election?

The bigger picture, mostly is far less about politics than crime victims seeking fairness, not vengeance.
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ricefield
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Discussion 84 : 08 Dec 2012 at 23.2784
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Disc 63 - "Thaksin had 30 days to appeal" The Ratchadaphisek land verdict was handed down in the Supreme court, Supreme court verdicts are not appealable in Thailand. I did check my facts, BTW
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Abhisit gears up to battle murder rap | Bangkok Post: news