The Democrat Party has revealed the details of a letter it will send to foreign governments to dispute Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra's speech delivered in Mongolia.
Democrat spokesman Chavanond Intarakomalyasut yesterday said Ms Yingluck's speech was misleading and has harmed investment in Thailand.
He said the party feels the need to reveal the letter and send it to governments in foreign countries, including Mongolia, to set the record straight.
The letter reviews the state of politics and the democratic process back to when Thaksin Shinawatra first became prime minister, Mr Chavanond said.
In the two-page letter, the Democrat Party explained how Thaksin came to power and accused his administration of corruption and changing the laws to suit Thaksin's own business interests.
After being toppled by the military coup in 2006, Thaksin was charged with corruption and was sentenced in absentia by the Supreme Court to a two-year prison term in the Ratchadaphisek land case, the letter said.
The Thaksin-backed governments of Samak Sundaravej and Somchai Wongsawat attempted to introduce and pass an amnesty law to help Thaksin return to Thailand with impunity, but they failed.The Democrats said the red-shirt protests against the Abhisit Vejjajiva administration in 2010 were deemed unlawful by a court since they infringed on the rights of the general public _ especially with the use of weapons such as M67s and M79s. "Such an act is contrary to the statement of Ms Yingluck that the protests were democratic and peaceful," the letter said. "An armed insurrection was a more appropriate description. The Democrat-led government returned the country to normalcy using means within the law."
The 91 deaths mentioned by Ms Yingluck included military and police officers who were carrying out their duties to uphold the rule of law and keep peace, protect innocent bystanders and protesters, the opposition party said in the letter.
"Charges have been brought against the criminal proprietors. Mr Thaksin Shinawatra is also one of those accused of terrorist acts and instigators of violence." it said.
Red-shirt protests and physical threats to the Democrat Party, civil society and those opposed to the thuggish behaviour of this government are detrimental to Thai society and "only by recognising these threats to democracy can Thailand take further steps to strengthen our democracy," it said.
Meanwhile, Pol Maj Gen Anuchai Lekbumrung, deputy chief of the Metropolitan Police Bureau, said a team of investigators will be set up to look into the complaint against Thai Rath cartoonist Somchai Katanyutanan, known by his pen name Chai Ratchawat.
On Friday, Ms Yingluck's lawyer lodged a police complaint accusing Somchai of defaming Ms Yingluck in comments posted on his Facebook page.
Mr Abhisit also slammed Information and Communication Technology Minister Anudith Nakornthap for his threat to silence websites that allow criticism of the prime minister.