Prosecutors in an unwelcome light

Prosecutors in an unwelcome light

Odd twists and turns in the controversy-plagued Attorney-General's Office - An influential figure tries to control where a planned Cambodia border crossing in Sa Kaeo will go - Green Group leader Suriyasai emerges as de facto coordinator for the anti-government protests

Public prosecutors have been under the glaring eye of the public of late _ and they may not be in the most enviable of positions.

Athapol: No conflict with Chulasingh

Sitting at the top of the agency is the attorney-general. Both the incumbent and his predecessor have had their fair share of unflattering remarks directed at them over their judgements in key cases.

First, anti-government elements have come down hard on Chulasingh Vasantasingh who, shortly before his retirement as attorney-general, decided not to prosecute former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra for allegedly inciting terrorist acts during red-shirt protests in 2010.

His reason was that Thaksin was not physically in the country and therefore not able to pull the strings behind the terrorist acts which allegedly occurred during the red-shirt street protests.

The decision made Mr Chulasingh a target of pillory from opponents. He was on many occasions called to explain his decision before the standing committees in the Senate and the Lower House.

His successor, Athapol Yaisawang, was also on the receiving end after he signed the indictment order against former premier Abhisit Vejjajiva and former deputy premier Suthep Thaugsuban on charges connected to the Democrat government's crackdowns on red-shirt protesters in April-May 2010 that left more than 90 people dead.

The decision to prosecute Mr Abhisit, the Democrat Party leader, and Mr Suthep, a Democrat MP for Surat Thani, is based on the recommendation of the Department of Special Investigation (DSI).

The Office of the Attorney-General (OAG) says the move is in line with several Criminal Court rulings which found some protesters were shot dead by soldiers acting on the orders of the now-defunct Centre for the Resolution of the Emergency Situation (CRES). The offence is believe to constitute extra-judicial killings.

Mr Suthep was deputy prime minister and the director of CRES during the protest crackdowns, acting on behalf of Mr Abhisit who was prime minister at the time.

Although Mr Chulasingh and Mr Athapol have upset many government opponents, it is known the two men did not get along, according to a political source.

Not long after Mr Athapol was sworn in as attorney-general, Mr Chulasingh tendered his resignation as senior prosecutor with effect on Nov 1. At 64, Mr Chulasingh could still serve as senior prosecutor until he is 70 years old.

The source said Mr Chulasingh called it quits over uncertainties involving his membership of the boards of three state enterprises.

He is estimated to have earned almost five million baht a year from sitting on the boards of the state enterprises, including energy giant PTT Pcl.

Since he has been replaced as attorney-general, confusion reigns over his status on the boards.

The source said PTT earlier wrote to the Stock Exchange of Thailand informing it that Mr Athapol had taken over the enterprise's board membership seat from Mr Chulasingh.

But PTT soon retracted its notification after Mr Chulasingh contacted the company and asked that his board membership be continued. But in the end, Mr Chulasingh lost the seat by virtue of his relinquishing the senior prosecutor post.

Mr Athapol, who now fills the board seat, has denied any conflict with his former boss.

Even though Mr Chulasingh no longer has any professional attachment to the Attorney-General's Office, he will keep busy as he holds many positions in academia, Mr Athapol said.

Battle over a new trade link

The opening of a permanent border crossing anywhere often brings complications, not least from those who stand to gain financially from it.

A new crossing planned for the border province of Sa Kaeo to Cambodia is in the pipeline, but where the actual route will be cut is anyone's guess.

Two possible routes are on the agenda: one from Watthana Nakhon district via Ban Nong Ian in the border district of Aranyaprathet, and one through Ban Pa Rai, also in Aranyaprathet district.

The Ban Nong Ian channel connects to Stoeng Bat village in Ou Chrov district of Cambodia's Banteay Meanchey province.

The Ban Nong Ian route is backed by a former ''king-maker'' politician who still wields tremendous influence in Sa Kaeo.

The politician, with a son currently serving in the cabinet, has teamed up with local authorities to try to have the border pass link to Wattana Nakhon district, a source said.

The Ban Nong Ian border pass was proposed when the politician was in the government. If the project is approved, the route will likely cut through land plots the politician and his associates own in Watthana Nakhon, which is about 24km from the Thai-Cambodian border.

However, Ban Nong Ian, even though it has well-established trading zones on either side of the border, is prone to flooding.

Many business people support the permanent border crossing being opened in Ban Pa Rai opposite Cambodia's Ou Neang village in Banteay Meanchey.

Cambodia has developed the area into a special economic zone with an airport, roads and large infrastructures facilities built to serve the purpose.

In 2005, Cambodian Foreign Minister Hor Namhong and Kantathi Suphamongkhon, the then Thai foreign minister, signed a memorandum to develop a joint special economic zone there.

The plan was shelved after the Sept 19, 2006 coup d'etat that toppled the Thaksin Shinawatra administration. It is only now being dusted off.

Businesspeople and the local chamber of commerce support Ban Pa Rai as the location for the border pass. The project will require the expropriation of vast tracts of private land.

Where the border pass will be located is still up in the air, although those in the know reckon if the government can remain in power long enough, the project will be a reality sooner rather than later.

However, before the fate of the project is decided, a fair amount of political wrestling among parties looking to benefit from it can be expected.

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra had a special cabinet meeting in Sa Kaeo province recently. She was informed by private sector representatives that the location in Ban Pa Rai is suitable for the permanent border crossing and local businesspeople are supporting its development.

At the heart of the matter

The anti-government demonstrations that have sprung up across the city and in the provinces have something in common, even though they seem to be keeping a distance from each other.

Currently there are three protests in progress: the People's Democratic Force to Overthrow Thaksinism (Pefot) rally at Lumpini Park; the Uruphong protest under the Network of Students and People for Reform of Thailand; and the Democrat Party-led rally at Samsen railway station.

The Democrat-sponsored rally is said to have drawn 20,000 people on its first day, making it the most conclusive anti-government demonstration so far.

Suriyasai: In contact with protests, military

However, all of the protests have Suriyasai Katasila as a core coordinator. Mr Suriyasai, currently coordinator of the Green Politics Group, is said to be working with some red-shirt groups who are not happy with the revised version of the proposed amnesty bill.

Word has also spread that he has ties with the on-and-off palm and rubber protests in Nakhon Si Thammarat and Prachuap Khiri Khan.

Mr Suriyasai has rarely appeared on stage at these rallies, but one is sure to spot him backstage talking to protest leaders and someone like himself.

His close association with Pefot should not be doubted. The Lumpini Park rally is supported by Maj Gen Chamlong Srimuang, a former core member of the yellow-shirt People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD).

At last Sunday's gathering at Thammasat University's Tha Phrachan campus to map out a strategy against the amnesty bill, the appearance of Uthai Yodmanee and Nitithorn Lamluea, key leaders of the Uruphong protest, was a testimony to how close they are.

Mr Suriyasai is reportedly trying to coordinate with the rest of the anti-Thaksin network, including media mogul Sondhi Limthongkul's ASTV/Manager, now that the Democrat-led rally has gathered steam.

Prior to all these rallies, the former PAD coordinator played host to academic seminars which were said to have been sponsored by anti-government groups.

Mr Suriyasai, formerly one of the second-generation leaders of the PAD, was reportedly approached by the Democrats to contest the previous general election in the Northeast.

However, at the time he was not ready to leave the PAD. After that he formed the Green Politics group and has campaigned against any attempt to bring ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra home a free man.

During the PAD protest against Thaksin, it is Mr Suriyasai who constantly maintained contact with military leaders.

In the campaign against the amnesty bill, Mr Suriyasai's coordinating skills will be much welcomed by anti-Thaksin groups.

Do you like the content of this article?
COMMENT