Former Pheu Thai MP Worachai Hema has warned that the prosecution of two former Pheu Thai prime ministers by the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) will obstruct national reconciliation.
He was referring to the NACC's prosecution of Somchai Wongsawat for his government's fatal crackdown on People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) protesters in 2008 and against Yingluck Shinawatra for the costly and corruption-ridden rice-pledging programme from 2012-14.
Worachai: Double standard
The prosecutions were aimed at preventing key figures of the Pheu Thai Party from running in the next general election, Mr Worachai said on Friday.
He also said that the loss of life in actions taken against PAD protesters in 2008 was accidental. As well, he questioned why the NACC did not speed up prosecution in the fatal crackdown by the Democrat-led Abhisit Vejjajiva government against red-shirt protesters in 2010.
The former MP for Samut Prakan said the NACC could be seen as using a double standard, which would prolong conflicts and prevent national reconciliation.
The Office of the Attorney General had dismissed a complaint against Mr Somchai in 2012. The NACC revived it and the Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions accepted it for trial.
Meanwhile, Ms Yingluck is facing criminal and civil lawsuits for her rice-pledging scheme that caused the state to lose an estimated 500 billion baht.