Postbag: Indictment is scary politics

Postbag

Postbag: Indictment is scary politics

Published: 9 Dec 2012 at 00.00
Newspaper section: News

The Department of Special Investigation's indictment of former prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva for murder relating to the crackdown on the 2010 red shirt protests is a shocking reflection of the state of the Thai criminal justice system.

It brings to mind countless other incidents around the world in which instruments of state power were harnessed to the interests of the dominant party with the passive approval of an apathetic populace.

The case speaks volumes about the present administration's winner-takes-all approach when it comes to national reconciliation.

This article is older than 60 days, which we reserve for our premium members only.You can subscribe to our premium member subscription, here.

Forum

Your comments

domdunnn
Post : 1,248
Send message

Discussion 7 : 10 Dec 2012 at 01.237
Post this to my Facebook
bluebkk D6

The protests went on for weeks before they turned violent, that was the time to disperse the crowd using internationally recognised methods of crowd control.

The important thing will be if AV has to take the court through his decision making process stage by stage, then we will be able to see exactly what the governments strategy was and exactly what orders he gave.
Like dislike 4 people liked / 2 people disliked this comment
bluebkk
Post : 1,356
Send message

Discussion 6 : 09 Dec 2012 at 17.226
Post this to my Facebook
Discussion 4... using tear gas and water cannons against red bullets and grenades??? Are you saying YOU would have risked your life with a water cannon against the red criminals???? I seriously don't think you would have had that courage....and who would have used them??The Thai police? Seems they can only use them nowadays when their runaway master is in charge....
Like dislike 20 people liked / 6 people disliked this comment
domdunnn
Post : 1,248
Send message

Discussion 5 : 09 Dec 2012 at 16.075
Post this to my Facebook
1. So far the DSI has charged 295 UDD members and 2 government officials, doesn't seem unreasonable.
2. It is up to the court to decide if the charge has merit enough to hear the case or not.

Why are AV supporters so afraid of a trial, is it because some of the charges will require AV/ST to explain why they didn't use tear gas, water cannon etc?
Like dislike 9 people liked / 26 people disliked this comment
dao
Post : 4,804
Send message

Discussion 4 : 09 Dec 2012 at 12.034
Post this to my Facebook
PT is sowing the seeds they will reap .Seeds of bitter corruption .I wish them all the bad luck I can muster .
Like dislike 33 people liked / 6 people disliked this comment
Renaissance
Post : 1,856
Send message

Discussion 3 : 09 Dec 2012 at 11.433
Post this to my Facebook
Eventually, Thais will tire of the disunity and the mess created by the man in the distant land. 2013 will certainly see a severe intensification of this tiredness, especially as he becomes more desperate. I think that for this reason all his efforts to return will fail.
Like dislike 29 people liked / 6 people disliked this comment
kena
Post : 617
Send message

Discussion 2 : 09 Dec 2012 at 10.272
Post this to my Facebook
It's ludicrous how PT can say the word 'reconciliation' out of one side of it's mouth, while spouting ridiculous politically-hyped charges out of the other side. The man who controls PT is the same man who is directing the witch hunt. All bow to the great leader; Thaksin.
Like dislike 36 people liked / 6 people disliked this comment
oldairman
Post : 806
Send message

Discussion 1 : 09 Dec 2012 at 08.461
Post this to my Facebook
RE We,ve got to live together.
The film and music was written 45 years ago in a totally different world and oddly enough was fiction. Most of the world including Thailand has moved on since then and that was before most people including most Americans had heard of Thailand or Vietnam.
Vietnam and the USA were mortal enemies for a long while but now they are friends.
British colonialism was rife but no more, European empires dissolved, allies were made and lost and new ones made. The song was then but this is now and I doubt if any Thais ever saw it let alone acted upon it.
Like dislike 2 people liked / 0 people disliked this comment

Postbag: Indictment is scary politics | Bangkok Post: opinion