Probe borders on the absurd

EDITORIAL

Published: 20 Dec 2012 at 00.00
Newspaper section: News

The handling of criminal litigation by the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) against former prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and his ex-deputy, Suthep Thaugsuban, for their role in the army's crackdown on red-shirt protesters in April-May 2010 seems to have reached a point bordering on absurdity and it could even be viewed as political persecution.

DSI chief Tarit Pengdith said on Tuesday that his department was mulling the possibility of bringing hundreds of additional charges, including attempted murder, against the two Democrat bigwigs for injuring some 1,500 demonstrators during the violent protests two and a half years ago.

As a former committee member of the Centre for the Resolution of the Emergency Situation (CRES), the ad hoc centre set up by then prime minister Abhisit to deal with the violent protests, and a former judge, Mr Tarit should be fully aware that the whole committee was collectively held accountable for the directives it issued, the subsequent actions taken by security forces in accordance with the directives, and the consequences of those actions.

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ringmaster
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Discussion 16 : 20 Dec 2012 at 23.5816
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oldthaihand d15, The people taking refuge at Wat Pathum, including a young nurse, did not "require a lethal response." The two reporters who were killed did not "require a lethal response." No unarmed civilian ever "requires a lethal response." Saying that there might be an armed insurgent nearby is absolutely no justification. Because no matter how immoral it is use unarmed protesters as human shields, it is even more immoral to go ahead and shoot them.
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OldThaiHand
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Discussion 15 : 20 Dec 2012 at 20.3015
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Sorry Eric. But, you're wrong. When it became clear that the police had abdicated their responsbility to keep civil order because they sided with the redshirts, the only recourse was to use the army. What started as a protest quickly became an armed insurrection that used unarmed protestors as a human shield behind which the lethal intent of the hardcore redshirt leaders and their forces was planned and executed. People died because of the actions of their own leaders and their militant followers, which required a lethal response.
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amazed
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Discussion 14 : 20 Dec 2012 at 20.1014
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Disc. 6 - In a normal country one would have to be concerned with precedence. In Thailand, the laws are so selectively applied and unevenly adjudicated that case law is nonexistent. In Thailand, past cases only serve as a beginning of a sentence as in, " Yah but back in..."
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jacksprat
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Discussion 13 : 20 Dec 2012 at 17.1013
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@ discussion 1 - "So Mr Editor? did the DP treat TS any better?" When was Thaksin charged over the 2500 extra-judicial killings during his "war on drugs"? Or the 85 dead at Tak Bai? Krue Seh mosque? If Thaksin has ever face any charges for the killings under his government, I must have missed it.
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Eric
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Discussion 12 : 20 Dec 2012 at 13.5712
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Opinions on this is a dime a dozen these days. Doesn't go away from the fact that the use of a professional military more suitable for defending against threats from external trained their guns towards their own people; authorized by the then government. Absolutely no justification for that or for past governments.
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DonAleman
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Discussion 11 : 20 Dec 2012 at 13.2911
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I think some of the commenters may have misunderstood the editorial. It isn't a matter of right/wrong but,now, dispensing with the situation in a swift, legal, reasonable way. The courts, continuing on as they have for years are not likely to come up with a solution that pleases everybody and that could take another 10 years so : stop adding charges and get on with it ! The predominent charge could carry a life sentence which is just as good as a sentence of a potential
700 life sentences - no ?
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buster
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Discussion 10 : 20 Dec 2012 at 13.1510
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It looks more like a vendetta war rather then a reconsiliation attempt.
Forgive me not writing about blackmen...oeps! man in black....grenade attacks, and sniper fire from soldiers on duty, the most disturbing part of this editorial is that it seems that nobody is safe in this country.
If laws are bended with any political wind or breeze rewriting constitutions whenever a new colorful movement changes shirt, then who protects who?
we are all fairgame in such an environment and on the mercy of colors not laws.
Political doomsday , may be that whats circulating in society as the end of civilisation.
Lets see what happens in politics tomorr
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ringmaster
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Discussion 9 : 20 Dec 2012 at 13.059
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"In all fairness, violence was perpetrated by both sides in the conflict _ the protesters as well as the security forces."

So "in all fairness," some of the security forces and their leaders should be jailed too - plenty of protesters and their leaders were (and still are). We are all about fairness aren't we?
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pquinlan
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Discussion 8 : 20 Dec 2012 at 11.138
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The behaviour of the DSI tipped over the border of absurdity some time ago.
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massein
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Discussion 7 : 20 Dec 2012 at 10.397
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This is purely a witch hunt, but it does set a precedent. Perhaps former politician will be held accountable for harm cause bye their decisions. Does the government really want to open this can
of worms? There should be no statute of limitation on crime committed under color of law. Gee they could go back at least 20 years.
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Probe borders on the absurd | Bangkok Post: opinion