Abhisit tells BBC murder charge unfair

Abhisit tells BBC murder charge unfair

Former prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has told the BBC that the murder charge against him stemming from the 2010 street protests is unfair.

Former prime minister and current opposition leader Abhisit Vejjajiva speaks during an interview with BBC World News in London.

During an interview with BBC World News, Mr Abhisit said his government was handling a situation in which people occupied the middle of the city. He said armed men had infused the crowd and were firing grenades.

"The charges they are placing against me are very far-fetched," Mr Abhisit said.

Last week, the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) charged Mr Abhisit and Democrat MP Suthep Thaugsuban with authorising the killing of anti-government protesters during the 2010 unrest in Bangkok. The charges were based on a Criminal Court ruling that a taxi driver's death on May 14, 2010 was caused by security forces.

"The charge that is being put against me at the moment is the death of a person who wasn't even a protester. What happened was a van was trying to crash through a barrier set up by the military. There were shots being fired. This person ran out to see what happened and unfortunately got caught," Mr Abhisit told the news programme while on a trip to attend the Children's Trust anniversary in London.

He said his government did authorise the use of live ammunition. "How else do you fight people with arms?" he said. The instructions, however, were clear to avoid the use of live bullets to prevent the loss of innocent lives, he said.

"To say that this kind of order meant we were ordering the killing of people is unfair," Mr Abhisit said during an interview in which he and the female host fiercely competed to finish their sentences.

He told the news programme he regretted the loss of people's lives but insisted he will fight the charges in court.

"I will accept whatever the verdict is, even if it's a death penalty," he said. "I am asking a former prime minister and members of the current government that they should do the same. That is the way things should be done."

Democrat Party spokesman Chavanond Intarakomalyasut said Mr Abhisit's remarks clarified the Democrat-led government's actions to deal with the unrest. "This will lead to more understanding in international society about the situation."

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