The legal office of the army will ask the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) for a progress report on its investigation into the deaths of soldiers at Khok Wua intersection during the protests in 2010, Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha said on Wednesday.
Troops and red-shirt protesters of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) clased at Khok Wua intersection, near the Democracy Monument on April 10, 2010. Several soldiers were killed and wounded. The dead included Col Romklao Thuwatham (promoted to full general after his death).
Gen Prayuth said the army had received complaints from the wounded and relatives of the killed. They wanted to know if the DSI had made any progress in its investigation.
"I think little progress has been made. Those responsible for the losses must be found, even though both sides claimed they had not done anything wrong. Soldiers are also citizens of Thailand," the army chief said.
Gen Prayuth's remarks came when he was asked to comment on the UDD's plan to rally today to commemorate the third anniversary of the April 10 violence.
He said that not only the UDD protesters sustained losses. The police, military and civilians also suffered casualties. All sides were entitled to justice, he added.
Weng Tojirakarn, a Pheu Thai Party list MP and leading member of the UDD, said all UDD core members, particularly Jatuporn Prompan, would certainly take part in today's rally of the red-shirts.
The UDD would set up a stage for its leaders to speak from this evening.
Mr Weng said UDD rally would demand the release of colleagues still in detention and call for punishment for those who broke the law.
Mr Jatuporn said although he had still not fully recovered from a road accident late last month, he would definitely take part in today's red-shirt activities.