Court: Two red-shirts killed by soldiers

Court: Two red-shirts killed by soldiers

The South Bangkok Criminal Court on Monday ruled that two red-shirt protesters of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) were shot dead by soldiers during the military crackdown in April 2010.

The two red-shirts were Charoon Chaimaen, 46, and Sayam Watanukul, 52.

Prosecutors asked the court to verify the identities of the two men, to establish the cause of death and those responsible.  Both were hit by bullets in front of Satree Withaya School on Din So road during a military crackdown on the protest on April 10, 2010.

Based on examination of evidence and testimony of witnesses, the court ruled that Charoon died at the Central General Hospital at 10pm on April 10, 2010.  He was hit in the chest by high-velocity bullets that destroyed the main blood vessels to the heart, lungs and liver.

Sayam died while being rushed to the hospital.  He was hit in the back and the bullets went through his chest, destroying major blood vessels.

The bullets that hit the two were fired by soldiers who were retreating from a defensive line in front of Satree Withaya School to a soi by Wat Bovornnives near the Wan Chart Bridge intersection.

The court said it was not known who fired the shots that killed the two red-shirt supporters

The two men's relatives said court's ruling was just. They now wanted those who were at fault to  take responsibility for the deaths.

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