The Lawyers Council of Thailand on Thursday condemned the use of war weapons by riot police trying to disperse protesters at Phan Fah Bridge on Tuesday.
Council president, Det-udom Krairit, on Thursday held a press conference and denounced the Centre for Maintaining Peace and Order (CMPO) for ordering riot police to use force against protesters at the bridge on Ratchadamnoen Avenue. Five people — including a policeman — were killed in the clash and 71 injured.
Mr Det-udom alleged that war weapons were used on unarmed protesters, calling the move an inhumane act.
He claimed the demonstrations led by the People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) have been peaceful for more than three months and that the caretaker government and the CMPO had used the emergency decree against anti-government protesters illegally.
The emergency decree does not allow for the use of war weapons to disperse protesters, he said.
He said the lawyers council believes whoever ordered the crackdown acted beyond their authority and must be held responsible. They could face criminal charges, including murder and assault, and also face civil suits, Mr Det-udom said.
PDRC co-leader Thaworn Senneam yesterday led relatives of the protesters killed in filing criminal lawsuits against those responsible for ordering the dispersal with the Criminal Court.
They include caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, caretaker Labour Minister and CMPO chief Chalerm Yubamrung, and other members of the CMPO including national police chief Adul Saengsingkaew and Department of Special Investigation chief Tarit Pengdith.
Mr Det-udom said injured protesters as well as relatives of those killed can ask the lawyers council to represent them in prosecuting officials behind the crackdown attempt. Police who were also injured in the incident, can sue their superiors for issuing unlawful commands, he said.