Prime ministers, murderers and Judy Garland

Published: 13 Dec 2012 at 09.21
Online news: Opinion

During the London G-20 summit protests in 2009, Ian Tomlinson, an English newspaper vendor, an innocent bystander, was caught up in a melee and later died from internal injuries. Constable Simon Harwood was charged with manslaughter, but found not guilty.

I am certain that Tarit Pengdit, chief of the Department of Special Investigation (DSI), would agree with me that the person who should have been charged instead of, or as well as, the police constable was former UK prime minister Gordon Brown. After all, the DSI chief found it fit to charge former prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva with the death of an innocent bystander, not a protester, during the political violence in April and May 2010.

Of course, I realise that if you are a Thaksinista, then Thaksin Shinawatra, the Pheu Thai Party and the red-shirt UDD is the holy trinity - the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost - while the opposition is Satan incarnate. But let's try to view the issue objectively, even if it's difficult or downright impossible.

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facts_only
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Discussion 50 : 16 Dec 2012 at 12.4850
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"The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) yesterday found former prime minister Somchai Wongsawat...had abused their authority, leading to death and injury during the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) demonstrations on October 7...he must be held responsible for failing to stop the bloodshed after the first round of clashes in the morning...Chavalit too must be held responsible because he was the man who ordered the crackdown and, although he resigned at 9am on the day after it turned bloody, had done nothing to stop further violence." - TN, March 17, 2009
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howell
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Discussion 49 : 16 Dec 2012 at 11.2149
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@just facts. Thaksin turned down the offer of an early election because it did not include his money and passport back. They were his real reasons for inciting and funding the mob. Since he has tried to fool the world that it was about democracy. If it was why did he turn down the offer ?
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oldairman
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Discussion 48 : 16 Dec 2012 at 07.1448
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D45 genii
The people had their vote in 2007 and they voted in Samak who made an honest mistake, went to court and was found guilty. He COULD have been re-instated by the PPP but the chose Somchai, Thaksind brother in law instead. The party was dissolved for electoral fraud and no party on that side could put together a coalition. The Democrats could and did quite legally as many parties have done so including the TRT under Thaksin who not ALL of the people have EVER voted for.
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facts_only
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Discussion 47 : 16 Dec 2012 at 04.1047
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howell 46, "an early election was offered but Thaksin turned it down."
Why would Thaksin, who has won the last 5 national elections, turn down an election?
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howell
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Discussion 46 : 15 Dec 2012 at 23.5446
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@genii. How many times do you people have to be told an early election was offered but Thaksin turned it down.
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genii
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Discussion 45 : 15 Dec 2012 at 22.3645
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The entire sad affair could have been spared with a simple vote which is what the entire country deserved in order to keep peace and save lives. Again the refusal to allow the people to voice there opinion proved costly.
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englishbob
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Discussion 44 : 14 Dec 2012 at 22.2644
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Disc42 - I think it was almost certainly a military sniper that shot Seh Daeng. I can't be sure if he was acting under orders. It's quite possible it was revenge for Seh Daeng killing Col Romklao (who was very popular amongst his men).

My feeling is that many more people would have died if Seh Daeng had been alive on 19th May. I'll shed no tears for a man so ruthless he would launch grenade attacks against a protest site which included his own daughter.
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onlyme
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Discussion 43 : 14 Dec 2012 at 21.5343
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I get very tired of those saying anything about a 'proper demonstration'. I was living within 100 meters of the entire sick affair and there was nothing disciplined about it. It was a ready made market for many vendors and most didn't have a clue why they were there. Put away your rosy glasses and see it for what it was.
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jacksprat
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Discussion 42 : 14 Dec 2012 at 19.2542
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@discussion 41 - I was at that intersection the day before Seh Daeng was shot. The best place for a gunman to have fired was in the Dusit Thani Hotel, which was ringed with soldiers and police. Since Seh Daeng was going about armed, boasting he was prepared to fight to the death and saying he would lead the red shirts in a bloody confrontation with the Army, I would be quite surprised if it wasn't an Army sniper that took him down. I was angry at the time it happened, but in looking back was the logical decision to make. Seh Daeng knew himself he was not going to live much longer, no matter what happened.
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facts_only
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Discussion 41 : 14 Dec 2012 at 10.5441
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"The army never used snipers." - Prayuth, Aug, 2012
"We did authorize the use of live ammunition...The issue was ordered by the Deputy PM [Suthep]." - AV, Dec, 2012
"...officials were told to use only shields, clubs, rubber bullets, tear gas and water cannons." - Suthep, Oct 2012
"...if military units find targets but cannot themselves carry out the shooting, for example, because the targets are shielded, etc., the
units can ask for support from snipers from the CRES." - CRES authorization, 18 April 2010
"No one died at Ratchaprasong intersection on May 19 last year." - Suthep, June 2011
"...this column will only ask for consistency" -
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Prime ministers, murderers and Judy Garland | Bangkok Post: opinion