BANGKOK, June 26 – Thailand’s Department of Special Investigation (DSI) today sought an indictment against former prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and his deputy Suthep Thaugsuban for murder and attempted murder in the 2010 political protest of the anti-government red shirt movement.
The DSI handed over nine boxes, containing 11,422 pages of documents in 61 files, to the Office of Attorney General, which has responsibility for bringing legal action in court.
Wannapong Kocharak, DSI deputy director general, who heads the investigation team said the two politicians collaborated in the crackdown on demonstrators during the political protests in Ratchaprasong area on April-May 2010 which resulted in many deaths and injuries.
Mr Abhisit was then prime minister and Mr Suthep was deputy prime minister and director of the now-dissolved Centre for the Resolution of the Emergency Situation which assigned military forces to disperse the demonstration of the Red Shirt’s United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD).
Mr Abhisit and Mr Suthep, accompanied by their lawyer Bundith Siriphan, met with Winai Damrongmongkolkul, director-general of the Office of the Attorney General (OAG)’s Department of Special Litigation, at the OAG.
They were instructed to appear before the DSL on August 26 to hear the charges.
Mr Abhisit said he and Mr Suthep denied all charges and would petition against the DSI whom, they said, were not authorised to investigate the case which involved state officials.
He said they would submit their complaints to the National Counter Corruption Commission, adding that he has filed lawsuits against four DSI investigation members including director general Tarit Pengdith for abuse of power and persecution.
The court set early next month for the first trial, he said.
DSL director general Winai said the DSI charges against Mr Abhisit and Mr Suthep were consequences of the deaths of Phan Kamkong, 43, and Kunakorn Srisuwan, 14, and attempted murder of Samorn Maithong, a van driver, in the 2010 political violence.
He admitted that he felt stressed but not pressured in having to handle the case.
It should take at least two months to thoroughly study the documents, he said, adding that he would lead a five-member team to take charge of the case.
