BANGKOK, Dec 17 – The Bangkok South District Court ruled today that a taxi driver from Surin who joined an anti-government rally in the 2010 political riot in Bangkok was shot dead by the authorities.
Chatchai Chalao, 25, a native of Surin province, was the third Red Shirt protester whom the court pinpointed as victim of shooting by state authorities. The court did not give a specific identity of the shooter.
Mr Chatchai, a member of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) which led the months-long demonstration in 2010, was shot dead on Rama IV Road, opposite Lumpini Park on May 13, 2010.
It was the first ruling by the Bangkok South District Court in relation to the 2010 political upheaval. The Criminal Court earlier announced that two other victims, Pan Khamkong, a taxi driver and Charnnarong Polsrila were shot dead by soldiers under the command of the now-defunct Centre for the Resolution of the Emergency Decree (CRES).
The CRES was specially set up by the then Abhisit Vejjajiva government to deal with the political demonstrations and accompanying violence which had spread widely in the capital during the time the Emergency Decree was in force.
The Attorney General has submitted 19 similar cases relating to the 2010 crisis to the Criminal Court and Bangkok South District Court. The fourth case, involving the fatal shooting of a 14-year-old boy on Rachaprarob Road, is pending the Criminal Court’s ruling on Thursday.
Ninety-one persons were killed during the Red Shirt (UDD) organised demonstrations.
