(New York) – Thailand’s anti-corruption commission’s dismissal of malfeasance charges against former senior officials for their role in the violent 2010 crackdown on “Red Shirt” protesters is a serious setback for accountability in the country, Human Rights Watch said today.
On December 29, 2015, the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) voted to drop the case against former prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, his deputy Suthep Thaugsuban, and former army chief Gen. Anupong Paojinda regarding their failure to review the use of military force that resulted in the loss of lives and the destruction of property, and dereliction of duty.
“Despite killings by soldiers of protesters, medics, and even reporters in broad daylight in downtown Bangkok for all the world to see, Thailand’s institutions have closed ranks to protect the army and politicians from justice,” said Brad Adams, Asia director. “This adds insult to injury to victims and their families as they watch yet another stage in nearly six-years of attempts to airbrush the crimes of officials and soldiers from Thai history.”
The military crackdown on the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD), known as the “Red Shirts,” took place between April 7 and May 19, 2010, and resulted in at least 98 deaths and more than 2,000 injuries.
The NACC, citing the Bangkok Civil Court’s ruling on April 22, 2010 that the Red Shirt protests were not peaceful and some protesters were armed, ruled that it was necessary for the three officials to order soldiers to carry weapons and use force to reclaim protest sites. The NACC found that it was sufficient that soldiers were ordered to proceed from light to heavy measures in accordance with standard procedures and not to target unarmed protesters.
The Justice Ministry’s Department of Special Investigation (DSI) had charged Abhisit and Suthep with murder and attempted murder under the doctrine of command responsibility for ordering the military crackdown on Red Shirt protesters in 2010. The DSI filed the charges after inquests found that protesters were killed and wounded by gunshots fired by soldiers acting on the orders of the Center of the Resolution of the Emergency Situation (CRES), which Abhisit set up under Suthep’s command.
On August 28, 2014, the Bangkok Criminal Court ruled that it had no jurisdiction to try Abhisit and Suthep because they were political officeholders at the time. Instead, the court referred the case to the NACC – which is responsible for inquiries regarding abuse of official positions – to determine whether there was sufficient evidence to proceed with a case of malfeasance in the Supreme Court’s Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions.
Contrary to the NACC’s conclusion that the use of force by the CRES was justified and followed standard procedures, Human Rights Watch found that soldiers used live ammunition starting on the afternoon of April 10, 2010 – killing and wounding protesters, journalists, and bystanders – many hours before the armed “Black Shirt” militants, who operated in tandem with protesters, showed up and fought with soldiers.
Human Rights Watch’s May 2011 report, “Descent into Chaos: Thailand’s 2010 Red Shirt Protests and the Government Crackdown,” documented that excessive and unnecessary force by the military caused many deaths and injuries during the 2010 political confrontations. The high number of casualties – including unarmed protesters, volunteer medics, reporters, photographers, and bystanders – resulted in part from the enforcement of “live fire zones” around the UDD protest sites in Bangkok, where sharpshooters and snipers were deployed by the CRES. Human Rights Watch also documented that some elements of the UDD, including armed Black Shirt militants, committed deadly attacks on soldiers, police, and civilians. Some UDD leaders incited violence with inflammatory speeches to demonstrators, urging their supporters to carry out riots, arson attacks, and looting.
Similar findings were presented in September 2012 by the independent Truth for Reconciliation Commission of Thailand (TRCT), which recommended the authorities “address legal violations by all parties through the justice system, which must be fair and impartial.”
The prospects for justice for victims of the 2010 violence have long been bleak. The Department of Special Investigation issued a finding in September 2012 that indicated the military was culpable for 36 deaths. However, insufficient efforts have been made to identify the soldiers and commanding officers responsible for the shootings. Under pressure from the military, successive Thai governments charged UDD leaders and supporters with serious criminal offenses but ignored abuses by soldiers.
The Thai government should direct the Department of Special Investigation to identify and bring to justice those responsible for the deaths and injuries during the May 2010 violence without further delay.
“It’s outrageous that not a single official, military commander, or soldier has been held to account for the bloody 2010 crackdown,” Adams said. “Opportunities for the Thai government to demonstrate that unbiased justice underlies the rule of law and political reconciliation are fading fast.”
