NHRC says PM, cabinet must take rap for Oct 7 clashes
Written by Writer on Tuesday, October 28th, 2008
NHRC says PM, cabinet must take rap for Oct 7 clashes
Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat and his cabinet ministers must be held responsible for the Oct 7 clashes between police and anti-government demonstrators, a preliminary report by the National Human Rights Commission says.
The commission has not wrapped up its findings as it was waiting for responses from Mr Somchai and from police and other agencies involved in the crackdown, said Surasee Kosolnawin, who chairs the sub-committee looking into human rights violations during the Oct 7 clashes.
He said PM’s secretary-general Chusak Sirinil had notified the panel that Mr Somchai would give a written statement.
But a source at the commission said the eight-page preliminary report showed that Mr Somchai, who was involved with giving the order to crack down on demonstrators led by the People’s Alliance for Democracy, Gen Chavalit Yongchaiyudh, who was then deputy prime minister in charge of security, and all ministers who attended a cabinet meeting before the police action was launched, must be held accountable for the clashes.
The police clash with demonstrators trying to prevent the government from making its policy address in parliament left two people dead and about 400 injured. Gen Chavalit resigned that day citing responsibility for the bloodshed.Most of the injured who testified before the sub-panel said some police officers fired tear gas canisters directly into the crowd. Evidence, including footage and still images, apparently backed up witnesses’ accounts that tear gas canisters were fired directly at demonstrators.
The panel took into consideration forensic findings which found that two types of tear gas canisters used in the operation contained explosives that could cause death and injury, it said.
A Senate panel looking into the Oct 7 clashes said Gen Chavalit confirmed he would testify before the panel today.
Panita Kampu na Ayudhya, the director-general of the Department of Social Development and Welfare, yesterday said a centre to rehabilitate and compensate victims has been set up at the department. She urged victims to provide ID cards and medical certificates, to the centre.
Bangkok Post
Tuesday October 28, 2008
