Reds mark 2nd anniversary of Khok Wua clashes
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Red-shirt supporters gathered near Democracy Monument on Rajdamnoen Avenue yesterday afternoon to mark the second anniversary of the deadly clash between protesters and the Abhisit Vejjajiva administration.
The movement’s leader Thida Thavornseth, along with Pheu Thai MPs Natthawut Saikua, Jatuporn Promphan, Korkaew Pikulthong and Weng Tojirakarn, held a religious ceremony in memory of the protesters who died in the April 10, 2010 crackdown.
The religious rites, attended by families of the victims and red-shirt members, took place outside the Satreewitthaya School near Democracy Monument.
Meanwhile, Thida hailed the Yingluck Shinawatra government for making good progress in the investigation into the clashes. She also urged the government to ratify the Rome Statute of International Criminal Court (ICC), saying that the Democratic Alliance against Dictatorship was ready to take the case to the international arena.
She added the investigation process should be fair to all parties, regardless of whether they are members of the public or state officials.
The 2010 protests against Abhisit government turned violent with grenade attacks and shooting incidents, claiming as many as 92 lives. In the Khok Wua incident, one of several major clashes, 25 people were killed and more than 800 wounded when the security forces tried to disperse an anti-government rally at the Phan Fa Bridge on Rajdamnoen Avenue.
Among the dead were Colonel Romklao Thuwatham, deputy chief of staff of the 2nd Infantry Division, and Japanese cameraman Hiroyuki Muramoto who worked for Reuters news agency.
However, state officials blame the violence on a group of unknown men in black who fired at both soldiers and protesters.
The military used force to bring the red-shirt protest at Ratchaprasong intersection to an end on May 10, 2010, which was followed by riots and arson attacks that destroyed more than 30 buildings including the high-end CentralWorld shopping mall.
