Mother-son duo to 'keep fighting'

Payao lost her daughter, Kamolkaed Akhad, who was working as a medic volunteer at Wat Pathumwannaram Temple. Even though she had a Red Cross logo marked clearly on her apron, the volunteer nurse was shot seven times on the eve of May 19. 

Payao used to sell garlands, while her son did gigs as a drummer and singer. Yet, over the past two years, they have been preoccupied seeking the truth and justice for those killed in the crackdown. And former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra’s recent call, urging the red shirts to “forget” what happened and move on for “national reconciliation”, did not sway them. 

“We have sacrificed enough. It cost the life of a child,” Payao said. 

Her son went on to say that Thaksin should not be using people’s lives as a bargaining chip for his amnesty. 

When asked what they would like to say to those who might be responsible for Kamolkaed’s death, Payao said she had one message for then-premier Abhisit Vejjajiva, his deputy Suthep Thaugsuban and the Army: “Politicians make mistakes. When they have made a mistake and it led to the loss of lives, they should take responsibility like a man … they are already suspects in society.” 

Nattapat said: “I am a fair person. The past cannot be undone. Please apologise to people. Confess and enter the justice system and I will forgive.”

The 23-year-old now works as a personal secretary to Deputy Prime Minister Yongyuth Wichaidit. 

Most of the relatives of those killed have quietened down since the government promised to give them Bt7.75 million in compensation. However, Nattapat said that if he and his mother did not continue pushing for truth and justice, nobody else will. 

Payao admitted that only three families of red-shirt supporters – including Pansak Srithep, who lost his son Cher – are still actively pursuing justice. She went on to say that she had gone to the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) “countless times” to ask for facts, only to find that they are good at “concealing everything”. The DSI has been given the job of looking into the deaths, including that of her daughter. 

“Our fight is about setting a precedent. Those who ordered the killings must be taken to justice and serve their penalties. The truth can reveal who the mastermind was and who had carried out [the killings]. If you ask me if the country would move forward once the truth is uncovered, I would say yes! Nobody has been punished [for killing protesters in the past], but this time they must be punished,” she said.

Meanwhile, her son said that he was not against national reconciliation as such. “I will not obstruct national reconciliation, but I will obstruct amnesty [for killers]. The justice process must proceed, otherwise there won’t be any need for it. They can just kill and seek amnesty. Kill and seek amnesty.”

Nattapat no longer plays with the band after the pub owner fired them. He believes they lost the gig because he had become publicly visible. 

As for his mother, she says her brand of red shirt is not for Thaksin, but for democracy and justice for those who were killed.

“Is that wrong?” she asked, before adding that over the years, Thais of all political colours have become political victims in one way or another. 

Though the red shirts have elected the current Yingluck Shinawatra government, Payao said that she and her son would keep a watchful eye on the issue and be ready to stand in opposition if the administration fails to find justice for those killed in 2010.