Mixed views on TRCT report
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The People's Information Centre (PIC) yesterday attacked the Truth for Reconciliation Commission of Thailand (TRCT), claiming its final report on the 2010 crackdown plunged the country deeper into division.
Assoc Prof Puangthong Pawakkrapan, a representative and Chulalongkorn University Political Science lecturer told a press conference the TRCT final report paid too much attention to the “men in black” but failed to clarify who they were or reveal how people they killed.
Although PIC believed that the “men in black” existed, the agency believed security officials used the men in black as a reason to crack down on unarmed red shirts. He said the fact that the TRCT cited the men in black as causing the soldiers to die, the agency hence defended former PM Abhisit Vejjajiva who had responsibility for the crackdown. He said the TRCT should reveal clips of men in black to identify who they were as red guards and security officials also put on black during the unrest.
Puangthong said the report also failed to clarify if it was suitable that troops used real bullets.
Meanwhile, more than 53 per cent of people surveyed by Dusit Poll backed the TRCT's final report, saying it revealed details, was well-studied, with fact, and evidence, and conducted by acceptable experts, who aimed for national reconciliation. But 46 per cent did not approve, saying it was not clear about violence that led to casualties. They also questioned the TRCT's neutrality.
About 42 per cent believed it was possible to use the TRCT report to achieve nation reconciliation if both political camps did not to utilise it to their advantage, but 25 per cent said it was almost impossible because the country was too deeply polarised.
