Chaovarat, Chumpol questioned over 2010 crackdown
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Two Cabinet ministers from the Abhisit Vejjajiva government were summoned for questioning by the Department of Special Investigation yesterday over the crackdown on the red-shirt protests in 2010, which led to more than 90 deaths.
Former interior minister Chaovarat Chanweerakul and Tourism and Sports Minister Chumpol Silpa-archa were summoned yesterday over their role in approving the creation of the now-defunct Centre for the Resolution of the Emergency Situation (CRES) that oversaw the crackdown on the protests.
Chumpol retains his portfolio in the Yingluck Shinawatra Cabinet and also serves as deputy prime minister.
Deputy DSI chief Pol Colonel Prawase Moonpramuk, who is leading the probe, said he questioned the two men about details of the special Cabinet meeting on April 7, 2010, at the 11th Infantry Headquarters, which led to the declaration of the emergency decree.
Both provided similar information but their testimony cannot be publicly revealed, Prawase said.
In all, 13 Cabinet members took part in the special meeting and the DSI would be summoning others beginning tomorrow.
Prawase said investigators would also be questioning military officers, including Army Chief General Anupong Paochinda.
The DSI will also seek to summon Somchai Homlaor, a former commissioner of the now-defunct Truth for Reconciliation Commission of Thailand and might request that commission chairman Kanit na Nakorn also appear.
He warned that those who received summons letters but failed to appear would face criminal prosecution.
