New team appointed to whitewash 2010 crackdown, mother of victim says

“Judging from the fact that the new team comprises of NCPO [National Council for Peace and Order members] and the military, their intention clearly is to whitewash their guilt,” Phayaw said.

Her daughter, volunteer nurse Kamolkade, was shot dead while tending to the injured inside a temple compound in downtown Bangkok. “The military has been interfering in the cases from the very start,” she said. “The NCPO claimed that it would step down after a year and it’s nearly time for it to do so now, but it keeps acquiring more power – something not many sides can tolerate.” 

On Wednesday, the Depart-ment of Special Investigation (DSI) was ordered by Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha to add additional investigators led by Metropolitan Police chief Pol Lt-General Srivara Ransibrahmanakul. The combined investigation team met on the same day with Srivara, DSI chief Suwanna Suwanjuta and prosecutors to lay down a new framework in solving cases related to the 99 people killed during the crackdown. At present, there are 87 unsolved cases. 

Former PM Abhisit Vejjajiva and his then-deputy Suthep Thaugsuban, who were in government during the crackdown, have asked General Prawit Wongsuwan and General Anu-pong Paochinda to serve as witnesses. The two generals were also involved in the operation.

Phayaw alleges that the invocation of Article 44 on Wednesday was also a move to facilitate the cover-up, claiming that the now-defunct Centre for the Resolution of the Emergency Situation, which was behind the crackdown, has now “morphed” into the NCPO. 

Asked if justice would ever be served under this new team, Phayaw said it was impossible if the military continued to be involved in investigating cases. She added that if both Abhisit and Suthep were found guilty, they should be penalised severely. 

“Speaking as a mother who lost a child, I would urge the military to not try and absolve itself as nobody can run away from reality,” she said tearfully.