Inquests into riot shootings fail to point finger at killers

Another inquest into the killing of Wasu Suchantabut in 2013 while rallying against the Yingluck Shinawatra administration also came to a similar conclusion.

Hiroyuki was hit in the left side of his chest by a bullet from a high-velocity rifle on Din Sor Road in front of Satri Witthaya School near Democracy Monument on the evening of April 10, 2010. He was covering the protest and clashes between the United Front of Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD) and security officers during the Abhisit Vejjajiva administration.

The bullet pierced and destroyed his lung and a main artery. He was pronounced dead at 9pm. 

The bullet type could not be identified because it did not lodge in his body. Video records were also inadequate in providing evidence on the bullet’s trajectory.

The second inquest result released yesterday said it was unclear who aimed a high-velocity rifle at Vasant Phuthong, a red-shirt protester, or which direction the bullet came from. He took the bullet in the left side of his head. 

The third victim, Thodchai Maek-ngamfah, another red-shirt protester, was hit from behind by an unidentified bullet that penetrated his heart.

Jaetsada Chandee, the attorney for the three killed, said he would study the details of the inquest results first before recommending the next step.

In Muramoto’s case, he will notify the Japanese Embassy and his family. 

However, previous inquests had suggested that the two Thais were killed by security forces, he said.

UDD chairwomen Thida Thavornsaet Tojirakarn said from the courthouse that while she respects the result, it’s apparent to many that the bullets came from the direction of the deployed soldiers.

The forensic investigation also showed that the 5mm bullets used in the attacks were the same as those used by soldiers and not the kind fired by AK assault rifles, which were allegedly used by the “men in black” who appeared on site that evening, she said.

The truth should not be lost. Transcending political conflicts requires making the truth known, she said.

In the other politics-related inquest, the Criminal Court ruled that that it was unclear who killed Wasu, who was a protester and guard for the Network of Students and People for Reform of Thailand, an ally of the People’s Democratic Reform Committee.

There was no witness to Wasu’s shooting on May 26, 2013 at the Labour Ministry in Din Daeng district where the protest took place, the court said.

The forensic investigation showed that the Australia-educated Wasu was shot in his abdomen. He lost a lot of blood and was pronounced dead at the hospital on the following day.

Tipapa, Wasu’s mother, said she accepted the inquest, even though it could not pinpoint the killer. 

No compensation has been offered by any government agency for the loss of her son, but anyone providing clues leading to the arrest of his killer would be rewarded with Bt1 million, she said.