NACC denies bias in decision to absolve Abhisit, others

National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) member Vicha Mahakhun, who chaired the subcommittee probing the three former authorities in connection with the crackdown, stressed that the agency did not favour anyone in making the decision.

“If we’re doing it right today, why be afraid of tomorrow?” Vicha said.

He denied that the subcommittee had dismissed the charges against the authorities to alleviate pressure on many of the NACC members who will be finishing their terms soon.

The NACC on Tuesday dismissed an impeachment petition directed against Abhisit, his then deputy prime minister Suthep Thaugsuban, and ex-Army chief General Anupong Paochinda for ordering police, military and civil officers to use force to disperse rallies by red-shirt protesters that resulted in many deaths. The protests took place in Bangkok from March to May 2010 and led to unrest, riots and arson. 

NACC secretary-general Sansern Poljieak reasoned that the charges had no basis in fact. The then-Centre for Resolution of the Emergency Situation (CRES), operated by the three former government figures, also adjusted operations and stopped using force after the military crowd-control operations on April 10 led to heavy casualties. 

Meanwhile, Department of Special Investigation director-general Pol Colonel Paisit Wongmuang said yesterday that the DSI would follow the resolutions of the NACC of dropping the charges. Abhisit and the others were following standard international practices during the emergency situations, Paisit claimed.

 

DSI continues probe

After the NACC found that the three ex-authorities did not violate Article 157 on malfeasance, Paisit said the commission would return related records to the DSI to investigate who were the real culprits.

The DSI will also find out who caused the violence at the scenes, Paisit continued, in addition to who gave the orders for the acts. 

The relatives of 89 people who were killed during the 2010 political unrest could submit more evidence to the DSI, the director said, adding that DSI officers and prosecutors would work on the case in a fair and just manner strictly based on facts and evidence.

In a related development, Abhisit told The Nation yesterday that he thanked the NACC for understanding the situation and the decision made by him, Suthep and Anupong.

However, red-shirt leaders lambasted the NACC for its decision. Weng Tojirakan, a leader of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship, said the decision favoured Abhisit’s bloc by ambiguously quoting a court ruling from an unknown source, stating that there were gun-equipped men mingling with red shirts.

Weng also cited the assassination of Maj-General Khattiya Sawasdipol on May 17, 2010, and the lives lost in the same month. The incidents are in contrast to what appears in the NACC’s dismissal report the CRES had toned down its operations after the April 10 crackdown, Weng said.

The NACC also failed to mention in its dismissal report evidence submitted by former senator Chittipot Wiriyarot, showing that there were no men in black shirts engaged in violence during the political uprising, Weng added.

Phayaw Akkahad, whose daughter Kamolkaed was killed by gunshots from unknown sources during the unrest, said yesterday that she and other relatives of the victims would show their stance regarding the NACC’s dismissal of the charge next week at the October 14 Memorial.