FRIDAY, March 29, 2024
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Somchai govt, police ‘failed to warn’ protesters

Somchai govt, police ‘failed to warn’ protesters

ACTIVIST Veera Somkwamkid told the Supreme Court yesterday that the then-government and police failed to warn demonstrators before using force to disperse their rally in front of Parliament in 2008.

Veera was testifying at the Supreme Court’s Criminal Division for Political Office Holders in the first hearing of the case against former prime minister Somchai Wongsawat and three defendants related to the crackdown on the yellow-shirt protesters.
The three other defendants are then-deputy prime minister General Chavalit Yongchaiyudh, then-national police chief Pol General Patcharawat Wongsuwan and then-Metropolitan Police chief Pol Lt-General Suchart Mueankaew.
In his role as a witness for the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC), Veera said the protesters had surrounded the Parliament complex to stop Somchai from delivering his government’s policies to the legislative branch because they saw him as a proxy of fugitive former PM Thaksin Shinawatra. 
He said police had failed to use international norms when it came to dealing with protesters, and began firing teargas at the crowd without any warning. 
Veera went on to say that police used force against the protesters even though he had spoken with the officers in charge and had relayed what was agreed upon to the five leaders of the then-People’s Alliance for Democracy.
He also told the court that the protesters had been given no warning that police would use batons and teargas to forcefully break up the rally. He recounted that he himself had been hit by a teargas canister, which knocked him off the truck and injured him badly. He said he still heard sounds of explosion even though he had been administered first aid.
Veera said that he was later told by other protesters that police had used what appeared like shotguns and pistols to fire at protesters, causing several deaths and injuries. 
Former Cabinet secretary-general Surachai Phuprasert, testifying as the second NACC witness, told the court that the then-Cabinet had not resolved to have police use force against the protesters. He said the Cabinet had told Chavalit to monitor the protest. 
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