Do not let the Army get away with murder
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It is great that Santika Pub owner Wisuk Setsawat and Focus Light Sound System executive Boonchu Laosenat have been found guilty of negligence leading to the deaths of 66 people and injuries to 222 others.
Jail terms of three years without suspension and Bt87 million in compensation are fine also, for “Justice which does not bear a sword beside its scales soon falls into ridicule” (Charles de Gaulle).
But what about those whose negligence led to the deaths of 83 people at Tak Bai, or whose use of excessive force led to the 32 bodies at Krue Se? They haven’t even been court-martialed, let alone fined or jailed. In fact, General Panlop Pinmanee is seeking the top job at the Internal Security Operations Command; if he gets it, that would certainly rub salt in the southerners’ wounds and deal reconciliation efforts a mighty blow.
PM Yingluck, the red shirts are rightly fond of saying, “No double standards!” Show that you can lead by applying the same standards to soldiers as you rightly do to civilians.
Burin Kantabutra
Bangkok
