AG wrong to drop terror case
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Former attorney general Chulasingh Vasantasingh's decision not to prosecute Thaksin on terrorism charges because the alleged perpetrator was outside Thailand doesn't hold water.
He says that it’s difficult to prosecute those living abroad, which is true – but does that mean he should go after only those who live in Thailand? Should we let the alleged Red Bull cop killer off the hook, for example, because the alleged killer’s now overseas?
Khun Chulasingh says, again correctly, “If a leader shouts from other countries and those inside don’t want to do it, they won’t” – but does that make the person innocent? For example, I suggest that if somebody broadcasts “Burn Bangkok!” from overseas, he should be prosecuted for inciting to riot – regardless of whether his inciting was effective or not.
If Khun Chulasingh’s so sure that he did the right thing, he should not have kept his decision secret until he retired, for justice must not only be done, it must be seen to be done – and that’s certainly not the case here.
We should appeal Khun Chulasingh’s decision not to prosecute and investigate him for dereliction of duty.
Burin Kantabutra
