Parents speak of flawed justice to 2010 crackdown dead

Organisers said they were there to communicate with the spirits of their dead children after the Supreme Court recently rejected the related case against the then-prime minister; Abhisit Vejjajiva and his deputy; Suthep Thaugsuban who were accused of murder.
Phayaw Akkahad and Phansak Srithep, whose children were killed during the crackdown, led the activity.
Phayaw told reporters after the activity that although the criminal court cited its lack of authority to try the case, it did not rule that the accused were innocent.
She said family members could still fight for justice. The families still had doubts over how the National Anti-Corruption Commission had initially dismissed the case, Phayaw said, and now the criminal court had pointed out the investigation was the agency’s responsibility.
The families would now try to push the case back to the investigation stage, she said.
The spiritual ceremony held at the Ratchaprasong Intersection was said to be a means to contact the dead in the location where the military opened fire on protestors. The families made offerings of local food such as Northeastern spicy minced raw meat salad and sticky rice. And they used incense sticks to conjure the dead victims and tell them of the developments in the search for justice.
The activity was held to tell the spirits of the victims that their deaths would not be neglected, Phayaw said.
Phayaw, whose daughter Kamolkade Akkahad was killed in Wat Pathum Wanaram when serving as a volunteer nurse, wore the medical apron her daughter had on when forces opened fire on the protestors.
The activity took 30 minutes and was monitored by some 50 police officers, including some in plain clothes.