Three months after the Army’s crackdown on May 19th, 2010 which caused 91
deaths and almost 2,000 injured, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has not yet
come to terms with the fact that his soldiers killed people.
His government still hunts Red Shirts all over the country ,during the 3 rd
month several people were arrested. The Emergency Decree is still in effect in
7 provinces including Bangkok, Nonthaburi, Samut Prakarn, and Pathum
Thani. The attorney indicted seven leaders and 12 associate of the United
Front for Democracy against Dictatorship(UDD) of the terrorism and the
criminal court has not released them on bail. Provincial criminal courts have
sentenced some red shirts from 6 months to 2 years in jail. All the while those
who seized the Prime Minister’s office in 2007 have been allowed bail and
those who close Suwannaphum Airport suspects have not been prosecuted.
The government continues to shut the sole station that belong to the Reds, 32
community radios, 5 journals and magazines, and 36 internet media outlets.
Concerning the national reconciliation plan of the Abhisit Vejjajiva
government, his five committtees of political/media reform are composed of
persons who are former PM Thaksin’s known enemies and enemies of Red
Shirts people. It is unfortunate the Truth and Reconciliation Committee
began its work with public hearings of the incident instead of interviewing the
victims and the Army in its initial step and to date they have had discussions
and have not issued any report. The Committee for Study the amendment of
the 2010 Constitution agreed almost with every articles of 2007 Constitution
which is not democratic.
There is no dispute that Thailand must move beyond violence and work
toward reconciliation. But reconciliation begins with the restoration of the
fundamental rights and human rights of the people. What this government
has done so far is giving a lip service to the principle they explain to the
international media or to the diplomatic communities and does the opposites.
On the other side, I would like to assure that during the last 3 months the Thai
people who love freedom and the Red Shirts are resisting the government’s
continued violation of human rights. The Red Shirt movement has recovered
rapidly and continues to fight in the political arena. There are variety of
Sunday political activities which are attracting more attention by the public.
Some Red Shirts are formulating new political ideals and strategies because
they believe the old way will not lead them to victory. They’re determined to
fight for real democracy and justice by all means possible because they have
clear ideas who they are fighting against.
However, for immediate resolution, the Criminal Courts should release all
UDD leaders and their associates on bail. The government must deal with the
political and legal double-standards, most particularly the failure to move forward with prosecution of the Yellow Shirt leadership who presumably
violated laws in 2008. Also, the government must stop censoring and blocking
all opposition media. Finally, Prime Minister Abhisit should declare amnesty,
dissolve the Parliament, and call for general elections on November 14.
Because of the massacre which took place three months ago and the present
aristocratic government in Thailand affect not only this region but to the
rest of the world. Therefore, we ask for moral and political support from
international communities.
Jaran Ditapichai
August 19,2010