Ex-Thai PM in court over 'Red Shirt' protest deaths

Former Thai prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva testified in court on Thursday for the first time in connection with dozens of protest deaths in 2010, saying the authorities had tried to avoid loss of life.

More than 90 people, mostly civilians, were killed and nearly 1,900 were wounded in street clashes and a military crackdown on the opposition rallies, which drew about 100,000 "Red Shirt" demonstrators at their peak.

Abhisit, who is now opposition leader, told an inquest at the Bangkok Criminal Court into the death of a taxi driver during the political violence that the authorities were attempting to reclaim areas occupied by demonstrators.

"I repeated to officials that all actions must avoid any losses (of life)," he said, adding that a series of grenade attacks were caused by militants armed with M79 launchers.

Abhisit and his former deputy Suthep Thaugsuban on Monday attended the Justice Ministry's Department of Special Investigation for several hours of questioning about the events.

Observers believe the pair -- who were already questioned by the police as witnesses in December 2011 -- could face prosecution.

Thailand now has a new government allied to the Red Shirts' hero, fugitive former leader Thaksin Shinawatra, whose sister Yingluck is prime minister.

Thaksin was toppled by royalist generals in a 2006 coup that unleashed years of street protests by the pro-Thaksin Red Shirts and the rival Yellow Shirts, who claim allegiance to the throne.

Abhisit's government invoked emergency rule to deal with the Red Shirt rallies in early 2010, giving broad powers to the military, which deployed thousands of troops in the capital.

New York-based Human Rights Watch has accused the army of using "excessive and unnecessary lethal force" in the crackdown.

Suthep, who headed the government centre set up to deal with the Red Shirt protests, told the same court that he had not received any reports of deaths caused by the authorities.

A ruling is expected on September 17 in the case of the taxi driver, the first in a series of inquests to establish the circumstances of the protest deaths.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/ex-thai-pm-court-over-red-shirt-protest-115609952.html

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