Army commander Prayuth Chan-ocha yesterday called on the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) to speed up its inquiry into the deaths and injuries of troops during the red-shirt protests in April-May 2010.
United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship core leaders observe a minute’s silence yesterday in memory of Reuters cameraman Hiroyuki Muramoto, who was killed during the April 10, 2010 political violence. PATIPAT JANTHONG
“We are trying to ask [the DSI] to speed up the investigation but we feel little progress has been made. It is important to find out who was responsible. Soldiers are people too,” he said.
Gen Prayuth’s comments came as the army and the red shirts organised separate activities to mark the third anniversary of the clashes which left 91 dead and hundreds more wounded.
Gen Prayuth said the violence was a loss for the army just as it was for the red shirts. His men and their families were also entitled to justice.
He said the army’s legal advisers would send a letter to the DSI asking for an update on the investigation.
The army had received complaints from those who were injured and the families of those who were killed, he said. They demanded to know the progress of the DSI’s investigation.
As tens of thousands of red shirts rallied to mark the third anniversary of the April 10 clashes, the family of Gen Romklao Thuwatham made merit for the army officer and soldiers killed in the violence.
Gen Romklao, then a colonel, was killed in a grenade attack on April 10, 2010 while he and troops were trying to reclaim an area occupied by red shirts near the Democracy Monument.
His widow Nicha Thuwatham said at first the DSI suggested her husband was killed by red shirts and then pointed the finger at the so-called men in black.
“It has been three years and I hope we don’t have to discuss it again next year. If the government can shed light on his death, it will restore public confidence in the rule of law,” she said.
DSI chief Tarit Pengdith yesterday said that based on the DSI’s evidence, Gen Romklao was killed by members of an unidentified force. Due to a lack of evidence no arrest warrants were issued.
“So far we only have photographs of the possible suspects. They remain unidentified,” he said. He said the DSI would also ask for a report from a Senate panel looking into the political violence for use in its probe.
The report slammed the DSI for its handling of the investigation as it blamed the men in black for playing a role in setting off the April 10 violence.
Democrat leader Abhisit Vejjajiva yesterday urged all parties to find ways to avert violence in future protests.
“The point is how to prevent manipulation of crowds as a political tool,” Mr Abhisit said.
Ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra phoned in to the red-shirt rally last night, saying he felt sorry for the families of those killed in the April 10 clash.
Nicha Thuwatham,widow of RomklaoThuwatham whowas killed during the 2010politicalviolence,and former army chief Gen Anupong Paojinda, right, makemerit atWatBowon Niwet in remembrance of GenRomklao.LtGenWalit Rojanapakdi, centre, the commanderofanoperation to reclaim theprotestvenue on Ratchadamnoen Avenue, wasalso injured in the operation. NAUVARAT SUKSAMRAN
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未经允许不得转载：综合资讯 » Prayuth tells DSI to hasten probe