Red shirts call for justice in Thailand | The nation - Thailand

Red shirts call for justice in Thailand | The nation - Thailand
Pravit Rojanaphruk, The Nation, May 20, 2012

Thaksin Shinawatra, the Thai fugitive ex-premier, last night phoned in to the red-shirt rally in Bangkok's Ratchaprasong area and suggested that the country should head towards the path of reconciliation.

Via a video link from overseas, Thaksin, who reportedly is in China, told the anniversary gathering of red-shirt supporters that finding out the truth and remedies for those damaged by the conflict are the key components of reconciliation.

More than 20,000 red shirts flooded the Ratchaprasong intersection yesterday to mark the second anniversary of the deadly crackdown on red-shirt protesters by the Abhisit Vejjajiva administration in 2010, which ended in 93 deaths and more than 2,000 injuries on all sides, most of them red shirts.

They called for justice for those who were killed in April and May two years ago, and for the release of dozens of red shirts still in jail, mostly for defying the emergency decree or on charges of setting fire to buildings in Bangkok and beyond in the aftermath of the crackdown. Some also called for the release of lese majeste detainees and the reform or abolition of the law.

Discontent with government

The mood was different from a similar event held one year ago, as the Pheu Thai Party is now in power - thanks to the red shirts' support. Some of the group's leaders are now MPs and one is a minister.

"Last year there was still a climate of fear. Today, we can freely express ourselves," said Veera Siriprasert, a red-shirt medical doctor and radiologist and a member of the Red Chorus, a group of red-shirt singers.

Veera added, however, that the reds had also gathered in high numbers because of the perception that the Yingluck Shinawatra administration isn't doing anything to democratise the country, and was concentrating instead on economic issues.

"How can we reconcile when there're still distortions [about what happened two years ago]?" asked Veera, adding that the government's stance to not touch the lese majeste law is also a source of disappointment among red shirts.

Thousands swamped the paved area outside CentralWorld, which was partly burned down two years ago. The crowds forced the mall to shut down at 3pm along with the highbrow Gaysorn Plaza on the other side of the intersection.

"People are here today because they feel justice has yet to prevail," said Red Sunday group leader Sombat Boon-ngam-anong. Sombat said dozens of red shirts are still in jail, while today protesters of other political colours are out on bail and people like Abhisit and his deputy for security, Suthep Thaugsuban, are free and talking on television.