Thai court acquits 24 pro-democracy protest leaders of terrorism

A court in Thailand has dismissed terrorism and other charges against 24 leaders of a pro-democracy street protest in 2010 that saw key areas of central Bangkok closed off and violent clashes that were ended by military force.

Bangkok Criminal Court ruled that the two-month protest by the “Red Shirt” supporters of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, during which 91 people were killed and thousands hurt, was “a political fight, not terrorism”.

Mr Thaksin was ousted by a military coup in 2006 after being accused of corruption and abuse of power.

His allies won a 2007 election but parliamentary manoeuvring installed the rival Democrat Party in power in 2008, inspiring the 2010 protest that called for Democrat prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva to step down.

Mr Thaksin’s removal set off years of sometimes violent conflict between his supporters and opponents, both of which engaged in street protests against governments led by the other’s faction.

During three months of street protests in 2008, Mr Thaksin’s foes – known as the Yellow Shirts – occupied the prime minister’s offices, as well as Bangkok’s airport for about a week.

The casualties in 2010 included soldiers as well as protesters. Unidentified armed men in black whose weapons included grenade launchers acted as a mysterious armed auxiliary to the protesters, but most of the dead were unarmed civilians.

The case decided yesterday was brought by state prosecutors and more than 40 business owners affected by the Red Shirts’ seizure of Bangkok’s central shopping and business district, and involved charges of terrorism, criminal association, using force to damage government property, inciting unrest, possession of arms, obstruction of officials through intimidation and gathering more than ten people to cause chaos.

Thai courts have had a reputation for tilting against the Red Shirts and others associated with Mr Thaksin.

In July, the Criminal Court dismissed charges of insurrection against four key members of an anti-thaksin group, the People’s Democratic Reform Committee.

The group organised large aggressive street protests in late 2013 that a government led by Mr Thaksin’s sister, Yingluck Shinawatra, struggled to control, causing chaos that gave the military a pretext to stage a 2014 takeover.

An election in March this year brought a pro-military party to power, amid accusations the polls were rigged.