Take rap for killings, Abhisit, Suthep told

Families of those killed in the May, 2010 dispersal of the red-shirt protesters at Wat Pathum Wanaram yesterday urged former prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and his then deputy Suthep Thaugsuban to take the blame for the casualties.

A group of about 10 relatives yesterday lodged a petition at the Democrat Party headquarters in Bangkok’s Phaya Thai district, calling on both politicians to take responsibility for the deaths of their family members who were killed in the incident during the Abhisit government’s tenure.

The group, led by Phayao Akhad and Pansak Srithep, marched from Wat Pathum Wanaram in Pathumwan district of the capital to the party offices.

Ms Phayao is the mother of Kamolket Akhad, a volunteer nurse, while Mr Pansak is the father of Samapan Srithep, a 17-yearold male teenager. Both were shot dead at the temple.

Along with the petition received by Sirichok Sopha, a former Democrat MP for Songkhla, the group also submitted an order to conduct autopsies on the bodies of six victims issued by the Southern Bangkok Criminal Court.

The petition came after Democrat deputy spokeswoman Mallika Boonmeetrakul posted a claim on her Facebook page, Siriwanna Jill - New, that Kamolket’s death was caused by red-shirt supporters, not snipers under the Abhisit government.

According to the Facebook post, the trajectory of shots which killed Kamolket was horizontal, not from the nearby skywalk where snipers were stationed outside the temple.

Mr Pansak yesterday said the families of the victims were not upset by Ms Mallika’s post. Rather, they questioned the representation of the facts in the incident by Ms Mallika, Mr Abhisit and Mr Suthep, as well as other Democrat members.

Mr Abhisit and Mr Suthep may misunderstand the facts as they have always said they are willing to face the judicial process, according to Mr Pansak. Therefore, the court order has been issued which might be useful for them to improve their understanding of the matter, he said.

Besides the order, the group also gave “Khai Hia”, a Thai snack given inside paper bags made from newspaper with pictures of Mr Abhisit. Hia is a casual Thai name for a water monitor lizard, which is also a derogatory reference and a swear word.