Red Shirts refuse to end protest despite Deputy PM Suthep reporting to DSI

BANGKOK, May 11 (TNA) – A Red Shirt co-leader on Tuesday said his group will not end its mass rally at Bangkok’s prime commercial area, arguing that Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban should have turned himself in at the Police’s Crime Suppression Division instead of at the Department of Special Investigation (DSI).

The United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) key leader Weng Tojirakarn commented as Mr Suthep, in his capacity as director of the Centre for the Resolution of Emergency Situation (CRES) reported to the DSI Tuesday morning to hear a complaint lodged by Red Shirt protesters.

The Red Shirt leaders on Monday announced they would end their rally at Ratchaprasong intersection immediately after Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and Mr Suthep turned themselves in to the police to take responsibility for the April 10 crackdown, which left 25 persons dead and some 800 wounded in the clashes between security forces and Red Shirt protesters.

As the prime minister is also an MP with parliamentary immunity, acting government spokesman Panitan Wattanayagorn earlier said, the premier is seeking parliamentary permission to waive his immunity and would then report to the DSI.

Although Mr Suthep has reported to hear the complaint at DSI, Dr Weng said the Red Shirts will not end their protest as long as Mr Suthep will not turn himself in to the Police’s Crime Suppression Division instead of DSI which is an agency report to CRES, and DSI Director-General Tharit Pengdit was also involved in the incident.

Dr Weng said the process will be more transparent if Mr Suthep resigns from his post as deputy prime minister.

The Red Shirt leader added the group may abandon some protest area seen as being at risk such as Lumpini Park.

Arisman Pongruangrong, another protest leader, said it can be considered that the Reds initially win, but it will be a victory of the whole country if the prime minister, Mr Suthep and every person related to the crackdowns has been punished.

After hearing the complaint, the CRES director told a news conference that he came to DSI to prove his innocence but not bow to the condition set by the Reds Monday night.

Mr Suthep dismissed the call for him to turn himself in at the Police’s Crime Suppression Division, saying all the cases related to the April 10 incident were special cases under the jurisdiction of DSI.

Mr Suthep reportedly left DSI after hearing the charges and headed to Government House to attend the weekly Cabinet meeting.

He later told journalists that the Reds are trying to buy time and setting new conditions for the government despite the fact that his government has made an all out effort to let justice run its course.

The DSI director-general earlier reaffirmed that the case of the April 10 incident has been considered a special case although it has been filed at many police stations by families of the victims.

“I want to say, besides me who is the CRES committee member, acting national police chief Pol Gen Patheep Tanprasert is also in the CRES,” said Mr Tharit. “To report oneself to police officers is impossible as it is already a special case of DSI.”

The DSI director-general however added the Red Shirt leaders can report to police and whether or not they will be granted bail depends on the court’s determination.

In a related development, the Bangkok-based Criminal Court dismissed a petition seeking the court order to revoke arrest warrants against 16 leaders and key supporters of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD).

The judges said the warrants have been issued lawfully under the Emergency Decree which authorises the prime minister to exercise his power through the special law. (TNA)