- Title: Thai bomb suspect breaks down, tells media "I'm not an animal"
- Date: 17th May 2016
- Summary: BANGKOK, THAILAND (MAY 17, 2016) (REUTERS) PRISON TRUCK STOPPED ON ROAD OFFICIALS, SECURITY STANDING BANGKOK BLAST SUSPECT YUSUFU MIERAILI BEING ESCORTED BY PRISON GUARDS AND SAYING (English): "WE ARE INNOCENT. HELP US, HELP US, WHERE ARE THE HUMAN RIGHTS" / BANGKOK BLAST SUSPECT ADEM KARADAG BEING ESCORTED BY MILITARY OFFICIALS, CRYING AND SHOUTING REPEATEDLY (English): "....I AM NOT AN ANIMAL. I'M HUMAN. I'M HUMAN" / OFFICIALS CARRYING KARADAG UP STAIRS INTO COURT KARADAG'S LAWYER SCHOOCHART KANPAI (LEFT, WITH SUITCASE) STANDING IN FRONT OF COURT (SOUNDBITE) (Thai) BANGKOK BLAST SUSPECT ADEM KARADAG'S LAWYER, SCHOOCHART KANPAI, SAYING: "The first defence (Adem Karadag) has 40 witnesses. The other defence has around 20 witnesses. The plaintiff has more than 200 witnesses." SCHOOCHART OPENING DOOR AND WALKING INTO COURT ARMED SECURITY OFFICIALS STANDING ON ROADSIDE
- Embargoed: 1st June 2016 05:57
- Keywords: Thailand bomb blast court bomb suspect Bangkok blast human rights
- Location: BANGKOK, THAILAND
- City: BANGKOK, THAILAND
- Country: Thailand
- Topics: Crime/Law/Justice,Judicial Process/Court Cases/Court Decisions
- Reuters ID: LVA0014I73EPX
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Two ethnic Uighur Muslims from China accused of involvement in a deadly bombing at a Bangkok shrine last year called out for help in front of cameras on Tuesday (May 17) as they made their way into court.
"I'm not an animal," the shaven, shackled and barefoot Adem Karadag said to waiting media, crying as two guards led him into a military court in Bangkok's old town. "I'm human, I'm human."
He and fellow suspect Yusufu Mieraili have denied all charges against them for involvement in the bombing which killed 20 people on Aug. 17 at the Erawan Shrine, a central tourist spot popular with visitors to the Thai capital.
"We're innocent, help us, help us, where are the human rights?" said a stoney-faced Mieraili as he got out of a police car outside the court.
Five of those who died were from China and two from Hong Kong. More than 120 people were wounded.
Analysts, diplomats and even some officials suspected the attack was linked to sympathisers of the Uighur minority in western China angered by the Thai junta's deportation of more than 100 Uighurs to China the previous month.
But police ruled out "terrorism" and said the attack was retaliation for a crackdown on human-smuggling.
The suspects were in court on Tuesday for a review of witnesses.
Lawyers said more than 250 witnesses could be called for the prosecution and defence. Karadag's lawyer Schoochart Kanpai said he hoped the trial would be over by the end of 2016, but that it could drag on a year longer.
Police say Karadag was caught on CCTV footage at the shrine, sitting on a bench and slipping off a bulky back-pack before walking away just before the blast.
Most Uighurs, who speak a Turkic language, live in China's violence-plagued Xinjiang region. Exiles and human rights groups say Uighurs chafe under government policies that restrict their culture and religion.
China denies this and blames Islamist militants for the rising violence.
Thai police have issued arrest warrants for 15 other people, eight of whom are thought to be either Turkish or in Turkey, according to the warrants and police statements. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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