THAILAND: Former Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva indicted on murder charges over the 2010 military crackdown on protesters that left over 90 people dead

Record ID: 862092

  • Title: THAILAND: Former Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva indicted on murder charges over the 2010 military crackdown on protesters that left over 90 people dead
  • Date: 12th December 2013
  • Summary: BANGKOK, THAILAND (DECEMBER 12, 2013) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF THAI CRIMINAL COURT SECURITY POLICEMEN STANDING SIGN READING (English): "THAI CRIMINAL COURT" PEOPLE WALKING INTO COURT POLICE STANDING PEOPLE WALKING / SECURITY POLICE STANDING PEOPLE WATCHING FORMER THAI PRIME MINISTER ABHISIT VEJJAJIVA ARRIVING WALKING INTO COURT PEOPLE WATCHING ABHISIT SUPPORTERS HOLDING FLOWERS SECURITY OFFICIALS STANDING ABHISIT WALKING INSIDE COURT (SOUNDBITE) (Thai) ABHISIT'S LAWYER BANDIT SIRIPAN SAYING: "The court granted bail of 1.8 million baht (worth of) assets that he surrendered. It is a condominium." LAWYER WALKING BACK PEOPLE WATCHING ABHISIT WALKING PEOPLE WATCHING ABHISIT WALKING BACK
  • Embargoed: 27th December 2013 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Thailand
  • City:
  • Country: Thailand
  • Topics: Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA8X0IAG7S6BABFQ7JTMQEW4FY9
  • Aspect Ratio:
  • Story Text: Former Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejajjiva was indicted for murder and granted bail at Bangkok's criminal court on Thursday (December 12) related to a military crackdown during the 2010 protests that left dozens dead.
    This comes as protesters backed by Abhisit's opposition party refused to give up their calls for Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra to step down.
    Abhisit, who insists on his innocence and calls the charges politically motivated, walked into court without addressing media.
    A handful of his supporters showed up with flowers.
    Abhisit's former deputy prime minister and leader of the current anti-government protest movement, Suthep Thaugsuban, is also facing charges since he was leading a crisis control centre that authorised "live fire" zones.
    Suthep did not turn up in court and no date has been set for the next hearing in a case that could drag on for months or even years.
    Abhisit was granted bail his lawyer, Bandit Siripan confirmed.
    "The court granted bail of 1.8 million baht (worth of) assets that he surrendered. It is a condominium," he said.
    As current Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra faces anti-government protesters, the politically powerful army has not yet got involved.
    It has staged or attempted 18 coups in the past 80 years - including the ousting of Yingluck's brother, Thaksin Shinawatra, in 2006. It has said it does not want to get involved this time but may mediate.
    Thaksin's "red shirt" supporters brought central Bangkok to a halt in April and May 2010 in protests aimed at forcing Abhisit, then prime minister, to call early elections.
    That protest was put down by the military. More than 90 people, mostly Thaksin supporters, were killed during that period.
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