After a two-year mission, the Truth for Reconciliation Commission (TRC) delivered on Monday a landmark report that has shed light on many aspects of the April-May 2010 crackdowns. The commission has also produced a list of recommendations for the government to implement in order to pave the way for national reconciliation.
Kanit na Nakorn, chairman of the Truth for Reconciliation Commission, appears at a press conference on Tuesday after the TRC released its final report on the political violence during April-May 2010. The findings have put the government in an awkward position.
As expected, the report received both praise and condemnation. But the latter is not only louder, it is also coming from those now in power. Therefore, it will not be at all easy for the TRC recommendations that have upset the red camp to be implemented by the government.
Set up by the Abhisit Vejjajiva government, the TRC is the only independent commission officially recognised by the Yingluck Shinawatra administration.
In its policy pledge to parliament on Aug 23, 2011, the government stated that it would "support the TRC so that it can work independently and get full cooperation from all concerned parties to investigate and establish the truth from the political violence, the violation of human rights, deaths, physical and psychological injuries, including the damage of properties".
The prime minister also promised to implement the TRC's recommendations when the report was complete.
Interestingly, Prime Minister Yingluck has not turned down TRC chairman Kanit na Nakorn's personal recommendation that ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra should sacrifice himself by ending all his political roles and remaining overseas for good.
"I believe that Mr Thaksin can see what is good for the country and what will help restore peace," said the prime minister.
Her answer certainly reflects her political maturity after a year in office. More specifically, it shows her political skills in staying removed from a controversy that might land her in a difficult situation. On the Thaksin question, however, no one knows what will really happen because the former premier has never given any clear answer.
"The prime minister looks more confident and happy with her position," observed Thaworn Senneam, a Democrat MP from Songkhla, adding, however, that the public cannot rely on Ms Yingluck's words, which are carefully chosen to avoid negative political repercussions.
"She will make a move only when winning is guaranteed. If there's no chance of winning, she will choose to retreat," he said.
The commission has confirmed that there were "men in black" who had close links with the armed security guards of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD). These men, says the report, attacked security forces with war weapons, killing six soldiers, two policemen and one member of the Love Silom Group. The death toll during the crackdowns came to 92. Of the 800 people who were injured, 300 were government personnel. No men in black were found to be among the casualties.
For Mr Thaworn, the TRC report has given a comprehensive picture of the political violence with in-depth information that is now open to the public. Many of the findings in the report can be used by those who have faced legal prosecution from the government to defend their cases.
The dissemination of the findings will help inform the public about many aspects of the political violence that were previously shrouded in mystery _ for example, the existence of men in black with close links to the UDD guards, and the arson at CentralWorld, which was not carried out by security forces as claimed by the UDD.
On the arson, the report clearly states that the fire started to break out when the protesters were still at Ratchaprasong intersection, which was before troops took control of the area.
The TRC report, however, also blames the operations of the Centre for the Resolution of the Emergency Situation (CRES), which was chaired by Suthep Thaugsuban in his capacity as deputy prime minister for security affairs. As the person who issued the orders, Mr Suthep had failed to monitor the field operations of security forces when they were seizing Ratchaprasong intersection, resulting in many deaths.
Should this matter go to court, everyone in the CRES including Tarit Pengdith, director-general of the Department of Special Investigation (DSI), would have to face charges, Mr Thaworn said.
The criticisms the report has garnered are not unexpected, said Somchai Homla-or, chairman of the TRC's fact-finding committee. "What's important is what happens next. Our society must answer how we can move forward towards political reconciliation."
The TRC report has presented the facts from all parties concerned. It has shown the failure of the protest leaders in keeping their demonstration peaceful and unarmed. Some UDD security guards also attacked security forces.
At the same time, security forces were also to blame for using excessive force, leading to many deaths. The previous government cannot deny responsibility for the deadly mistakes of using untrained personnel and substandard riot-control measures.
It must be pointed out that the report has no legal status and the government is not legally bound to do anything following its findings. However, the government cannot just ignore the recommendations while letting the DSI press ahead with the prosecution of security forces but turn a blind eye to the violence committed by the other side.
With the TRC report, the government will face more questions from the public over why it is pressing ahead with its unrelenting efforts to amend the constitution and to push for Pheu Thai's reconciliation bill, which, as pointed out by the TRC, will only lead the country deeper into political conflict.
Nattaya Chetchotiros is Assistant News Editor, Bangkok Post.
Bangkok Post online classifieds
Try buying selling goods and properties 24/7 in our classifieds which has high purchasing power local expatriate audience from within Thailand and around the world.
About the author
Writer: Nattaya ChetchotirosPosition: Reporter
Source: http://www.news.thethailandlinks.com/2012/09/20/yingluck-on-spot/
0 comments:
Post a Comment