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: JURIST - The Paper Chase

Rights group urges Thailand to investigate protester deaths

By Bernard Hibbitts (editor) and University of Pittsburgh School of Law students.

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[JURIST] Amnesty International (AI) on Tuesday called for an investigation into the deaths of 25 people during recent anti-government protests. The group stated that it would welcome a pledge by the Thai government to "investigate promptly, effectively, and impartially the recent violence," and urges it to "provide accountability for any violations by security forces as well as abuses by violent protesters." The protesters, known as red shirts, claim that Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva came to power illegitimately and that he should resign and call for elections. After the death toll rose to 21, the Thai army was called in on Monday to prevent the protests from spreading into Bangkok's financial district. While AI's statement recognized that the military's use of force may have been justified by the fact that some of the protesters were armed with guns and grenades, the group also urged the Thai government to adhere to international principles on crowd dispersal and the use of force. Such principles dictate that law enforcement officials may use firearms only when less dangerous means are not practicable and only to the minimum extent necessary The protests are currently in their fifth week and have led to an increasingly hostile political climate in Thailand. Earlier this month, a Thai court issued arrest warrants for at least 17 high-profile protesters, including top red shirt officials. Abhisit hopes that the arrest warrants will encourage the protesters to disperse. Abhisit was forced to declare a state of emergency earlier this month after a Thai court refused to issue an injunction against the protesters. The protesters are supporters of former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who was removed from power during a 2006 military coup. Thaksin was convicted in absentia on corruption charges in October 2008. Despite the conviction, the Cambodian government refused to extradite the ousted prime minister to face a two-year prison sentence.

Full post as published by JURIST - The Paper Chase on April 21, 2010 (boomark / email).