ID :
125817
Thu, 06/03/2010 - 12:52
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/125817
The shortlink copeid
Thai army chief denies soldiers shot dead six people at Bangkok temple
BANGKOK, June 3 (TNA) - Thailand's army chief on Thursday reasserted that soldiers did not fire on six persons who were found dead in Pathumwanaram Temple May 19, saying that the troops strictly adhered to the principle that they will not harm the people.
Gen Anupong Paochinda remarked before his departure to the insurgency-troubled restive southern province of Narathiwat, following the accusation by some opposition MPs that six people who were shot dead in the temple, next to the Red Shirt rally site of Ratchaprasong, were killed by soldiers who were stationed on the Skytrain tracks on May 19.
The army chief said he was confident that the general public understands that the army operation strictly followed guidelines demonstrating restraint and avoided the use of firearms until armed men mingling with innocent protesters attacked the security personnel.
So the army was obliged to respond with more appropriate measures against them, he said.
"The Centre for the Resolution of Emergency Situation (CRES) and the army have applied appropriate measures to the circumstances and adhere to the principle that we will not harm the people," Gen Anupong said.
The army chief added more than half of the army personnel came from the Northeast, so he could not order them to do "things in the way that some people might have imagined."
The northern and northeastern regions are considered strongholds of the 'Red Shirt United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD), many of them are loyal to convicted former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.
As the issue of the deaths of the six people at the temple remains unresolved as to whether they were killed by soldiers or militants, Gen Anupong urged the media to made inquiries into the matter based on the facts.
"The soldiers have already clarified that they were not positioned there at the time of the shooting," said the army chief. "I have inquired (about the incident) and have been assured (by subordinates) that none of them used firearms against unarmed civilians. That's the truth."
The army began its operation to seal off Bangkok's prime commercial area in mid-May to pressure the UDD protesters who had encamped there for more than one month to leave the area.
As troops intensified their containment push on May 19, a confrontation between the army and armed Red Shirt supporters occurred in key intersections close to Ratchaprasong, but the military operation was halted after Red Shirt leaders surrendered to police and announced the end of their six-week protest there.
Shortly after the surrender of the protest leaders, the country's largest shopping mall and the second largest in Asia, CentralWorld and more than 30 buildings including the Stock Exchange of Thailand being set afire by disgruntled protesters, while rescue workers and firemen could not reach the burning buildings as they were threatened by gunfire from militants.
Six corpses were found in Pathumwanaram Temple. Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said during the no-confidence debate that they were not killed by troops stationed at the BTS Sktrain tracks as autopsy results showed that most of them were shot at a ground level, not from above.
The premier said an independent panel will be set up to investigate the incidents related to the deadly clashes between security forces and the protesters.
Early this week UN human rights chief Navi Pillay also called for an independent probe into Thailand's recent deadly violence and for those responsible for rights violations to be held to account.
At least 88 people died and nearly 1,900 were injured during two months of political unrest. (TNA)
Gen Anupong Paochinda remarked before his departure to the insurgency-troubled restive southern province of Narathiwat, following the accusation by some opposition MPs that six people who were shot dead in the temple, next to the Red Shirt rally site of Ratchaprasong, were killed by soldiers who were stationed on the Skytrain tracks on May 19.
The army chief said he was confident that the general public understands that the army operation strictly followed guidelines demonstrating restraint and avoided the use of firearms until armed men mingling with innocent protesters attacked the security personnel.
So the army was obliged to respond with more appropriate measures against them, he said.
"The Centre for the Resolution of Emergency Situation (CRES) and the army have applied appropriate measures to the circumstances and adhere to the principle that we will not harm the people," Gen Anupong said.
The army chief added more than half of the army personnel came from the Northeast, so he could not order them to do "things in the way that some people might have imagined."
The northern and northeastern regions are considered strongholds of the 'Red Shirt United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD), many of them are loyal to convicted former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.
As the issue of the deaths of the six people at the temple remains unresolved as to whether they were killed by soldiers or militants, Gen Anupong urged the media to made inquiries into the matter based on the facts.
"The soldiers have already clarified that they were not positioned there at the time of the shooting," said the army chief. "I have inquired (about the incident) and have been assured (by subordinates) that none of them used firearms against unarmed civilians. That's the truth."
The army began its operation to seal off Bangkok's prime commercial area in mid-May to pressure the UDD protesters who had encamped there for more than one month to leave the area.
As troops intensified their containment push on May 19, a confrontation between the army and armed Red Shirt supporters occurred in key intersections close to Ratchaprasong, but the military operation was halted after Red Shirt leaders surrendered to police and announced the end of their six-week protest there.
Shortly after the surrender of the protest leaders, the country's largest shopping mall and the second largest in Asia, CentralWorld and more than 30 buildings including the Stock Exchange of Thailand being set afire by disgruntled protesters, while rescue workers and firemen could not reach the burning buildings as they were threatened by gunfire from militants.
Six corpses were found in Pathumwanaram Temple. Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said during the no-confidence debate that they were not killed by troops stationed at the BTS Sktrain tracks as autopsy results showed that most of them were shot at a ground level, not from above.
The premier said an independent panel will be set up to investigate the incidents related to the deadly clashes between security forces and the protesters.
Early this week UN human rights chief Navi Pillay also called for an independent probe into Thailand's recent deadly violence and for those responsible for rights violations to be held to account.
At least 88 people died and nearly 1,900 were injured during two months of political unrest. (TNA)
