Former Thai PM Somchai acquitted of abusing power

By APD writer Chen Jiabao

BANGKOK, Aug 2 (APD) -- The Supreme Court of Thailand on Wednesday acquitted former prime minister Somchai Wongsawat, a brother-in-law of the self-exiled former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatara of charges on ordering a 2008 crackdown on anti-government protesters.

The former prime minister, together with three high-profile defendants including his former deputy prime minister Chavalit Yongchaiyudn, then-national police chief Patcharawaat Wongsuwon and then-metropolitan police commander Suchart Mueankaew, were charged with malfeasance over the deadly crackdown on the yellow-shirt movement nine years ago.

Somchai ordered the crackdown to clear protesters from the entrance to parliament after his cabinet were prevented from leaving the parliament grounds.

The riot control police used teargas to disperse the anti-government campaigners,leading to two deaths and 417 injured.

The court cleared allegations against them, saying the government was required by the constitution to address the parliament that day, but blocked by protesters.

The court ruled that the defendants have no intention to cause injuries or deaths and such volatile situation prompted them to order the crackdown.

Somchai said he felt happy to know justice still exists. He thanked his supporters who flocked to the front of the court since the early morning.

The verdict fueled some of the yellow-shirt protesters, they stood outside the court and shouted:"Why is the murderer not in jail?"

The accusation was made in 2015. The first hearing of the case took place in 2016. Somchai gave his closing statement verbally on June 30.

August sees two historic verdicts of two former leaders allied to the ousted ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra, who lives abroad to avoid a jail sentence but remains a major influence over Thai politics.

The supreme court will give a verdict on Thaksin's sister, Yingluck Shinawatra on Aug 25. Yingluck is standing trail for a rice subsidy program that reported cost the state billions of baht. If found guilty, she will face a jail term up to 10 years.

Yingluck, the former prime minister, is accused of negligence for allegedly failing to stop massive corruption in the rice scheme.

The current government has frozen her bank accounts and reportedly seized some of her assets, claiming she has to take responsibility for the damages under the loss-riding scheme.

(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)