TRC explains 'men in black' connection

The Truth for Reconciliation Commission has shed light on the mystery of the "men in black", saying they were linked with red-shirt security guards and Maj Gen Khattiya Sawasdipol.

Published: 17/09/2012 at 06:16 PM
Writer: Nattaya Chetchotiros

Its completed report on the 2010 political unrest unveiled on Monday also blamed the security forces for poor handling of the protesters and criticised the military coup in 2006 which stirred political problems in the country.

Somchai Homla-or, who heads the TRC's fact-finding sub-committee, said the commission probing the bloody events between March and May 2010 found connections between the "men in black" and security guards of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship in at least two clashes with authorities at Kok Wua intersection near the Democracy Monument and the Pratunam area on April 10, 2010.

Many of the "men in black" were found to be close to Maj Gen Khattiya, but "we do not have evidence to conclude whether they had a connection with UDD key figures", said Mr Somchai.

Maj Gen Khatthiya, an army specialist, was shot dead by a sniper while talking to reporters near a subway exit at Lumpini Park during the red shirts' anti-government protest on May 13, 2010.

The clash at Kok Wua killed four soldiers including Col Romklao Thuwatham while an attempt was being made to contain a mob of red-shirt protesters.

According to evidence compiled by the commission, the "men in black" fired M67 hand grenades, M79 rocket-launched grenades and rifles at soldiers at Kok Wua on the night of April 10, 2010. Col Romklao, who was posthumously promoted to general, was killed by one of the M67 hand grenades, it added.

The TRC says in its report that 92 people died as a result of the protests, but did not add a death at Saman Metta Mansion in Nonthaburi's Bang Bua Thong district and other places to the list.

The commission stopped short of declaring that the deaths of protesters and a nurse at Wat Prathum Wanaram on May 19, 2010 were due to shots fired at them by soldiers. The deaths were "possibly" due to the soldiers shooting into the temple, it said. A group of armed protesters also fired from the temple or in front of the temple at the soldiers stationed on the BTS track, it added.

The TRC also criticised the handling of the protesters by security forces as they used war weapons and "improper" tactics including firing tear gas from helicopters which stirred panic and mistrust among the demonstrators.

It said the failure of the checks and balances system under then prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva had led to street rallies against the government.

It added the military coup on Sept 19, 2006 did not solve political problems and instead jeopardised the rule of law in the country.

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Discussion 1 : 18/09/2012 at 10:42 AM: Of course the TRC weren't going to find any connection between MIB and UDD key figures. The UDD and its sponsor abroad were very careful to keep its armed contingent at arm's length. Nevertheless, there is evidence out there which could prove the connection, but the TRC, by its own admission, were specifically precluded from probing in certain areas.
Discussion 2 : 18/09/2012 at 09:07 AM: It is interesting to see that the division in the country is reflected in the responses to the report, even among foreigners. Many comments have attracted both Likes and Dislikes.
Discussion 3 : 18/09/2012 at 07:25 AM: johninbkk - "violating international law on 3 key points." I'm guessing the protesters were violating international law on more than 3 points. But isn't it PTP and reds that are always saying Thailand doesn't have to answer to international law? Particularly when it comes to things like extraditing Thaksin cronies to the US for corruption charges or trying to have Thaksin extradited back to Thailand. And wasn't it Thaksin himself when questioned about human rights violations by the U.N. that muttered that famous line - "The U.N. is not my father"? How hypocritical of you to stand behind "international law" now.
Discussion 4 : 18/09/2012 at 04:38 AM: brilliant 20 - FYI, Sunai "always held the military in high regard for their sense of honor and dedication to the country" (even after after 1957, 1973, 1976, 1992) and is "a staunch anti-Thaksin activist." "Sunai … told us he was convinced that people connected to Thaksin [Shinawatra] were responsible for the bombs, and added that the government would definitely use the attempted attacks to try and discredit the UDD." - wikileaks, 16 February 2010 "[Sunai] said that Privy Council President Gen. Prem Tinsulanonda recently gave them and the interim government the green light to proceed [investigating the war on drugs] once Prem was assured that none of the cases they plan to present will implicate the military." - wikileaks, November, 2006
Discussion 5 : 18/09/2012 at 03:34 AM: Seems like johninbkk is the only one that continues to see the boogeyman in the TRCT. " Sunai Phasuk, a researcher in Thailand with Human Rights Watch, praised the commission’s report as balanced and relying on “neutral evidence and forensic science.” “This is the first report in modern Thai political history that investigates violence from all sides,” he said on Thai television." "She(Yingluck) promised to empower the Independent Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Thailand (ITRC), the panel that the Democrat Party-led government had set up to investigate the killings."
Discussion 6 : 18/09/2012 at 03:05 AM: dao 16 - "Anyone on this forum except the 4 UDD sympathizers could tell you..." I find it ironic that you continually argue you represent the majority voice, yet you speak against every election that elects Thaksin (all of them), and support military coups to override every election that isn't in your favor (all of them).
Discussion 7 : 18/09/2012 at 12:53 AM: I cant wait for this PT government with all their criminal lying ministers to be trashed one way or another, they are the absolute worse from all the bad we ever had so far. Keep on mishandling our taxes and you will do it all by yourselves. A pretty face is not going to hide all the money squandering for ever. This TRC should be ashamed not even to touch on the criminal escape in Dubai. Indeed, a foreign commission would be preferred, they don't have to kow tow to the rulers and leave in safety and peace after their judgement.
Discussion 8 : 18/09/2012 at 12:42 AM: "while an attempt was being made to contain a mob of red-shirt protesters." ...while an attempt to use soldiers armed with M16s to forcefully remove unarmed democracy protesters at night time - violating international law on 3 key points. The report was written by known PAD members directly appointed by AV, the opposition was banned from participation, and the committee was denied access to most evidence. It has little credibility.
Discussion 9 : 18/09/2012 at 12:01 AM: Anyone on this forum except the 4 UDD sympathizers could tell you Thaksin set Ratchprasong up .He paid the UDD leaders 10 million baht each .He turned down the early election on the phone even though the other leader would have taken it .The men in black were sent to goad the military into a response and when they got it they cried about it and still are .Reconciliation ? what a lie .The UDD and PT couldnt handle the truth .
Discussion 10 : 17/09/2012 at 11:15 PM: @android, d10. Please do explain how someones unfounded opinion, no matter who they are, is a slap in the face of anyone? When Thailand chose to go down the coup road in 2006, the laws of physics automatically eliminated any chance of knowing what would have happened if we had not gone down that road. Therefore it is physically impossible for anyone, including the TRC, to know if Thailand would have more or less political problems or be more or less lawless if there had not been a coup.
Discussion 11 : 17/09/2012 at 11:01 PM: The TRC says in its report that 92 people died as a result of the protests. If there had been elections these people would still be alive. If there was no use of force these people would still be alive. The choice to use force on a massive crowd of people with full intentions to defend themselves led to the injuries and deaths. Collateral damage had to be calculated in the decision making prior to the use of force. Apparently this calculation was acceptable in order to dispell the protestors.
Discussion 12 : 17/09/2012 at 10:34 PM: Why didn't they google for the photo of Khattiya meeting with Thaksin in Cambodia 5 months before the protests. Or was that simply a coincidence?
Discussion 13 : 17/09/2012 at 10:04 PM: The report said."the failure of the checks and balances system under then prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva had led to street rallies against the government.....Hahahaha, what about the hundreds of billions " disappearing "in non existent flood measures....in the rice scam, in the rubber scam, in the Woman's fund and the generous payouts to terrorists and arsonists from this " clean" PT /UDD government?????
Discussion 14 : 17/09/2012 at 09:42 PM: And still nobody is saying where the funding for the UDD militia came from!
Discussion 15 : 17/09/2012 at 09:30 PM: "...the military coup on Sept 19, 2006 did not solve political problems and instead jeopardised the rule of law in the country." This is a slap on face to those who insist saying that the 2006 coup is for betterment of the nation.
Discussion 16 : 17/09/2012 at 08:51 PM: The 'Red Shirts' scream about the treatment of the Dem party in power at the time. They scream about injustice during that time. They will not enter into the issue of 'Burn Bangkok.' They are extremely silent when the death of Khatthiya is brought up. Why is there no cry for punishment for the persons responsible for killing one of their biggest leaders, Khatthiya. The riots were most unpleasant and it was obvious that the government was backing away to avoid confrontation on all fronts. The Red Shirts acted like a group of drunken hooligans with less then 10% of them really understanding what it was they were there for. Hell they got their 500 baht plus lao khoa and donuts so they were happy. Thailand is headed into a very dark period in it's history and when all the smoke clears it is going to be every person in this country pointing their fingers at one person for responsibility. Whether that person is still sneaking about in the middle east or not remains the only question to be answered.
Discussion 17 : 17/09/2012 at 08:44 PM: "instead jeopardised the rule of law in the country." And with this witchhunt, PT are totally trashing it. Has any attempt been made to go further than the phrase 'black-shirts' to find out who was responsible foir them being there ?. Of course not : "we do not have evidence to conclude whether they had a connection with UDD key figures"
Discussion 18 : 17/09/2012 at 08:35 PM: The purpose of this whole event was to create what took place. From the measured amounts of violence against authorities to the intimidation and attacks on the general population, to the reversal of a promise to end the occupation when the government agreed to demands of early elections, this was an action planned to cause return of force from the army. If anything, the army and government can be questioned about how long they allowed this to play out with the gradual escalation leading to it's inevitable end.
Discussion 19 : 17/09/2012 at 08:31 PM: Soooo! From The Truth for Reconciliation Commission it can be assume that......both sides are to blame for the deaths, and the men in black were under the command of a rough army officer (dead), but, no evidence that the rest of the red command ordered them to kill on behalf of their paid mob!And so cant be taken to court, accused of murder, but, the government leaders at the time (alive) can be accused even through they acted on behalf of the country and its people. and the bottom line is its the fault of the coup for making the reds come and smash up part of Bangkok, who did it for the Ex. PM! Now that makes things clearer...Thanks gentlemen , please pick up your cheques as you leave the building!
Discussion 20 : 17/09/2012 at 08:12 PM: ok, another small step. Next question - where did Maj Gen Khattiya get his funding from. Some things are public knowledge through TV interviews Gen Khattiya gave; A) he went to Dubai twice B) he said Mr T promised he (Khattiya) would become Army Commander C) he said he created the Ninjas (black shirts)
Discussion 21 : 17/09/2012 at 08:00 PM: How's the saying go? Dead men can't talk.
Discussion 22 : 17/09/2012 at 07:54 PM: AV said that MIB were responsible for all the mess. According to him, nothing would have happened if MIB weren't there among the crowd. What I think is, if military installed AV wasn't in power, nothing would have happened. Obviously ".. the military coup on Sept 19, 2006 did not solve political problems and instead jeopardised the rule of law in the country." History is written where AV is nothing but a villain.
Discussion 23 : 17/09/2012 at 07:41 PM: an international independant inquiry is the best way forward to get to the truth on the night in bangkok where 92 person lost their lives,the recently set up committee aptly named Truth for reconcillation commision the TRT was commisioned by this current regime,headed by no other than the former prem minister,who happens to be the fugitives brother in-law ?
Discussion 24 : 17/09/2012 at 07:36 PM: TRC explains 'men in black' connection Wow they could have saved all this time by just asking the PM from far away ?

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