PM will act on 'useful' TRC advice

The prime minister Tuesday pledged to study the Truth for Reconciliation Commission's (TRC) report on the 2010 protests, saying the government would adopt its recommendations if they could lead to national reconciliation.

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra said she had ordered Interior Minister Yongyuth Wichaidit to study the findings of the TRC's investigation and its recommendations thoroughly.

If the TRC's recommendations are useful and could bring about peace, the government would be pleased to adopt and implement them, she said.

As for the TRC's recommendation for her elder brother and former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra to end his political roles, Ms Yingluck said she believed Thaksin would agree to the proposal if that was deemed "useful" and would lead to national peace.

The TRC on Monday officially announced the results of its two-year investigation into the 2010 demonstrations, blaming both red shirts and the military for the violence that resulted in at least 92 deaths.

Mr Abhisit said he hoped the Yongyuth-led committee, set up late last year, would respect the TRC's report and its non-partisan intentions.

The Yongyuth-led panel had not strictly followed the TRC's past recommendations but only picked the ones that suited the government's agenda, said the opposition leader.

The publication of the TRC report, meanwhile, has sparked furious reactions from key figures in the red shirt and pro-Thaksin camp.

Pheu Thai list MP Khattiya Sawatdiphol, daughter of Maj Gen Khattiya Sawatdiphol who was gunned down near the Lumpini MRT station on May 13, 2010, accused the TRC of basing its probe results on opinions, not facts.

Instead of vaguely linking the "men in black" with her late father, the TRC should have found out who those black-clad attackers actually were, she said.

The TRC said on Monday it had found evidence that the men in black, who used M79 grenades and rifles to attack security forces, had received support from red-shirt security guards linked to Maj Gen Khattiya.

Ms Khattiya said the TRC must prove its claim that Maj Gen Khattiya was seen at the rally on April 10, 2010, the same day the men in black were sighted, because she could confirm that her father was not at the protest that day.

She said she felt very uncomfortable with the TRC's findings, which shifted the blame to her deceased father who could no longer defend himself.

Jarupan Kuldilok, another Pheu Thai list MP, described the TRC's investigation results as "the same old lie".

She said the TRC has not only failed to prove who the men in black were, but also told tales which were based on nothing but its own hypotheses.

The TRC failed miserably in its task and its members must apologise to the public, said Ms Jarupan.

Pheu Thai list MP Weng Tojirakarn, also a red-shirt protest leader, said the TRC's report was unreliable and had a hidden agenda of justifying the use of force against protesters by the Centre for the Resolution of the Emergency Situation and the Abhisit government.

Nicha Thuwatham, wife of Gen Romklao Thuwatham who was killed on April 10, 2010, during the unrest, told the Bangkok Post that it was a good step for Thailand to issue a report that gathered information about the events.

"I appreciate the effort and caution of the TRC in presenting and explaining those events. I hope the report, which is based on facts, will be followed with proper judicial procedures," she said.

"In fact, I expect the TRC could dig deeper and find out who was or were behind the men in black," she added.

The TRC report said Gen Romklao was among eight security officers who were killed by men in black.

Share your thoughts

Discussion 1 : 20/09/2012 at 11:48 AM
Like Suthep said , charge me now then tharit ? And , that`s right , nothing , zip in return ! Though you could almost hear an audible "GULP" when AV also pointed out tharits instigating role in it all ? Premeditated murder , does he even know what this means , seemingly not ? It just shows exactly how flimsy their trumped up allegations and accusations are ! That in itself is criminal and i`m sure they will find out all about it soon enough , though i`m sure yingluck has been purposly distanced enough for the law not to touch her , not that the law seems to account for much in their minds anyway ? Not her herself , but her party and her followers are talking some pretty wild and unfounded untruths concerning the opposition all on behalf of her and her convicted criminal fugitive Bro`master ?
Discussion 2 : 19/09/2012 at 09:23 PM
airborne D25 I agree with you on the 2001 assets concealment case but you are wrong to blame the 'swing judge', the votes were Guilty 7 - Not Guilty 6, with 2 abstentions. The court decided to count the 2 abstentions as 'not guilty' votes thus giving Thaksin an 8-7 win.
Discussion 3 : 19/09/2012 at 08:24 PM
banmebkk D24 & democrazy D23 You are entitled to your opinions about "Madam PM" but remember that not everyone shares them, in fact you probably are in the minority. Check out the 2Bangkok website, they have a cartoon reprinted from Thai Rath on the 1st anniversary of the government coming to power (and remember that TR is the largest selling daily newspaper in the country). The cartoon shows YS marching up a hill carrying a basket containing 4 small children, the basket has "Developing the quality of life" written on it. She is passing a milestone with "First year" on it, two small observers are watching one waves a Thai flag and the other says "Patience conquers everything".
Discussion 4 : 19/09/2012 at 05:25 PM
“Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra said she had ordered Interior Minister Yongyuth Wichaidit to study the findings of the TRC's investigation and its recommendations thoroughly.” Does this mean he will be the only MP who will study the TRC report? How about the idea that PM Shinawatra should read it from beginning to end? In the moment it seems like everybody uses only a few select lines to proof his own point. Does this have anything to do with reconciliation? I know it is difficult but the only chance that the different sides will find a middle way somewhere sometime is when they at least try to understand the “other side”. I guess reading the whole TRC report would be a good start.
Discussion 5 : 19/09/2012 at 04:14 PM
D1: Dom Dunn's comments in the past have been insightful, well written and thought provoking. As of late his comments are short and stupid and go to prove only that his is on the blogger payroll. I liked you better when you made sense. I have never bought into your pro-Thaksin arguments, because you always point out that he was freely elected. When has there ever been a free and open election in Thailand? And the swing judge in his assets trial publicly stated Thaksin had violated the law, but he (the judge) was unwilling to convict since so many Thais had voted for him. Do what you want with Thaksin, but the judge should have been disciplined and dis-bared for his actions.
Discussion 6 : 19/09/2012 at 04:08 PM
The only truth red supporters will believe in is whatever comes out of Thaksins mouth. Gen Katthiya is a disgrace soldier who vowed to use his own army to fight against the Thai army. I doubt the PM will "act" on the useful TRC advice. She can't even act on her own words that she preach about how all elected MP or Minister will be qualified, ironic she isn't qualified for her position.
Discussion 7 : 19/09/2012 at 02:38 PM
D.17: Your comment is proof that the red-shirts really want: Total control of all and everything. Why you hate the Dems ? Are they not also thais and bothers and sisters ? 6 years ago on this day the brave men stood up against a "parlamentarien dictatorship". PM Thaksin thought he can do everything what he wants and everybody had to accept. But he was wrong. And madam PM is going in the same direction.
Discussion 8 : 19/09/2012 at 02:15 PM
Sorry but dose the PM only order people rather than ask or request some one to do something and are those being ordered not capable of thinking it out for themselves.If they are not capable why are they in the job? It may be is an army treat she has learned.
Discussion 9 : 19/09/2012 at 01:40 PM
I guess the report may have just said Abhisit and Dems were at fault for every single thing and the Reds are totally innocent of every thing. That's the only possible way for reconciliation.
Discussion 10 : 19/09/2012 at 12:42 PM
whatajoke D2 I don't think the army would risk putting Khattiya on trial. If the MIB were led by a serving officer which group is the most likely one to have provided the rest of the manpower for the team?
Discussion 11 : 19/09/2012 at 12:38 PM
brilliant D1 How does anybody make the army stay out of politics and if you can't do that why should Thaksin stay out?
Discussion 12 : 19/09/2012 at 12:01 PM
TRC's report mentioned nothing about the sniper in Kattiyak's assassination case.
Discussion 13 : 19/09/2012 at 11:27 AM
TRC and Ombudsman are the few remaining agencies that are pro-dem.
Discussion 14 : 19/09/2012 at 10:48 AM
"Miss Khattiya said she felt very uncomfortable with the TRC's findings, which shifted the blame to her deceased father who could no longer defend himself". Miss Khattiya you will just have to get used to it.....It's called Thainess
Discussion 15 : 19/09/2012 at 10:17 AM
No party will accept the full findings, every side will quote selectively and there is still no sign of reconciliation.
Discussion 16 : 19/09/2012 at 10:06 AM
sorry to say but the reconcillation propaganda tool is not for reconcile its to whitewash the fugitive from his crimes to forget the law and justices,the man hasnt even admitted of his wrong doing ? the nation is divided and untill this regime actually stamps out corruption and abuse of power,and serve the people who need,education,health and law and order and justices,and that why in my opinion it will never happen
Discussion 17 : 19/09/2012 at 09:52 AM
Red villages logic and denial... the MIB did not exist because they were never caught...Of course, it was their MISSION to create terror, to kill security forces and never get caught...denying this is a form of irresponsible insanity!
Discussion 18 : 19/09/2012 at 09:19 AM
Its only truthful if its useful .
Discussion 19 : 19/09/2012 at 09:04 AM
This is obviously just another lowly despicable attempt by taxsin and his lackies , including his little sister , to give Amnesty to himself or return himself a free and innocent man under the guise that Thailand will somehow be better off , or what , he will release the red mob again ?
Discussion 20 : 19/09/2012 at 08:44 AM
Seh Daeng's daughter should read the international reports on the "men in black", who openly stated he was their leader.
Discussion 21 : 19/09/2012 at 08:36 AM
The TRC report should be taken as a whole and acted upon as a whole. To choose only the parts you like is a disservice to Thailand. But then the red brethren prefer to use sound bytes out of context to prove their version of the story.
Discussion 22 : 19/09/2012 at 08:23 AM
Seriously...Thailand has a Truth Commission....this must be a joke right?
Discussion 23 : 19/09/2012 at 07:58 AM
PM this is how you can help the Nation move forward and still be our PM 1. Bring you brother back & put him in Jail as per court order 2. Let all 6 or more pending corruption case ageist your Brother start (let us all of us here the Truth here) 3. Stop the Red Shirt Movement before they get to big and powerful to which you PTP can not control 4. Stop all Government corruption special with floods, schools & transport 5. Forgive all Red Shirts. Yellow Shirts, Governments agents & Army & move on its clear every one is to blame here
Discussion 24 : 19/09/2012 at 07:27 AM
Truly admirable as it is the report failed to dig deeper into who instigated and funded the protest. That person alone is responsible for everything that happened. Lot of 'if's' from YS about how Thaksin/PTP will react. Seems highly unlikely he will stop meddling in Thai politics because his real aim was to get the money back. He has some power but not like before...
Discussion 25 : 19/09/2012 at 07:20 AM
PM will act on 'useful' TRC advice Regardless of what the rest of law abiding Thais think or feel too i bet ?
Discussion 26 : 19/09/2012 at 07:13 AM
Oh well good people of Thailand , be prepared for taxsins peoples war and Bangkok in flames vision , stage two ? Will Thailand allow this to go on forever , it must rid itself of the deceptive decieptful shinawatras , if it is to survive another decade , let the Thai people live their lives in peace taxsin , you chose your path , enjoy it and made your bed , now sleep in it ?
Discussion 27 : 19/09/2012 at 06:58 AM
Why does anybody have to prove anything to the red shirts who never will believe anything than their own lies anyhow? What about if the reds started to proof that there were no men in black, there was no fire at Central World, there were no arms in the red camp, there were no barricades in the streets, there actually were no red shirts at all at Rajprasong intersection.
Discussion 28 : 19/09/2012 at 06:44 AM
Based on my own findings, reading news articles from various sources over the past few years I'm more likely to trust or believe comments made from the Democrats and an investigation appointed by them (as the govt at the time), than the PTP or UDD/Red shirts. It's just my personal opinion and experience, though I take everything here with a slightly cynical ear. As for Ms Khattiya, I think she shouldn't stoke the bees nest, this total denial will backfire on her, she's lucky her father wasn't tried and given a death sentence for high treason.
Discussion 29 : 19/09/2012 at 04:50 AM
"Mr Abhisit said he hoped the Yongyuth-led committee, set up late last year, would respect the TRC's report and its non-partisan intentions." Even I'll say Abhisit is wrong. Does he really think that any PTP committee, much less one lead by one of Thaksin's biggest lackeys, Yongyuth, would respect anything that doesn't follow party lines? Hopefully, Yingluck will take the advice to keep her brother out of politics. Then make the army stay out also.

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