Panel will probe Thai unrest: PM

Jun 07, 2010 |

Ho Chi Minh City

Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said on Sunday he wants to ensure “Red Shirt” representation on a panel to examine the deadly unrest that erupted during weeks of anti-government protests.

Shortly after Thai troops moved on May 19 to disperse the anti-government “Red Shirts” from their fortified encampment in Bangkok after two months of crippling demonstrations and outbreaks of violence, Mr Abhisit vowed that an independent probe would be set up. But it has not yet been formed.
“What’s difficult now is I’m trying to find a chairman and also a panel that would be inclusive, to make sure that all sides can be confident of the neutrality of their work... which means that we need somebody who is sympathetic to the Red Shirts in the panel,” Mr Abhisit said. As the unrest peaked, parts of Bangkok became battle-zones, major buildings were torched, and foreign governments issued travel warnings. Eighty-nine people were killed and nearly 1,900 were hurt in violent outbreaks during the demonstrations. —AFP

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