Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Thai prime minister accused of war crimes

Abhisit Vejjajiva (R) with U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in Bangkok today
Photo: REUTERS
Abhisit Vejjajiva, the Old Etonian prime minister of Thailand, was accused of crimes against humanity during military operations to break up the Bangkok riots earlier this year in a complaint lodged on Tuesday at the International Criminal Court (ICC).

26 Oct 2010
By Damien McElroy, Foreign Affairs Correspondent
The Telegraph (UK)

Mr Abhisit, who is expected to host David Cameron during the UK prime minister's holiday in Thailand at Christmas, was accused of ordering a military operation against Red Shirt demonstrators that left 90 dead and more than 1,800 injured.

The embattled Thai leader was one of 15 senior figures, mostly from the military, said to be responsible for targeted assassinations, torture, illegal detention and inhumane acts by military forces by the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship.

Supporters of Thaksin Shinawatra, the ex-prime minister deposed in 2006, blockaded the centre of Bangkok in an attempt to force Mr Abhisit's government – which was installed under heavy military and royalist pressure on MPs – to resign. After weeks of turmoil, the army moved in to clear the streets of protesters. Parts of Bangkok were declared a "live fire zone".
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