Thai government's investigation on Oct. 7 clashes meets setback
22/10/2008 17:18
Thai government's fact-finding committee on the police crackdown on
unarmed protesters on Oct. 7 said today it will not be able to finish its job
within the 15-day deadline set by the Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat.
The
cabinet approved on Oct. 14 the setting up of the 11-member committee and
ordered it to go for first-person accounts from the people involved in the
clashes.
The committee is chaired by Preecha Panichwong, a retired vice
president of the Supreme Court.
Committee member Pornthip Jala said the prime
minister had given the panel a free hand in compiling information.
However,
it has not been authorized to decide who was to blame for the Oct. 7 incident,
which left two people dead and hundreds injured.
Charoenjit Na Songkhla, a
committee member, was quoted by the Bangkok Post as saying that since he was
suffering from poor eyesight, it would be difficult for him to attend all of the
panel 's meetings.
Sahai Sapsunthorn, another committee member, said the
panel had in turn set up five sub-committees to collect the needed
information.
The main committee would meet on Nov. 3 to decide how to
continue its work.
A separate committee was also up and running to decide on
compensation and remedial assistance to people affected by the
clashes.
Somyos Prueksakasemsuk, a key leader of the National United Front of
Democracy Against Dictatorship, yesterday filed a petition asking the House
committee on justice and human rights to look into the tragic events of Oct.
7.
He said he believed some of the PAD supporters were carrying explosives
with them, which could have caused the deaths and injuries.
Somchai said on
Oct. 17 that the government is willing to accept results of the fact-finding
panel, which had been set up to find details about the clashes.
"The inquiry
should be completed in 15 days. The government will accept the findings. If the
results say who was at fault, so be it," he said.
Xinhua
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