Government not hunting Red Shirts: Deputy PM Suthep

Published : December 23, 2010 :: 12:12:50 [ 882 views ]

BANGKOK, Dec 23 - Thailand's Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban on Thursday denied accusations that the leading anti-government Red Shirt members are being hunted down by the government following the suspicious death of a movement guard in the northern province of Chiang Mai.

The deputy premier, who oversees national security, made the statement after well-known Red Shirt guard Noi Banjong, also known as “DJ Daeng Kotchasarn”, was found dead Dec 19 in Chiang Mai’s Mae On district, with pills of drugs found beside his body.

Red Shirt supporters in Chiang Mai claimed the guard was hunted down and killed by the government, and that his death is unconnected with drugs. The implication is that government agents or others did away with the activist, making it look to be a drugs matter.

Mr Suthep said he has instructed the commander of Police Region 5 to investigate the case.

The regional police commander reported that police received a phone call from a villager reporting a dead body and that the police quickly inspected the scene but they were unable to identify the victim until two days later, Mr Suthep said.

The deputy prime minister pledged he would do his best to bring the killers to justice, and urged the public to inform police about any possible clue to the case.

“As I am responsible for national security, I can reaffirm that I have never thought of hunting anyone to death,” asserted Mr Suthep. “What I must do is to bring the culprit to face justice. It’s definitely not government policy to kill anyone.”

Mr Suthep however insisted that it is necessary that the security-concerned agencies continue monitoring any move of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD), adding that the action is not aimed at nagging at them, but to monitor moves which may cause disturbances to the country.

The deputy premier added until now no irregularity has been reported after a state of emergency was lifted in the capital and its three surrounding provinces of Nonthaburi, Samut Prakan and Pathum Thani on Wednesday. (MCOT online news)