Organization: Central Michigan University
Newsgroups: bit.listserv.seasia-l
Date:         Fri, 9 Oct 1992 09:02:08 EDT
From:         Elliott Parker <3ZLUFUR@CMUVM.CSV.CMICH.EDU>
Subject:      TH: Chuan lets law prevail in May incident

=======================  Forwarded  Message  ===========================
Date: Thu, 8 Oct 92 23:39:05+0700
From: Kamol Hengkietisak <kamol@ipied.tu.ac.th>

PRIME Minister Chuan Leekpai said yesterday he would allow law
enforcement officials to decide how to deal with the
demonstrators and military officers involved in the May incident
previously covered by the Amnesty Decree.

Mr Chuan said the question of justice could not be compromised
because it concerned what was right and wrong.

"Please do not pay attention to those who are to be affected (as
a consequence of the rejection of the Amnesty Decree)," he said.

"Everything has to proceed in accordance with the law," the Prime
Minister said when asked whether some people in his government
might be prosecuted after the decree was dropped.

He declined to comment on a question whether senior military
officers responsible for ordering the crackdown on demonstrators
during the May 17-21 protests would be tried by a military or
criminal court.

The "killing" of the Amnesty Decree Wednesday by the House of
Representatives will not result in any change of the Cabinet, he
said, adding the pro-democracy parties had made it a common stand
from the beginning that the decree would be rejected.

The Prime Minister said he understood from the very beginning
that "problems and politics are inseparable" and so was prepared
to accept the consequences.

"Once a problem is solved, another will emerge. We have to be
prepared."

He said he was not worried and would do his best to cope with the
consequences of rejecting the Amnesty and Judiciary Reform
decrees.

Mr Chuan said he could not tell whether the military
investigation into the May tragedy would be made public or not.

"If it is confidential, then it cannot be revealed."

But when the findings reach the police and public prosectors it
will be difficult to keep secret, he said.

The Police Department yesterday set up a centre at the
Metropolitan Police Bureau to receive complaints from people
about the May protesters and the military officers responsible
for ordering the crackdown.

The centre will be manned by a committee led by assistant
director-general Pol Lt-Gen Pracha Promnok.

Police Director-General Sawat Amornvivat said yesterday the
committee would receive and investigate complaints. Arrests will
not be made until there is a clear ruling from the Juridical
Council.

He refused to say whether police would re-issue warrants for the
arrest of 19 protest leaders wanted by the former government of
prime minister Suchinda Kraprayoon.

Three Opposition MPs yesterday sought explanations from police
about their investigation into the May incident.

Chart Thai MPs Chongchai Thiangtham and Chaowarin Latthasaksiri
and Chart Pattana's Chamlong Krutkhunthod said they thought
everyone involved in the incident and later absolved by the
Amnesty Decree could now be prosecuted.

"We will follow this case closely so it can be established who
were right and wrong, and who were the angels and who the
satans," said Mr Chaowarin.

He urged relatives of the May victims to file criminal charges
against pro-democracy leaders, claiming they were responsible for
the violence.

  About 800 people, including Palang Dharma Party de facto leader
Chamlong Srimuang, were charged and later released after the
Amnesty Decree was issued.

Arrest warrants issued for seven leaders among the Confederation
for Democracy and New Aspiration Party, namely Veera Musikapong
and Prasong Soonsri, have been withdrawn by police.

A complaint was yesterday lodged with Nang Lerng police by
self-styled activist Varunchai Chokechana, demanding that those
involved in the May incident -- Maj-Gen Chamlong, Gen Suchinda,
then army chief Gen Issarapong Noonpakdee, former army chief ACM
Kaset Rojananil and former interior minister ACM Anan Kalintha --
be summoned for questioning.

These people, he said, should be prosecuted.

An Interior Ministry official said the Police Department had been
told by the ministry to seek instructions from the Juridical
Council on how to cope with demonstrators and others affected by
the Amnesty Decree.

The official said it would take at last two weeks for the
Juridical Council to make an interpretation, or even longer if it
is decided those involved should face prosecution.

While a reply is pending from the Juridical Council, the official
said police would accept complaints against demonstrators or
military officers accused of breaking the law. But there will be
no arrests.

The official also said Maj-Gen Chamlong and the other MPs
involved in the protests were protected by parliamentary
immunity.

He also said he thought the government would surely issue an
amnesty bill absolving peaceful demonstrators from any criminal
indictment if the rejection of the Amnesty Decree is interpreted
as allowing their prosecution.

Magsaysay Award winner Dr Prawase Wasi said legal action should
be taken against anyone who damaged government property and
buildings but not those protesters who rallied peacefully.

He also said Maj-Gen Chamlong had not committed any wrongdoing
during the demonstration but had been protesting peacefully.

He said any legal proceedings taken by people affected by the
incidents were unlikely to lead to any conflict between the
Government and the military.
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