Court dismiss case against former PM in 2008 protest crackdown

BANGKOK, Aug 2 (TNA) – The Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Holders of Political Position on Wednesday dismissed a case against former Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat, and then–deputy prime minister and two former senior police officers, allegedly involved in the 2008 crackdown on the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) protesters. Somchai, a brother-in-law of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra who ousted in 2006 coup, along with three other defendants, then-deputy prime minister Chavalit Yongchaiyuth, former national police chief General Patcharawat Wongsuwan and former Metropolitan Police commander Lt-General Suchart Muenkaew were accused of malfeasance over a deadly crackdown on the anti-government PAD or "yellow shirt" protesters, who surrounded the parliament to block cabinet members from entering into the premises to deliver the policy statement and to pressure it to resign. The court delivered a verdict, saying the police adopted the international practice in handling the crowds step by step from negotiation before the final decision was made to use tear gas in an attempt to make the demonstrators disperse and maintain order. The defendants did not expect the tear gas would do harm to protesters, the court said. Two people were killed and about 400 others were wounded in the incident. The ruling disappointed former members of the now-defunct PAD, gathering at the court today waiting for the verdict. (TNA)