The Thai Regime Just Doesn’t Weave a Web of Lies: They Kanit Them

Kanit Knitting Lies with Abhisit and Prayuth

We should all be very skeptical of any “investigation” or “justice” in Thailand. Thailand’s political/legal system is a joke. Even the Thais themselves know the system is grossly dysfunctional. Look at Thailand’s former attorney-general, Kanit na Nakorn, appointed by Abhisit last June to investigate the responsibility for the killing and injuring of protesters in Bangkok.  Kanit's ties to the Demcrats are far too obvious to serve as an "independent" investigator.

Kanit’s been in bed with the Democrats since the Phuket scandals in 1990s, when land reform was turned into free giveaway to rich Democrat party members and Prime Minister Chuan Leek Pai was forced to resign. Kanit's brother-in-law was one of the party faithful who allegedly received the land illegally. But Kanit made the controversial decision, over some strenuous objections from ex-judges and legal scholars, that there was not enough evidence of criminal intent to prosecute rich families for taking land meant for poor people.

Kasit Blamed As Democrats Escape Court – The Nation, Nov 6, 1996

Kanit – Land Scandal – The Nation, Nov 7, 1996

A similar result occurred when the last military junta picked Kanit to investigate who in authority could be held responsible for the killings in the infamous drug war.  Kanit concluded that there was not enough evidence to prosecute anyone.  How convenient.

Kanit – Extrajudicial Killings Cop Out - FACTHAI, Jan 21, 2008

The fact should also not escape everyone that Kanit also bears a striking resemblance to a famous American cartoon character known as “the near-sighted Mr. Magoo.”

Mr. Na Nakorn                                                          Mr. Magoo   

Yes, Kanit seems just the kind of guy Abhisit needs to whitewash the massacre.  To make it look authentic the committee is given a very important sounding name:  the Independent Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Thailand (ITRCT). 

The Red Shirts obtained a small victory yesterday when they forced the Thai government to finally release on bail seven Red Shirt leaders who had been jailed and held illegally on bogus charges.  But that is not enough for reconciliation. All political prisoners in Thailand should be immediately released and all charges dropped!

  

But it's all a huge charade to mask Thailand's voyage into a military dictatorship based upon the Burmese model.  In Kanit’s own words, the inquiry “is not aimed at finding who should be held responsible and to punish, but to establish the facts and educate Thai society.” The panel does not aim to name the culprits, but would try to explain how things happened in order to prevent violence in the future as a preventive measure.

This actually confirms the widespread suspicion that the investigation only embodies an attempt to silence criticisms on the massacre by the Thai military. Can anyone imagine that they would be educating the public about the army's role in shooting unarmed protesters - this time - or any of the other times in the last 40 years?

I am reminded of a quote In March 2005, the then-army commander in Thailand, General Pravit Wongsuwan, was asked what disciplinary action would be taken against three generals found liable for the death of 84 innocent Thai civilians on October 25, 2004 at Tak Bai. He replied: "There is no disciplinary penalty for those holding the rank of general."

How true: whether killing protesters or overthrowing governments, Thailand's generals remain a law unto themselves.  Those responsible for mass killings in Thailand have never been punished.  And in most cases, like General Prayuth Chan-ocha, those who are responsible, have even been promoted.

Gen. Prayuth "Mass Murderer" Chan-ocha

If Kanit and his committee were serious about preventing violence in the future then the guilty need to be held responsible for their actions. The military and the Democrats should never expect impunity.