I would like to clarify two sentences in the editorial “Turmoil in Thailand” (April 15): “The government's heavy-handed approach to dealing with the ‘red shirt' protesters…” and “… the Thai Army, which manoeuvred Mr. Abhisit into office through deft backroom moves at the end of December 2008…”
The sentences can be misconstrued to have meanings other than the facts. For the first statement, the government, along with the military, has constantly maintained that dealing with the present protesters must be done according to the law and according to international standards.
About the incidence of April 10, 2010, clear video evidence from numerous news agencies covering the incident has shown that the military was not armed with weapons and that violence was instigated by the protesters who were armed and firing on the military using grenades and guns. Further evidence also points to the fact that a third unidentified party used snipers to target both the military and civilians. The incidence only simmered down after the government proposed a negotiation between the government and the red shirt faction in order to prevent further violence and casualties.
As regards the statement on the Army manoeuvring Mr. Abhisit into office, I am afraid a misunderstanding can arise from that. The military ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra from office in 2006. The military-installed government of General Surayud Chulanond drafted a new constitution which resulted in fresh elections on December 23, 2007. All political parties participated in these elections and the People's Power Party (PPP, disbanded former Thai Rak Thai Party) won the general elections and had the constitutional right to form the new government by a majority vote in Parliament. A short while later, PPP leader Samak Soontarawait was found guilty of concealing his financial assets and was forced to resign. Parliament then voted new PPP party leader Somchai Wongsawat as Prime Minister.
Again shortly after that, the PPP was disbanded because of electoral fraud and the remaining coalition parties threw their support behind the Democrat Party. Thus resulting in Parliament voting for Mr. Abhisit Vejjajiva to become Prime Minister towards the end of December 2008.
Isra Sunthornvut , Vice Minister to the Office of the Prime MinisterKingdom of Thailand
