On the fourth anniversary of the clash at Ramkhamhaeng University and Rajamangala Stadium during the People's Democratic Reform Committee (PRDC) campaign, there is no progress in the legal cases to report. The father of a Ramkhamhaeng student hopes to learn who shot his son. The case of a beaten-up red shirt taxi driver has been met with ‘silence.’ Thida Thavornseth points out that the incident was aimed at escalating the conflict.
Chaotic scenes at Ramkhamhaeng University on the evening of 30 November 2013.
During the formation of PDRC, there were many key moments. Among them is the violence that led to the deaths at Ramkhamhaeng University and Rajamangala Stadium on 30 November and 1 December 2013. The clash resulted in five deaths: a Ramkhamhaeng university student, three United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD) supporters and a civilian whose political affiliation was not identified. Apart from the street violence, there was a burst of hate speech on social networks blaming and expressing hostility and resentment to the opposing political camps. In the aftermath of the violence the delays in the judicial process have seemed endless. Even four years after the incident, it seems that truth and justice are out of reach.
Prachatai has interviewed relatives of the victims of the Ramkhamhaeng incident on the fourth anniversary about progress in their cases, compensation, and their feelings after four years have passed.
Ramkhamhaeng student’s father reveals case has not progressed and hopes he will eventually know who shot his son.
Naramase Teerarungsigul is the father of Thawisak Phokaeo. Thawisak was shot dead. Naramase said there was no progress in the case. He contacted Huamark Police Station once or twice but there was no progress. He met the Police Commissioner General who made an appointment for the family to meet the Huamark Superintendent but the family did not hear any further progress in the case.
Thawisak's father said that he wants to know who shot his son or if there is any progress. A lawyer worked on the case for approximately six months to help to make progress, but it was useless. He said he did not know if the lack of progress was because the investigation did not reveal anything, because police have no evidence, or because the police have chosen not to take action.
Naramase said the government did not give any compensation. About 200,000-300,000 baht was handed to the family but nothing else. He wanted his son’s case to be an example that killings should not occur in protests in this country.
Thairath online reported on 11 February 2015 that Thawisak’s mother submitted a petition and evidence to Pol Lt Gen Prawut Thavornsiri, Assistant. Commissioner-General and then spokesperson of the Royal Thai Police to ask for progress on Thaweesak’s case. Pol Lt Gen Prawut told Thairath Online that Thawisak was ambushed and shot with an 11 mm pistol on Wednesday 30, November 2013 at an exit gate behind the university near an area where there was a UDD rally. Police officers had seized a firearm that was thought to have been used to kill Thaweesak but the autopsy result indicated that the bullet found in Thawisak’s body did not match the gun. This made the arrest of the perpetrator difficult. The incident happened at night, making the process of arrest even more difficult. He admitted that some cases took time to investigate because they occurred at a rally. The police were not unconcerned and were expediting the case to bring the offender to justice.
The case of a beaten-up red-shirt taxi driver has gone on for 4 years with no progress
Somyot Wongchanla, a taxi driver, was beaten up and seriously injured by a mob of opposition protesters who smashed his taxi, dragged him from his vehicle and forced him to take off his red shirt. . He said his case has gone quiet. He received 15,000 baht in compensation and decided to follow the progress of the case. He went to the Government Complex on Chaengwattana Road and a government agency gave him 3,000 baht after 3-4 months. After that, he did not follow up the case because he could not remember the perpetrators’ faces, or he would have pursued legal action against them.
“I raised my hand into a ‘wai’ but someone punched me in the eye, removed my shirt, and stomped repeatedly on my body. I begged for my life; otherwise, I would have died that day. My teeth were knocked out, my hand was chopped with a machete. If a friend had not jumped in and intervened, I would have died," said Somyot. He emphasized that he lodged a complaint at Huamark Police Station but he had heard nothing from the police. He recalled that the area had CCTVs, but the police had never contacted him about the case. After he received the financial compensation, he decided to stop pursuing the case.
Somyot said that he cannot read. He has problems with his spinal cord. He cannot drink carbonated beverages. His brain is not the same. He can read with his right eye, but when he closes his right eye, the left cannot read letters. He sold his taxi and gave up driving because it only brings trouble. Currently, he makes a living from a bit of business, just enough to feed the family.
“Let me say to those who attacked me, you are not human. People can talk to each other, talk to each nicely.. Not just look at me and hurt me like an animal. Like a lamb to the slaughter. I was able to escape because of a friend. But right now I do not know where that man is. I was looking at him but they punched me in the eye,” Somyot said in the fourth year after his assault.
Thida: the motive was to expand the conflict
Thida Thavornseth, a UDD leader, said she did not know the progress of the cases. In addition to the five who died, Sanong Inthara also died from a stroke while travelling home from the rally. She stated that many had been attacked and injured.
Thida thought that the incident was intended to escalate and expand the conflict because the UDD held a rally in an enclosed area far away from the PDRC, but then the PRDC brought people into the area. The UDD might have mistakenly thought that since their rally was far from the PDRC’s, there would not be any incident or provocation. But the other side mobilized people into the area. She noted that the injuries and death occurred in front of Ramkhamhaeng University and in the sois around, as the opposing protesters did not dare to break into Rajamangala Stadium but attacked people outside. The police had not been able to do anything. It was clear that this was an attempt against people in a peaceful assembly. They want to start something and spread the problem. In the end, we abandoned our rally.
3 years and 4 months given to Adison for torching UDD bus in front of Ramkhamhaeng
Suradet Khampaengjai, aged 17, was found dead in a bus that had brought UDD supporters. The coach was torched in front of Ramkhamhaeng University. On 16 February 2015 Matichon Online reported the Court of First Instance ruled in the case of Adison Sichanphong or Dam, 30, accused of instigating unrest, arson of a bus and theft in front of Ramkhamhaeng University. The court judged that the defendant had jointly committed an act of theft with two or more people and using a vehicle, based on photos of the defendant removing property, and sentenced him to five years in jail. The court reduced the sentence by one-third to three years and four months as the defendant’s testimony was helpful. The defendant was ordered to return all property. On the remaining charges of gathering with more than ten persons, use of force, instigating unrest, and arson causing death, the court considered that the photographic evidence did not show he committed the offences and dismissed the case.
Progress since the police press conference in 2014
The police spokesperson team held a press conference on 27 February 2014. Bangkok Biz News reported that ten arrest warrants had been issued and four persons arrested.
- Murder. Thawisak Phokaeo, 21, a pre-degree student at Ramkhamhaeng University and first-year student at Siam Business Administration Technological College, was shot in the left side of the chest with a .45 calibre bullet. The shooting occurred on the footpath near the fence at the back of Ramkhamhaeng University near Gate 008 on 30 November 2013 at about 21.00 hrs. Progress: awaiting the results of the investigation of the person in the video clip. Crime scene investigation has been completed. Eleven witnesses were questioned. The police received an autopsy result, including the bullet trajectory. The police are investigating potential perpetrators and investigators are requested to periodically report to their supervisor. So far, the perpetrators cannot be identified.
- Murder. Private Thanasit Viangkham, 21, was an army private at Pranburi Infantry Centre. He was shot in the head through his helmet. The incident occurred in the middle of Soi Ramkhamhaeng 24/14 on 1 December 2013, at about 2:00 hrs. On 22 December 2013, the police arrested Nophadon Kaeomichin, 20, of 183 Moo 6, Tha Yang Sub-district, Thung Yai District, Nakhon Si Thammarat, and Thirathat Thongrit, 20, of 246 Moo 5, Nai Khuan Sub-district, Yan Tha Khao District, Trang, with a .38 revolver and six bullets. The two were charged with homicide and joint possession of firearms and ammunition without permission.
- Murder. Viroj Khemnak, 43, of Bang Bua Thong, Nonthaburi, was shot in the chest by a bullet of unknown caliber while standing near the entrance to gate W, about 2-3 metres in front of the ramp into Rajamangala Stadium, opposite the Faculty of Science, Ramkhamhaeng University (adjacent to the northern stadium fence.) The shooting happened in front of the building on the North side of the stadium on 1 December 2013 at 06:10 hrs. Progress: Eleven witnesses were questioned by the police. A report on the bullet trajectory from the crime scene is still pending as is identification of the bullet from the old building.
- Murder. Wisanu Paopu, 26, of Lat Krabang, Bangkok, was shot in the upper left chest by a 9 mm bullet which did not exit the body. The shooting happened on the footpath on Ramkhamhaeng Road, opposite the mouth of Soi Ramkhamhaeng 53 on 1 December 2013 at 06.30 hrs. The deceased was walking with his friend, Worawit Tritrakun, to observe the clash before going home to Lat Krabang. Earlier, teenage students were facing a group of red-shirt guards in front of the deceased. Progress: eight witnesses questioned, autopsy examination report, the friend of the deceased questioned about the direction they were walking; results of a new bullet identification test and bullet identification matching awaited from Bangsue Police Station.
- Arson causing death The body of Suradet or Jay Kamphaengjai, 17, was found in a burned out bus at the Gate 1 entrance to the stadium, on 1 December 2013 at about 15.30 hrs. The deceased left home in Ekkamai with Chatmongkhon Pinnak, his friend, on the latter’s motorbike. An investigation revealed there were 15 offenders. Eight arrest warrants were issued and two were arrested: Adison Sichanphong, 29, and Chaiyan or Jimmy Simora, 15, a juvenile.
Read the original article in Thai here