BANGKOK — Family members of victims of the 2010 military crackdown have renewed their calls for justice, demanding the government allow the International Criminal Court to pursue the pending court cases against those responsible for the crackdown.

"It's been four years since I lost my son, but the case is not going anywhere," said Somchai Chiamphol, whose son, Thipnet Chiamphol, was shot dead near Soi Rang Nam during clashes between the military and Redshirt protesters on 14 May 2010. 

Today marks the fourth anniversary of the military crackdown on Redshirt protesters that left over 90 people dead, yet the Thai authorities have still failed to make any headway on the lawsuits against the government and military officials who authorised the crackdown.

As a result, families of the victims and human rights activists have been calling on the government to formally cede jurisdiction over the cases to the ICC.

"I want the DSI [Division of Special Investigation] to press ahead with the cases of the martyrs, and I want the government to accept the jurisdiction of the ICC, so that the world will know [about the crackdown] and help us find the wrongdoers," said Mr. Somchai, whose son died in the crackdown. "That way, the country can move forward."

In April of 2010, former Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and his deputy Suthep Thaugsuban ordered the brutal military crackdown on the tens of thousands of Redshirt protesters who were rallying on Bangkok’s streets to demand a fresh election. 

The 10 April crackdown was followed by weeks of clashes between the protesters and security forces, culminating in a final military assault on the Redshirts' encampment on 19 May. 

Mr. Abhisit and Mr. Suthep have been charged by the DSI for murder due to their role in 2010, but both have denied the charges, blaming the deaths on shadowy "Blackshirt" militants thought to be allied with the Redshirts. 

Pan Kamkong, whose brother Phan Kamkong was shot dead by the military near Ratchapralop Airport Link Station on 15 May, said he wanted authorities to hasten the legal procedures against Mr. Abhisit and Mr. Suthep. 

"Especially Mr. Suthep. He is now charged with insurrections and murder, yet he is allowed to walk free and hurt our feelings," Mr. Pan complained. "If it's possible, I want the government to finally accept the jurisdiction of the ICC, because this is a big case. A lot of people died."

Despite their alliance with the Redshirts, the current government has been reluctant to pass jurisdiction onto the ICC.

In November 2013, the ruling Pheu Thai Party also attempted to pursue a "blank amnesty bill" that would pardon all politicians accused of corruption and political violence since 2005, including the authorities responsible for the 2010 military crackdown.

"I have to admit that I am still deeply disappointed by the government's attempt to pass the 'all in the basket' amnesty bill," Mr. Pan told Khaosod. "Eventually, it led to what is happening right now. If the government had not done it, the PCAD wouldn't be here," Mr Pan said, referring to the anti-government People's Committee for Absolute Democracy With the King As Head of State, who began their protests in response to the introduction of the amnesty bill last November.   

To commemorate the anniversary of the crackdown, Redshirts invited 2,000 monks to their rally site on Aksa Avenue in western Bangkok to perform a religious ceremony this morning.

Yesterday, a group of families, under the name "Families of April-May 2010 Martyrs,” arranged their own ceremony to honor their loved ones at Plab Pla Chai Temple in Bangkok.  

"It's been four years since the loss, but as a relative of the victim, I am still upholding their democratic ideal. I have not forgotten those who died," said Ubonwan Chantorn, the sister of a taxi driver who was shot dead while rallying with the Redshirts near Lumpini Park on 14 May 2010.

"I want the legal process to move forward, because so far progress has been abysmal," Ms. Ubonwan said, "Personally, I understand bureaucracy, and I see that some cases that have clear evidence are being processed, but many cases have not seen any progress at all.”

She added, "I want to use this occasion of the fourth anniversary to remind officials, to ask them whether they are ready to perform their duties, find the truth, and bring us justice."

According to Ms. Ubonwan, the "Families of April-May 2010 Martyrs" will renew their campaign for justice once the current political crisis calms down. 

Phayao Akhard, thhe mother of "Nurse Kate" who was shot dead by the military inside a temple on the last day of the 2010 crackdown, said she plans to meet with DSI chief Tharit Pengdith herself and urge him to make genuine progress on the more than 70 still unresolved cases. 

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BANGKOK — A prominent anti-government activist is reportedly planning to sue the editor of a popular Thai website over critical remarks about anti-government protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban.

The editor of Kapook, Poramet Minsiri, angered many anti-government protesters when he claimed on Twitter that Mr. Suthep, the self-appointed leader of the People's Committee for Absolute Democracy With the King As Head of State (PCAD), is willing to use his "Sovereign Power" to summarily execute, detain, and seize the assets of his opponents after he manages to topple the current government.

Mr. Poramet's comment was a paraphrase of Mr. Suthep's speech, delivered in April, in which he announced plans to appoint himself as a "Sovereign Body" and wield absolute power through a number of "Revolutionary Decrees" that would grant him authority similar to that which was enjoyed by the military dictatorship in the 1960s. 

Although Mr. Suthep did not explicitly threaten to order summary executions, he did mention that he would be able to do so as a "Sovereign Body": "We will have something like Article 17 [of 1959 Administrative Charter] as the highest law … [I] will be able to order anyone to be executed by firing squad, but I will only freeze assets."

However, another PCAD activist, former Democrat MP Satit Wongnongtoey, has deemed Mr. Poramet's interpretation of the speech unacceptable.

Yesterday, Mr. Satit told the anti-government newspaper Manager ASTV that he is consulting with his lawyer to bring a libel lawsuit against the Kapook editor. 

"I insist that Mr. Suthep's movements have nothing to do with violence, let alone the threats of execution," Manager ASTV quoted Mr. Satit as saying. He did not mention when his lawyer will file charges against Mr. Poramet. 

Responding to the threat of libel lawsuit, Mr. Poramet released a statement claiming that he is an impartial observer of Thai politics, equally critical of both the ruling Pheu Thai Party and the PCAD.

"I find it incredible that for all of the years I have been exposing the Thaksin Administration and the Pheu Thai Party, I have not been threatened by any legal action. But today I have received news that the lawyer of a Democrat Party politician intends to sue me only few months after I criticised Mr. Suthep," Mr. Poramet said in the statement. 

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BANGKOK — Redshirts have announced a 5 million baht bounty on anti-government protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban.

According to Nattawut Saikua, a core activist of the United Front of Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD), the bounty will be immediately rewarded to anyone who can bring about the arrest of Mr. Suthep, who is currently wanted by the police for insurrection charges.

Mr. Nattawut claimed that the money was donated by a person "who wishes to see rule of law in Thailand." The donor requested anonymity, Mr. Nattawut added, citing fears of possible retribution from anti-government protesters.

The bounty comes with one condition: the arrest must be lawful, Mr. Nattawut said. 

Although the government has insisted that they are ready to arrest Mr. Suthep and his fellow activists in the near future, the police have yet to make any attempts to detain Mr. Suthep, the self-appointed leader of the People's Committee for Absolute Democracy With the King As Head of State (PCAD).

Mr. Nattawut's announcement came a day after Mr. Suthep declared "one last fight" against the government of caretaker Prime Minister Niwatthamrong Boonsongphaisarn, which he says will involve “hunting down” Cabinet members and pressuring them to resign.

This afternoon, Mr. Suthep met with representatives of labour unions of various state enterprises at the Government House — where he has set up an office — to discuss plans to "seize sovereign power" from the government.

Mr. Suthep asked the union leaders to rebel against the government and join the PCAD in its "final fight" next week. 

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BANGKOK — The agency responsible for organising elections in Thailand has threatened disciplinary action against state-owned Channel 11 for broadcasting a lecture about the need to hold elections.

"I will have the Election Commission (EC) formally ask the Minister who oversees Channel 11 about the broadcast … to determine who ordered the broadcast, and how much money has been spent in the process," said Somchai Srisuthiyakorn, Election Commissioner and director of the EC's election organisation department.

Mr. Somchai’s remarks came in response to a event, televised by Channel 11, in which a panel of academics emphasized the need to hold elections promptly.

The lecture was organised by a group of political science and law professors with the Assembly for the Defence of Democracy (AFDD) at Thammasat University's Rangsit Campus on Saturday.

In the event, law lecturer and co-founder of the AFDD Worachet Pakeerut stressed that elections must be held as soon as possible.

The EC had initially scheduled a poll for 20 July, but officials have since suggested that the date is no longer possible, citing difficulties in issuing a Royal Decree to officially approve the election date.

According to Mr. Worachet, the postponement of elections will only bring more uncertainty to Thailand’s political crisis. He urged the government to unilaterally issue a Royal Decree approving the election without the EC's assistance, pointing to Article 195 of the Thai Constitution.

These remarks amount to "presentation of information that causes rifts and confusion among the public,” said Election Commissioner Somchai. 

He was particularly upset by Mr. Worachet's suggestion that the government can issue Royal Decrees without the EC's approval.

"If this broadcast was overseen by the channel directors, they will be officially reprimanded," Mr. Somchai said.

Mr. Somchai insisted that the government must meet with the EC before any election date can be officially confirmed. Last week, a meeting between the government and the EC was abruptly brought to an end when anti-government protesters stormed the venue. 

Mr. Somchai also hinted that the election may not take place on 20 July after all.

“It may be impossible because there is not enough time to process issuing the Royal Decree," Mr. Somchai told reporters.

Mr. Somchai's repeated reluctance to arrange the election has led many pro-government supporters to accuse him of tacitly collaborating with anti-government protesters efforts to scupper any election under the current administration.

Academics speaking at Saturday's event also called anti-government protesters' demand for an appointed, royally-approved Prime Minister via Article 7 of the Thai Constitution misguided and undemocratic. 

Prajak Kongkirati, political scientist and AFDD member, said that protesters' calls for reforms are valid, but that reforms must be implemented after an election is held.

"The discourse about 'Reform Before Election' is fooling and misleading the public," Mr. Prajak said.

Anti-government protesters have vowed to block any election that is organised before unspecified "national reforms" are carried out.

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