Thailand's opposition party gathering evidence to fight murder charges

BANGKOK, September 22 (TNA) - Thailand's opposition Democrat Party has assigned its lawyers to gather evidence to fight against murder charges in which a taxi driver died during the country's political violence in Bangkok between April and May 2010. Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva, who was the prime minister during the period, confirmed Saturday that lawyers of his political party are gathering evidence to fight the charges raised recently by Department of Special Investigation (DSI) Director-General Tharit Pengdit. The taxi driver identified as Pan Kamkong was accidentally shot dead on May 15, 2010 during an army shootout at a van when its driver failed to stop in central Bangkok. Tharit has said the taxi driver was one of 13 protesters killed by the army during the political unrest. However, a Democrat Party MP, Suthep Thaugsuban, who was a deputy prime minister at the time, argued that the Royal Thai Police has conducted a fresh autopsy upon the DSI’s request and has reported to the DSI, confirming that there was no evidence that the victims were killed by army troops. Urging those concerned to stick to justice, Abhisit, meanwhile, opined that a fair judgment would only lead to national reconciliation as recently suggested by the Truth for Reconciliation Commission (TRC), an independent body. (TNA)