Thailand’s National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) to Pursue Retroactive Impeachment Charges Against Abhisit and Suthep

Abhisit Vejjajiva(Right) and Suthep Thaugsuban

BANGKOK – Thailand’s National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) will pursue retroactive impeachment charges against ex-premier Abhisit Vejjajiva and Suthep Thaugsuban for a crackdown on protesters five years ago, officials confirmed Wednesday.

The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) voted unanimously late Tuesday to pursue charges against Abhisit and his deputy premier Suthep Thaugsuban for their role in an operation during their time in government, which left over 90 people dead in May 2010.

An unidentified journalist and a Thai soldier lie injured after a grenade launcher was fired by anti-governemnt protesters in 2010

Abhisit and Suthep are accused of mishandling both the crackdown operation by the army and the two months of protests that preceded the violence, the NACC press office told dpa.

The two men will be invited to give statements to the NACC, before it decides whether to forward the case to the National Legislative Assembly(NLA), the country’s lawmaking body.

Suthep, a former deputy premier, played a key role in organising street protests which led to Yingluck’s downfall and subsequently a military coup.

Analysts say the NACC aims to display impartiality by pursuing impeachment charges Abhisit and Suthep as well as against Yingluck.