Thai ex-PM to give testimony on Red Shirt dispersal

Former Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and his deputy Suthep Thuagsuban are scheduled to meet with police investigators on Dec. 9 and 8 respectively to give testimony on the crackdown against anti Democrat-led government Red Shirts. Backed by the ousted ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra and the then Pheu Thai opposition party, the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD), alias Red Shirt movement, staged prolonged and widespread protests against the then Democrat-led government, calling for parliament dissolution and a snap election. As the demonstration turned into riots, the government ordered forceful dispersal which eventually resulted in clashes between the military and the protesters in April and May. In total, 91 people were killed while nearly 1,900 injured. Red Shirt supporters and political opponents blamed the government and concerned authorities for the deaths of the people. The Metropolitan Police initially wanted both to meet them on Dec 2 but the two requested the appointments to be postponed so that they could have enough time to prepare documentations. Suthep said that he was summoned as a witness not a suspect.