On 28 Feb, Phayao Akkahad, mother of Kamonkade who was killed at Wat Pathum Wanaram on 19 May 2010, led a group of activists to invite Army chief Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha to attend the funeral of Thanuthat Assawasirimankong, who recently died from his injuries.
In front of Army Headquarters at Ratchadamnoen Nok Ave, Phayao also demanded that the truth about the 2010 crackdown be revealed to the public, that those who committed offences be brought to justice, and that the soldiers involved in the offences make an apology to the people.
‘Now the government keeps using the word ‘reconciliation’. Why does no one say that before any reconciliation can be achieved, the truth must appear first? No one talks about the truth,’ she said.
Thanuthat Assawasirimankong, 55, was shot in the afternoon of 14 May 2010 at Bon Kai on Rama IV Rd during the heightened military ‘Live Fire Zone’ operation against the red shirts, while he and his family were walking from their home in the area to pay their electricity bills at a local 7-11 store.
As he had just received chemo-therapy for cancer, he was not strong and agile enough to dodge the flying bullets at the scene, according to the People’s Information Centre (PIC) which collects information about casualties and people affected by the crackdown.
Thanuthat shot on Rama IV Rd
He was a local resident and was not a red shirt, said the PIC.
He was hit by two bullets, one passing through his spine and embedded in his lung, and the other lodged in his shoulder blade. He was sent to hospital and remained there ever since.
He died on 23 Feb this year, and his cremation is scheduled for 29 Feb.
