Former Thai prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva was indicted for murder on Thursday in connection with a deadly military crackdown on mass opposition protests in Bangkok three years ago, prosecutors said.
The move comes as fresh political turmoil rocks the Thai capital, with protesters backed by Abhisit’s opposition party seeking to oust Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and rid the kingdom of the influence of her brother, deposed former leader Thaksin.
Some observers doubt British-born Abhisit will go to prison given his links to the Thai elite, and see the case as part of the country’s political brinkmanship.
Abhisit denied the charges and was freed after posting bail of $56,000, his lawyer Bandit Siripan said after the closed-door hearing. ‘The pre-trial hearing is expected on 24 March next year,’ he said.
Under Abhisit’s government, more than 90 people died and nearly 1,900 were wounded in street clashes in the capital in 2010 between mostly unarmed pro-Thaksin ‘Red Shirt’ demonstrators and security forces firing live rounds.
A small group of Red Shirts shouted ‘Murderer!’ as the Democrat Party leader arrived at court, without speaking to waiting media.
The move comes as fresh political turmoil rocks the Thai capital, with protesters backed by Abhisit’s opposition party seeking to oust Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and rid the kingdom of the influence of her brother, deposed former leader Thaksin.
Some observers doubt British-born Abhisit will go to prison given his links to the Thai elite, and see the case as part of the country’s political brinkmanship.
Abhisit denied the charges and was freed after posting bail of $56,000, his lawyer Bandit Siripan said after the closed-door hearing. ‘The pre-trial hearing is expected on 24 March next year,’ he said.
Under Abhisit’s government, more than 90 people died and nearly 1,900 were wounded in street clashes in the capital in 2010 between mostly unarmed pro-Thaksin ‘Red Shirt’ demonstrators and security forces firing live rounds.
A small group of Red Shirts shouted ‘Murderer!’ as the Democrat Party leader arrived at court, without speaking to waiting media.