The violent crackdown against red shirt demonstrators by the Ahbisit Vejjajiva government led to the tragedy of 22 deaths on April 10, 2010. The government not only refuses to take responsibility for this wrongdoing but also uses Thai media under its complete control to bombard Thai society almost 24 hours a day with beautiful words but distorted information, suggesting that the deaths might have been caused by terrorists who have mingled with the red shirt protestors. The Abhisit government has officially announced that aggressive suppression will be used to crush the terrorists the government asserts mingle with the red shirt protestors. There is no sound evidence that there are terrorists among the red shirt protestors. However, the Abhisit government is using the word “terrorists” to deceive society and justify the use of heavy weapons and live ammunition against the red shirt protestors. This might lead to a new massacre of the red shirts, who are unarmed and now protesting in peace at Ratchaprasong intersection in the heart of Bangkok.

 

To stop the killing or any type of violence that might be repeated by the Abhisit government, we, the “Progressive Democracy Group”, including some government officials, academics, businessmen, students, and people from various local groups, would like to ask the world for immediate action to help save innocent lives in any manner you can. We strongly ask the Abhisit government to immediately lift the stage emergency and Thai state security forces, and stop all kinds of violent suppression that violate human rights or might lead to the people massacre.

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April 18, 2010, FARED Tent (in front of Siam Paragon Department Store)

 

12:00 – 12:15pm         Press registration, posters/symbolic event shows

12:15 – 14:30pm         Stopping violence declarations by

                                    · Academics

                                       - Sirot Khampaiboon

                                    · October Network

                                       - Vipar Daomanee

                                    · The Student Federation of Thailand

                                       -Anuthee Dejthewaporn

                                    · Social Move

                                       Chaiwat Trakarnratsanti

                                    · Thai Free News

                                       Soonthon Prueksatipat

                                    · The Justice Protection Club of Thailand

   - Sira Pimklang

·  Monk representative

                                       - Phra Sutep

· Representative of the 809 injured from the April 10 crackdown

   - Putta Chansomboon

14:30 – 15:00pm         Questions and Answers