Family members of the victims of the 2010 crackdown on red-shirt protesters have denounced the Supreme Court verdict to dismiss murder charges against former Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and Suthep Thaugsuban, his former deputy.

At 7 pm on 31 August 2017, family members of the victims of the 2010 crackdown on red-shirt protesters which took at least 99 lives gathered at Ratchaprasong intersection in central Bangkok to call for justice after the Supreme Court dismissed murder charges against Abhisit and Suthep for authorising the crackdown.

The gathering was led by Pansak Srithep, the father of one of the victims, Samaphan Srithep, and Payao Akhad, mother of Kamolkate Akhad, a medic who was killed on 19 May 2010 at Wat Pathum Wanaram, a temple close to the intersection.  

At the event, Payao lit incense sticks for the victims of the crackdown before saying “Today, the struggle is not over yet. This mother will struggle until the end. … I believe that the perpetrators will not get away.”

Several police officers were deployed at the intersection to monitor the gathering.

Nutta Mahattana, one of the participants, had prepared a banner reading ‘We are the witnesses’ but told the media that the police confiscated it.

Payao said she and others will submit a petition to the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) to reinvestigate the case as the court ruled that only the NACC has the authority to initiate proceedings.

Payao Akhad calling for justice for her late daughter at Ratchaprasong Intersection on 31 August 2017 after the Supreme Court read the dismissal verdict 

Officers deployed at the gathering of the families of the crackdown victims