The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) will take over from police the case filed against the prime minister and his deputy regarding the April 10 crackdown on red-shirt protesters.
He also said the investigation of other complaints filed with the police had been completed and that reports have been forwarded to the National Anti-Corruption Commission because the cases involve alleged malfeasance by state officials.
The DSI chief yesterday also accepted a complaint from Pheu Thai Party spokesman Prompong Nopparit, who was accompanied by relatives of 14 of the 25 people killed in the April 10 crackdown. The complaint accused Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban, who also heads the government's Centre for the Resolution of the Emergency Situation (CRES), as well as other CRES members of malfeasance for ordering the dispersal of protesters.
During the crackdown, 25 people were killed - six of them soldiers - and more than 800 others were injured. The government, using video footage of the crackdown, blamed heavily armed men in black for shooting and throwing grenades at the soldiers and protesters.
Tharit yesterday insisted that the DSI investigation would be conducted in a straightforward and transparent manner even though the accused are senior government officials.
He was speaking at yesterday's press briefing at the DSI headquarters, held after investigators from 13 state agencies working on cases against red-shirt protesters and protest leaders met up.
Also present was Pol Maj-General Amnuay Nimmano, deputy commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, who told reporters that some red shirts had committed criminal offences, some violated the emergency decree, while others did both. He said the police had tried repeatedly but failed to arrest protest leaders wanted for breaking the law.
Prompong, spokesman for the opposition Pheu Thai Party, yesterday questioned DSI transparency in investigating the cases against the prime minister and top CRES members, especially since the DSI chief and its investigators were also part of the CRES. Prompong said the opposition would also have fact-finding committee working in parallel with the DSI.
Meanwhile, red-shirt protest leader Jatuporn Promphan insisted yesterday that the red shirts would not take part in the reconciliation process proposed by the PM if no legal action was taken against those who ordered the April 10 crackdown.
"Don't use the reconciliation matter to trade with the lives of our people. This issue will not be over so easily. You are taking advantage of us," he said in reference to the Abhisit's road map for national reconciliation.
"Whoever leaves the protest site without due respect to the deceased is evil. As long as no legal action is taken, we will fight to the end. If the prime minister, Suthep and Korbsak [Sabhavasu, the PM's secretary-general] do not face legal action, we are ready to be killed," said Jatuporn, also an MP of the opposition Pheu Thai.