Thai protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban stands trial for suppression over Red Shirt supporters
Former anti-government protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban (centre), who is now a Buddhist monk, arrives at the Criminal Court in Bangkok on Monday, July 28, 2014. Photo: Reuters
(VOVworld) – The Thai leader of the months-long street protests which preceded Thailand's latest coup appeared in court Monday to deny a murder charge over a bloody crackdown on opposition "Red Shirt" supporters four years ago. Suthep was accused of ordering the army forces to fired “Red Shirt” protesters in 2010 crackdown when he was the deputy prime minister of the then-ruling Democrat Party. The attack killed 98 people and wounded hundreds others. The Thai criminal court in May indicted him on charges of murder and intentional homicide.