Politics
19:53, 02-Aug-2017
Two Thai ex-PMs acquitted in abuse of power case
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Thailand's highest court on Wednesday acquitted two ex-prime ministers and two former top police officers over their role in a 2008 crackdown on anti-government protesters that left two people killed.
Former prime minister Somchai Wongsawat and his then-deputy Chavalit Yongchaiyudh faced negligence charges over a police operation to remove protesters who were laying siege to Parliament.
The deadly incident was one of many violent flare-ups over the past decade between their political camp, a populist movement led by former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, and a conservative Bangkok-based establishment.
Police fought pitched battles with demonstrators, some of whom possessed homemade bombs and fired multiple rounds of tear gas. Two died and hundreds were wounded.