Double standards and bias

Does red shirt leader Jatuporn Promphan make a good point when he complains of “double standards” in the justice system? In The Nation (31 May 2009: “Red shirts to petition over double standard”) he points out that the cases against red shirts from April this year a progressing very rapidly, while those against the PAD seem to be moving at a snail’s pace.

It has to be said that the Democrat Party-led government appears remarkably reluctant to pursue PAD cases. Recall that some time ago both Abhisit Vejjajiva and Suthep Taugsuban claimed that PAD cases were being pursued. What has happened to them? And, what has happened to other cases such as the mysterious assassination plot against a privy councilor and the execution-style murder of two men found in the river after the Songkhran Uprising?

On media bias, The Nation reports that the red shirts are fighting back (The Nation, 31 May 2009: “Red-shirt media are battling back against bias in system : UDD leader”). Sombat Bunngam-anong claims that mainstream media bias means that the red shirts have to get their media back up and running following the government’s closure of them in April.

According to the report, they have begun broadcasting a new satellite channel called People Station to replace the suppressed D Station. Sombat complained that “expensive equipment and cameras seized by the authorities from D Station had never been returned as the government claimed it had not taken them.”

Pro-red shirt community radio stations are back in operation although Sombat “accused the government of being behind [continued] jamming.” Internet-based media are also operating again and the red-shirt weekly called Red News is planned for later this week.

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