On 4 May, in response to the Human Rights Watch report on the government crackdown on the red shirts last year, Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban said that he felt sorry and that the organization should have been impartial and should have checked the facts before saying anything which tarnished Thailand’s agencies or the image of Thailand.

‘It’s a pity that when 3,000 people were extra-judicially killed during Thaksin’s administration, where was this organization?  Never heard their voice.  President John F Kennedy was killed, and until now it’s never been clear.  If Thailand faces difficulties in doing its job, why blame [us]?  The relevant authorities are still working on finding the facts.  The impartial fact-finding commission, the Khanit Na Nakhon commission, is working.  Why don’t we listen to people like Khanit?  Why do we have to listen to farangs who accuse Thailand?’ Suthep asked.

Human Rights Watch launched its report “Descent into Chaos: Thailand’s 2010 Red Shirts Protest and the Government Crackdown” in Bangkok on 3 May.