PM queries container-Black May link
Probably sank before the 1992 crackdown
The shipping container on the Chon Buri seabed has nothing to do with the 1992 Black May uprising, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva believes.
A 17-year-old girl cleans a portrait of her father who died 17 years ago during the Black May uprising against then prime minister Suchinda Kraprayoon. She was among mourners yesterday at a ceremony held to commemorate the event at Suan Santiporn on Ratchadamnoen Klang Avenue, where a Black May memorial will be built.
An initial examination showed the coral which had formed on the container was more than 20 years old, which suggests it sank before the military crackdown took place.
Speaking in his weekly television address, Mr Abhisit said he had asked state agencies to inspect the seabed off Samaesarn in Chon Buri's Sattahip district.
An initial finding showed the container found in the area was covered in coral growth more than 20 years old. -Just in case we missed this point the first time-
In that case, the container discovered on the seabed would have no link to the May 17, 1992 crackdown on protesters demonstrating against non-elected prime minister Suchinda Kraprayoon. However, no one yet knows what is in it.
The prime minister ordered an investigation after media reported local fishermen as saying three to five containers stuffed with human skeletons had been found in the area.
The reports offered hope to relatives of those who went missing in the 1992 Black May uprising. They have been searching for the remains of their loved ones for 17 years.
Mr Abhisit said hauling the container to the surface would be expensive.
Several methods had been proposed to examine what was inside the container, such as drilling a hole in the side or determining the age of the coral which had formed on the container.
"The container must be examined because we want relatives of those who disappeared to feel at ease. We also want to gather as many facts about the Black May uprising as possible so people will know the truth," the prime minister said.
The military yesterday refused to respond to reports that the container might be linked to the 1992 military crackdown.
Defence Ministry spokesman Jittasak Charoensombat said the military wanted scientists and marine experts to examine the container first.
Army spokesman Sansern Kaewkumnerd said the army was willing to support forensic investigations.
The navy and forensic experts led by Porntip Rojanasunan, director of the Central Institute of Forensic Science, were jointly examining what they found on the seabed, he said.
Fine Arts Department chief Kriengkrai Sampatchalit said the department would send underwater archaeologists to examine the container if asked.
Tharapong Srisuchart, director of the Underwater Archaeology Division, said his department was willing to examine the container.
It was hard to guess its age in the absence of other evidence in the area, but the container was found alone on the seabed.
Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwon said he believed the container had no link to the Black May uprising.
Khunying Porntip said the container would not be raised from the sea as that would be too expensive.
She would consult state agencies to find ways to determine the age of the container. Once its age was known, the investigation would focus on whether there was any pressure to force factories to dump toxic waste outside the country at the time.
Her team would find the safest method to drill a hole in the container, she said.
Bangkok Post 18/05/2009
KC-There is still much foot-dragging in this case, but it seems there is only container, despite earlier reports of there being up to eight. Regarding Black May, Abhisit claims there is intention to discover more facts to make "relatives feel at ease". Is he instigating a full investigation into the missing demonstrators? I doubt it.-
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