Thai Official Issues Strong Claims Against Red Shirt Lawyer Ahead of Critical Hearings

LONDON, May 31, 2011 /PRNewswire/ --

In an interview published on 28th May in the Thai newspaper Khao Sod, the Deputy Prime Minister of Thailand, Suthep Thaugsuban, issued a series of strongly-worded statements against the London-based international lawyer Robert Amsterdam, who, acting on behalf of the Red Shirt pro-democracy movement, seeks justice for the killings of protesters during the government crackdown during April and May 2010.

"I want Thai people to remember this name [Robert Amsterdam] because this Farang is damaging Thailand badly," Deputy Prime Minister Suthep said in his interview with the Khao Sod newspaper on 27th May, which comes on the heels of a joint statement released by Amsterdam and protest leader Prof. Thida Thavornseth regarding the June 2nd hearings to be held against Red Shirt leaders. "This bastard is paid only to damage Thailand and a person who hires him is even worse than this guy as he is Thai. I am seeking a way to take legal action against him because he regularly interferes in matters that affect the country's internal security. This bastard Robert Amsterdam, Thais have to remember this name."

These statements against Mr. Amsterdam by the Deputy Prime Minister, including an implication that he will "suffer" for his activities, are "indicative of how the ruling party views the legal system as an instrument of political power," said Mr. Amsterdam in response.

"This obscene and extremist rhetoric from the Deputy Prime Minister signals an intention to tighten the screws ahead of the elections, and increase pressure on critics of the regime," said Robert Amsterdam, referring to the June 2nd hearing of 17 Red Shirt leaders which may result in their unlawful imprisonment. "We can now expect further arrests, more false charges, and an attempt to jail as many protest leaders as possible, which threatens to destabilize the political environment in the months leading up to the election."

Amsterdam said his law firm, Amsterdam & Peroff, is appealing in response to the aggressive statements to several international bodies, including the International Commission of Jurists and the Asian Legal Resource Center, urging international concern regarding the deteriorating environment for the safety of lawyers and human rights defenders working in Thailand.

Robert Amsterdam acts as international counsel to the leaders of the United National Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD - popularly known as "Red Shirts") and the former Prime Minister of Thailand Thaksin Shinawatra. Amsterdam & Peroff LLP have published a series of reports on the elections, focusing on the roles of the military, the media, and the legal system governing the formation and dissolution of parties, available on http://www.robertamsterdam.com/thailand.

Contact details for media enquiries: Katy Epstein; Amsterdam & Peroff; E-mail: katy.epstein@amperlaw.com; Cell. +447920-729-513