Families accuse PM of cover-up

Families accuse PM of cover-up

BANGKOK (AFP): Families of 52 protesters shot dead by Thai soldiers in a popular uprising seven years ago on Tuesday accused Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai of covering up a full report into the riots.

The report gave a detailed account of the "Bloody May" revolt against strongman ruler Gen. Suchinda Kraprayoon in 1992 in which soldiers opened fire on crowds of hundreds of thousands in central Bangkok.

Adul Kiewboribul, of the Bloody May Relatives Association which also speaks for the families of more than 100 people who disappeared in the uprising, claimed Chuan had been insincere by releasing only a summary of the 600-page report.

Chuan, who also serves as defense minister, cleared the release of the summary on Monday. It was sent to him while he was considering the appointment of a new army chief last year.