The Prime Minister has withdrawn the decree imposing emergency rule, agreed to an independent inquiry into the clashes and called for constitutional reforms to heal the deep political rift; Red shirts plan a protest in Bangkok tonight; Detained red shirt leaders have been freed on bail; Thaksin is in Liberia.
"The lifting of the decree will send a signal to the world that Thailand is back to normal," the Prime Minister said.
"We will demand Abhisit's resignation, a dissolution of the House and the scrapping of all arrest warrants against the red shirts," said Somyos Prueksakasemsuk, a leader of the pro-Thaksin United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD).
Meanwhile, police are hunting for others blamed for Thailand's worst street violence in 16 years, as well as gunmen who attempted to assassinate the leader of a royalist, pro-government group.
In the post below, you will note that forensics analysis has traced the M-16 bullets fired in the 17 April 2009 assassination attempt of Sondhi Limthongkul, to the Thai First Army’s Ninth Infantry division. Could we see the police pitted against the army? Let's not forget, Thaksin is a former policeman.
Although Thai officials revoked Thaksin's passport after the latest violence in Bangkok, he has obtained, no less than a diplomatic passport from Nicaragua. Thaksin is in Liberia on a search for investment opportunities in mining, agriculture and gas.
Where Thailand goes from here, is anyone's guess. It is hoped that cool heads prevail. Given the deep and bitter divide between the parties and the long-running history of political instability, that seems very unlikely.
All eyes will be on the streets of Bangkok tonight, to see if the Red shirts do protest and if they do, what is the reaction by the police and the army. Stay tuned.
If ever there was a need for understanding, now is the time and Thailand is the place.
Showing posts with label assassination. Show all posts
Showing posts with label assassination. Show all posts
Friday, April 24, 2009
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Thai Army Bullets Used in Sondhi Limthongkul Assassination Attempt
Royal Thai Army Connection to Assassination
Forensics analysis conducted in the past week have traced the M-16 bullets fired in the 17 April 2009 assassination attempt of Sondhi Limthongkul, founder of the People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD) political party, according to reports from the Associated Press. The bullets were issued to the Thai First Army’s Ninth Infantry division.
How the army’s bullets came to be appropriated and used in the assassination attempt remains unknown. Likewise there have been no arrests. Yet it casts a cloud over the role of the military in Thai politics.
Meanwhile, Sondhi is reported to be doing better and is expected to be released from the hospital on Friday.
9th Division History
The Royal Thai Army’s 9th Division was originally known as the Royal Thai Army Volunteer Force, a Vietnam War-era unit that grew from a battalion (about 700-800 men) to a division size (11,266 men) between 1966 and 1968. The unit was incorporated into the Thai Royal Army as the 9th Division after its return from Vietnam in 1971. In 1981, it was assigned to the 1st Army’s area of operations, which is centered around Bangkok. It is responsible for internal security.
In 1997, the 9th Division was named in allegations of physical abuse of refugees fleeing the instability in Burma (now Myanmar). More recently, in 2002, the 9th Division was specifically mentioned in an Amnesty International report of the forcible deportation of 63 Myanmar refugees. Problems with diplaced persons and a flood of over half-a-million migrant workers have challenged Thailand for the better part of the last decade.
The Royal Thai Army has been a decisive factor in the coups and political turnovers of recent years. It was instrumental in the 2006 coup which deposed Thaksin Shinawatra. At that time, the military supported the PAD’s goal of deposing the Thaksin government.
Even considering the assassination attempt of a major political leader, threats of additional armed attacks, and the calls for the present government to step down, the two-week state of emergency Thailand has been under will be lifted, according to current Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva.
For now, Thailand seems to have weathered a major political crisis. Yet the political intrigues are likely far from over.
Forensics analysis conducted in the past week have traced the M-16 bullets fired in the 17 April 2009 assassination attempt of Sondhi Limthongkul, founder of the People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD) political party, according to reports from the Associated Press. The bullets were issued to the Thai First Army’s Ninth Infantry division.
How the army’s bullets came to be appropriated and used in the assassination attempt remains unknown. Likewise there have been no arrests. Yet it casts a cloud over the role of the military in Thai politics.
Meanwhile, Sondhi is reported to be doing better and is expected to be released from the hospital on Friday.
9th Division History
The Royal Thai Army’s 9th Division was originally known as the Royal Thai Army Volunteer Force, a Vietnam War-era unit that grew from a battalion (about 700-800 men) to a division size (11,266 men) between 1966 and 1968. The unit was incorporated into the Thai Royal Army as the 9th Division after its return from Vietnam in 1971. In 1981, it was assigned to the 1st Army’s area of operations, which is centered around Bangkok. It is responsible for internal security.
In 1997, the 9th Division was named in allegations of physical abuse of refugees fleeing the instability in Burma (now Myanmar). More recently, in 2002, the 9th Division was specifically mentioned in an Amnesty International report of the forcible deportation of 63 Myanmar refugees. Problems with diplaced persons and a flood of over half-a-million migrant workers have challenged Thailand for the better part of the last decade.
The Royal Thai Army has been a decisive factor in the coups and political turnovers of recent years. It was instrumental in the 2006 coup which deposed Thaksin Shinawatra. At that time, the military supported the PAD’s goal of deposing the Thaksin government.
Even considering the assassination attempt of a major political leader, threats of additional armed attacks, and the calls for the present government to step down, the two-week state of emergency Thailand has been under will be lifted, according to current Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva.
For now, Thailand seems to have weathered a major political crisis. Yet the political intrigues are likely far from over.
Thursday, April 16, 2009
A view from Southeast Asia - Focus on Thailand
Thanks Peter for the timely update. As we can see, Thailand's troubles are far from over.
If the reports are true that Thaksin operatives, have during the past two years clandestinely funnelled small arms through Cambodia to his supporters, this does not bode well for the Land of Smiles.
If Twitter reports are true that Sondhi Limthongku, the founder of the PAD, was shot by a machine gun that sprayed over 100 bullets, this is a very dangerous turn of events. If the machine gun was in the hands of a Thaksin supporter, this is a serious escalation.
One person, whose view of Thailand I respect greatly, is my editor at Asia Times Online. Shawn Crispin has written a great article titles "Smoke, Mirrors and Lies' which can be viewed at http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Southeast_Asia/KD17Ae02.html.
I have made contact with a couple of people in Thailand but they are a little pre-occupied at present and hope to interact next week. Stay tuned.
If ever there was a time for a little understanding, in Thailand, now is the time. Let cool and sensible heads prevail.
If the reports are true that Thaksin operatives, have during the past two years clandestinely funnelled small arms through Cambodia to his supporters, this does not bode well for the Land of Smiles.
If Twitter reports are true that Sondhi Limthongku, the founder of the PAD, was shot by a machine gun that sprayed over 100 bullets, this is a very dangerous turn of events. If the machine gun was in the hands of a Thaksin supporter, this is a serious escalation.
One person, whose view of Thailand I respect greatly, is my editor at Asia Times Online. Shawn Crispin has written a great article titles "Smoke, Mirrors and Lies' which can be viewed at http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Southeast_Asia/KD17Ae02.html.
I have made contact with a couple of people in Thailand but they are a little pre-occupied at present and hope to interact next week. Stay tuned.
If ever there was a time for a little understanding, in Thailand, now is the time. Let cool and sensible heads prevail.
Breaking News: Thailand: Sondhi Limthongku, Leader of Thai "Yellow Shirts" Shot, Wounded
According to Bloomberg, Reuters, Associated Press, and other news reports, Sondhi Limthongku, the founder of the Thai political party People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD), was shot in an apparent assassination attempt early on the morning of Friday, 17 April 2009, at around 5:45 am local time. Two or more gunmen shot out the tires of Sondhi’s car while it was stopped at a gas station, then shot and wounded Sondhi, his bodyguard and driver.
(Video of Sondi’s bullet-ridden car.)
Sondi’s political party, commonly referred to as the “Yellow Shirts,” was the group responsible for the 2005-2006 political crisis which resulted in the exile of the former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. As the political crisis continued through 2008 to the present, PAD was also responsible for seizing the Bangkok Suvarnabhumi International Airport last year in a massive civil protest in November 2008, which resulted in the ouster of a government supportive of the exiled former Prime Minister.
Thaksin’s supporters, who are known as the National United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD), are commonly referred to as the “Red Shirts.” They are the group responsible for the recent unrest in the streets which has resulted in several deaths and dozens of injuries. Their desire is to disband the Parliament and to call for a new election.
(Al Jazeera English Interview with Sean Boonpracong, spokesman for UDD, 12 April 2009)
The attack may increase tensions between the two political parties, and may spur additional levels of violence. Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, who is supported by Sondhi and the PAD, has imposed emergency rule in Bangkok this week as violence and protest continue to destablize life and commerce.
(Video of Sondi’s bullet-ridden car.)
Sondi’s political party, commonly referred to as the “Yellow Shirts,” was the group responsible for the 2005-2006 political crisis which resulted in the exile of the former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. As the political crisis continued through 2008 to the present, PAD was also responsible for seizing the Bangkok Suvarnabhumi International Airport last year in a massive civil protest in November 2008, which resulted in the ouster of a government supportive of the exiled former Prime Minister.
Thaksin’s supporters, who are known as the National United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD), are commonly referred to as the “Red Shirts.” They are the group responsible for the recent unrest in the streets which has resulted in several deaths and dozens of injuries. Their desire is to disband the Parliament and to call for a new election.
(Al Jazeera English Interview with Sean Boonpracong, spokesman for UDD, 12 April 2009)
The attack may increase tensions between the two political parties, and may spur additional levels of violence. Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, who is supported by Sondhi and the PAD, has imposed emergency rule in Bangkok this week as violence and protest continue to destablize life and commerce.
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