Founder of Thai anti-Thaksin movement wounded in attack

[PeteC]

BANGKOK (AFP) – Gunmen opened fire on the vehicle of the founder of a royalist movement that helped topple former Thailand premier ThaksinShinawatra, injuring him and two other people, police said.

Sondhi Limthongkul founded the People's Alliance of Democracy (PAD), a yellow-clad movement that led protests before Thaksin's ouster in 2006 and targeted Thaksin's allies when they were in government last year.

"At least two attackers followed Sondhi's car, overtook it and sprayed it with about 100 rounds of gunfire from AK-47 and M-16s. He was injured in the shoulder but is out of danger now," said local police commander Colonel King Kwaengwisatchaicharn.

[buksida]

If someone could have done this to Thaksin all of Thailand's divisions and political problems would be solved in an instant.

[STEVE G]

Sadly an editorial in one of the papers a couple of days ago warned about this kind of activity.
Obviously Thaksin is responsible for a lot of what is going on, but there are deep seated reasons why he has so much support and by forcibly clamping down on the Red shirt movement without addressing any of the underlying problems, the government will just force it underground.
Incidentally about a week ago it was stated by the government that if leaders of the UDD were prosecuted for the unrest, then the leaders of the PAD would be prosecuted for the airport protest to keep things balanced.

[cozza]

http://www.smh.com.au/world/thai-activi ... ml?page=-1

[Wanderlust]

Obviously Thaksin is responsible for a lot of what is going on, but there are deep pocketed reasons why he has so much support and by forcibly clamping down on the Red shirt movement without addressing any of the underlying problems, the government will just force it underground.

Steve,
Corrected your typo...

[STEVE G]

I think it’s a mistake to put all this simply down to money, after all the ‘influential figures’ reputedly behind the present administration are far wealthier than even Thaksin was before he had his assets seized, and it would be easy for them to simply outbid him.
The funding of the PAD demonstrations proves that they are not above such practices.

[buksida]

Sondhi is well known for having a pop at people in high places so the list of possible suspects is endless.

He recently had a go at the army and navy chiefs over their incompetence in dealing with the red shirts and still criticizes the government now and then.

[Wanderlust]

I think it’s a mistake to put all this simply down to money, after all the ‘influential figures’ reputedly behind the present administration are far wealthier than even Thaksin was before he had his assets seized, and it would be easy for them to simply outbid him.
The funding of the PAD demonstrations proves that they are not above such practices.

Steve,
I don't know because I have never seen a report or a poll on the issue, but surely quite a sizeable amount of Thaksin's support boils down to the money he was giving out at elections? Add to that the apparent improvements claimed by Thaksin made to the poorer areas in the North and North East, and the promises he made and the whole thing is about money isn't it? Thaksin and his cronies have whipped up an unrealistic and unwarranted feeling from these supporters purely for his own selfish ends, and nothing to do with 'the good of the people/country' at all.
From the yellow shirts perspective I am guessing that they object to their tax money being spent disproportionately as well as the apparent threat to both the monarchy and the status quo.
The biggest problem is that any elections held are distorted because of the way the electorate has been grouped so that the MPs do not represent roughly equal amounts of people, hence the failure of the democratic attempts. There will always be a reason for one or the other side to cry 'it's not fair!', because it isn't.
Regardless of this though, Thaksin has surely shown by now how unfit he is to run the country, in the way he has shown favouritism/cronyism not only in government, but also army and police jobs, has mounted his campaign to disrupt Thailand since he was ousted, has blatantly lied and exposed his purely selfish motivation for power, let alone the fact that he openly approved of the Burmese regime and was busy doing deals with them when no others except the Chinese would. I'm not trying to make out that any of the others are 'clean' but in comparison to Thaksin they are whiter than white in my eyes!
I have to ask you straight Steve - do you really think Thaksin is what this country needs or needed?

[STEVE G]

I don’t believe Thaksin has been in with a chance of getting back into power for a long time and he has even less chance now.
Some my partner’s family is involved in local politics and I do know that they have many issues that go far beyond whether they get paid for votes.
Many people take issue with the fact that the vast majority of the rural population doesn’t pay any income tax, but they have always been taxed indirectly by having to sell produce to government monopolies at fixed prices usually at a considerable disadvantage.

[Nereus]

BANGKOK (AFP) –"At least two attackers followed Sondhi's car, overtook it and sprayed it with about 100 rounds of gunfire from AK-47 and M-16s. He was injured in the shoulder but is out of danger now," said local police commander Colonel King Kwaengwisatchaicharn.

Something not right here. Either his vehicle had enough armour plating to deflect the bullets, or the perps intentionally kept the fire above the waistline of the car. AK-47 (and I believe M16), ammunition is 7.62 mm, and as the most likely source of the ammunition is military, it is also probable that it was FMJ. (full metal jacket) The normal construction of a civilian motor vehicle would hardly slow down this type of bullet, never mind stop it, especially at such short range.

Of course, we are only being told what the media has reported. And when they report comments like the following, it is all a bit suspect.

quote: "The motive for the attack is still under investigation.''

I am just a bit surprised that this type of thing has not happened before now.

[sandman67]

I honestly think some have been here too long, as it seems some Thai deludedness is creeping in here.

FACT: Thaksin was and still is the single most corrupt, nepotistic, hypocritical and divisive politician this country has ever produced. He has no respect for human rights, the law, or his own countrymen. His junta regime restricted the freedoms of the press, hamstrung checks nad balances set in place to regulate politicians, and carried out mass murder in the name of a phony war on drugs and security measures.

His one success is at re-branding: All the projects he lays claim to, including the new airport, local medical centres, farmer loans etc....ALL INSTITUTED B A PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION...OK? SO can we drop that champion of the poor crap now please? He didnt come up with the ideas, or institute the works, he just rebranded them as his own.

He has now transcended from ex-prime minister to convicted criminal with a further (now) 14 court cases against him pending. In the last two months he has instigated and funded a program of mass insurrection and terrorism. Whist Bangkok burned, if the Asia Times reporter is to be believed, he and Jakropob were laughing their arses off at the chaos in air conditioned luxury. Whilst encouraging protesters to bring their kids, and put them in the line of fire, he made sure his family left the country.

Somebody else we know sits in foreign countries, funds terrorism, and fuels insurrection through remote broadcasts.... Osama Bin Laden. Hes a terrorist too....

Thaksins plan for Thailand is to make it a big Singapore. Single party rule (his party only) and unbridled nepotism, corruption and capitalism. The total removal of the aristocracy and privy council from political and social influence, or perhaps their permanent removal. He wants to be president for life Thaksin....thats a fact.

what we are seeing now is a return to the bad old days: Thailand now has two major security issues: Terrorist separatists in the South, and terrorist anti-state reds in the North, both heavily armed.

Its only a matter of time till the reds work out the best way of screwing Thailand's economy up good and proper, and thus setting the stage for mass poverty and unrest, is a few dead tourists or foreign factory workers (Japanese in Sri Ratcha...that would create a real stink).

Within six months there will be farang blood on Thai streets, probably in Bangkok, and probably at the hands of a red shirt IED.

As Al Jolson said.... "You Aint Seen Nothing Yet"

[Spitfire]

I agree that it sounds a bit odd that, as you say, he happily survived being shot at with a hundred or more rounds, that's a couple of magazines for each gunman, from a couple of assault rifles in a civilian car, unless it was one of those armour plated Mercedes but I would be surprised if it was as they cost an absolute fortune. AK47 is 7.62mm and M16 is 5.56mm(standard NATO size round) but what makes the M16 round so dangerous is that when it enters the body it then starts to rotate in a circular fashion or tumble, so to speak, causing more internal damage. These bullets for the guns mentioned are designed to go through a kevlar helmet at 400 yards.

Quite how the gunmen missed so spectaculary at such close range with weapons such as those described is puzzling.

Strange, unless the press report is being overly dramatic.

[buksida]

SM67, spot on commentary - agree wholeheartedly.

There is one cause to all of Thailand's current problems ... and of course one solution.

[Wanderlust]

I don’t believe Thaksin has been in with a chance of getting back into power for a long time and he has even less chance now.
Some my partner’s family is involved in local politics and I do know that they have many issues that go far beyond whether they get paid for votes.
Many people take issue with the fact that the vast majority of the rural population doesn’t pay any income tax, but they have always been taxed indirectly by having to sell produce to government monopolies at fixed prices usually at a considerable disadvantage.

Steve, are you a politician? You neatly avoided the question I asked. I am sure there are lots of issues with people all over Thailand regarding a whole variety of things government related, most of which were probably in place before Thaksin and remain now. Many of the people that make up the mobs that descend on Bangkok (and Pattaya), as has been testified to on here, do it for the money and the day out, not the cause. Many of the issues that make the people you talk about aggrieved were not solved by Thaksin, and it puzzles me why anyone would think they will be if he returns, or the present lot resign.
As I write this I see sandman has responded, and it looks like a lot more than I can muster! Over to SM...

[buksida]

Many of the people that make up the mobs that descend on Bangkok (and Pattaya), as has been testified to on here, do it for the money and the day out, not the cause.

From the man himself ...

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/special ... &cateid=13