An injured "yellow shirt" protester is rushed to hospital after a grenade attack during a rally in Bangkok November 15, 2009. Thousands of Thais gathered in central Bangkok on Sunday to protest at remarks made about the monarchy by fugitive ex-Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.
REUTERS/Kerek Wongsa (THAILAND POLITICS CONFLICT IMAGES OF THE DAY)
Published: 18/11/2009
Bangkok Post
A police inquiry panel has been set up to look into Sunday's grenade attack at a rally held by the People's Alliance for Democracy at Sanam Luang.
Metropolitan Police Division 1 commander Wichai Sangprapai said the panel, comprising senior police officers from the division and Chana Songkhram police station, would handle the investigation into the rally blast.
Police have requested video footage from security cameras installed in the area to check people or groups of people suspected of involvement in the attack which wounded 12 PAD supporters, three of them seriously.
The blast took place at around 9.50pm - about 20 minutes after key PAD and New Politics Party leader Sondhi Limthongkul addressed his supporters and lambasted former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra over the Thai-Cambodian diplomatic row.
The grenade attack took place despite hundreds of policemen being deployed at the rally venue to maintain order.
Forensic experts have confirmed that the explosion was caused by an M79 grenade fired from a launcher.
Pol Maj Gen Wichai said army specialist Khattiya Sawadipol may be invited to give information related to the blast. However, this did not mean Maj Gen Khattiya was a suspect.
Maj Gen Khattiya, better known as Seh Daeng, earlier said on his website a bomb attack was likely to take place at the PAD-led gathering on Sunday.
Defence permanent secretary Apichart Penkitti yesterday admitted no disciplinary action could be taken against a general. His remark followed reports that Maj Gen Khattiya had gone to Cambodia last week to meet Thaksin and Cambodian premier Hun Sen in Siem Reap.
The army specialist had not sought permission from his superior, a requirement, before crossing the border.
Gen Apichart said the military was considering amending its regulations which could make disciplinary action applicable to senior military officers.
Currently, a general who breaks a regulation only gets a warning.
Gen Apichart insisted no military personnel were involved in the grenade attack at the PAD rally. The Defence Ministry and its surrounding area were tightly guarded by soldiers.
Police believed the M79 grenade was launched from Khlong Lot - a canal behind the ministry.
Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said security agencies needed to improve their intelligence work in the wake of Sunday's grenade attack.
On criticism that the government should be blamed for the blast as it refused to enforce the Internal Security Act in Bangkok during the PAD gathering, he said there had been no intelligence reports beforehand about any untoward incidents that might happen at the rally.
A police inquiry panel has been set up to look into Sunday's grenade attack at a rally held by the People's Alliance for Democracy at Sanam Luang.
Metropolitan Police Division 1 commander Wichai Sangprapai said the panel, comprising senior police officers from the division and Chana Songkhram police station, would handle the investigation into the rally blast.
Police have requested video footage from security cameras installed in the area to check people or groups of people suspected of involvement in the attack which wounded 12 PAD supporters, three of them seriously.
The blast took place at around 9.50pm - about 20 minutes after key PAD and New Politics Party leader Sondhi Limthongkul addressed his supporters and lambasted former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra over the Thai-Cambodian diplomatic row.
The grenade attack took place despite hundreds of policemen being deployed at the rally venue to maintain order.
Forensic experts have confirmed that the explosion was caused by an M79 grenade fired from a launcher.
Pol Maj Gen Wichai said army specialist Khattiya Sawadipol may be invited to give information related to the blast. However, this did not mean Maj Gen Khattiya was a suspect.
Maj Gen Khattiya, better known as Seh Daeng, earlier said on his website a bomb attack was likely to take place at the PAD-led gathering on Sunday.
Defence permanent secretary Apichart Penkitti yesterday admitted no disciplinary action could be taken against a general. His remark followed reports that Maj Gen Khattiya had gone to Cambodia last week to meet Thaksin and Cambodian premier Hun Sen in Siem Reap.
The army specialist had not sought permission from his superior, a requirement, before crossing the border.
Gen Apichart said the military was considering amending its regulations which could make disciplinary action applicable to senior military officers.
Currently, a general who breaks a regulation only gets a warning.
Gen Apichart insisted no military personnel were involved in the grenade attack at the PAD rally. The Defence Ministry and its surrounding area were tightly guarded by soldiers.
Police believed the M79 grenade was launched from Khlong Lot - a canal behind the ministry.
Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said security agencies needed to improve their intelligence work in the wake of Sunday's grenade attack.
On criticism that the government should be blamed for the blast as it refused to enforce the Internal Security Act in Bangkok during the PAD gathering, he said there had been no intelligence reports beforehand about any untoward incidents that might happen at the rally.
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