Parties deny role in hit on Seh Daeng

Published: 15/05/2010
Bangkok Post

Both ruling and opposition parties have denied any involvement in the attempted assassination of Khattiya Sawasdipol, condemning the unknown perpetrators at the same time.

Sansern: No idea who fired the shots

The Centre for the Resolution of the Emergency Situation (CRES) yesterday denied allegations by red shirt protesters that it and the government were behind the shooting of Maj Gen Khattiya, an army specialist also known as Seh Daeng.

CRES spokesman Sansern Kaewkamnerd said an investigation has been launched into the Thursday night attack where Maj Gen Khattiya, who is the red shirts' paramilitary strategist, was shot in the head by a sniper.

Some people used the attack to provoke violence, he said.

Maj Gen Khattiya is in critical condition at Vajira Hospital.

Col Sansern said the CRES had "no policy" to perpetrate violence.

"Let justice run its course, the CRES and all state authorities are ready to engage with the process of justice," said Col Sansern.

He said yesterday's military operation against the red shirts' stronghold at Ratchaprasong intersection was not a retaliation for previous clashes with protesters that had resulted in the deaths of soldiers and police.

"We don't have a policy to get back [at the red shirts] and officers have no right to do so," he said.

"We don't know yet who shot him [Maj Gen Khattiya], there were shots from snipers in previous incidents, including the clashes at Don Muang and Khok Wua intersection.

"The way to solve the problem is for them [red shirts] to end the rally."

Plodprasop Suraswadi, deputy leader of the Puea Thai Party, said the shooting was an attempt to kill an unarmed person.

Mr Plodprasop said Maj Gen Khattiya was shot by a weapon that was only used by military units. The sniper was clearly not worried by the fact his bullets could hit reporters or other people in the area, he said.

Mr Plodprasop also questioned the army's lack of response to the shooting. He said Maj Gen Khattiya is a high-ranking military officer, but the army has acted inappropriately by not making any official response to the attempted assassination simply because the renegade had joined the red shirt movement.

Puea Thai spokesman Prompong Nopparit accused the CRES of being responsible for the assassination attempt, as well as for firing M16 rifles and grenades from M79 launchers at red shirt protesters on Thursday night and yesterday. The clashes left seven dead and more than 100 injured.

The ruling Democrat Party denied the government was responsible for the shooting of Maj Gen Khattiya .

Democrat spokesman Buranat Samutharak said the shooting was unlawful.

The government and the CRES insisted they had not ordered the shooting because the government has told all security officials to adhere to enforcing the law according to international crowd control standards, he said.

"The Democrat Party condemns the unlawful practice," said Mr Buranat. "Later on, relevant authorities must arrest the people responsible for the shooting and take legal action against them because the prime minister [Abhisit Vejjajiva] and the government have never ordered any unlawful action against protesters."

Director of the Central Institute of Forensic Science Khunying Porntip Rojanasunan will head an investigative team to collect evidence from Sala Daeng intersection where Maj Gen Khattiya was shot. She said her team would conduct the investigation as soon as the red shirt demonstration has ended.