A Change of Guard

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Wednesday 13 October 2010

DSI expands Siem Reap terror probe

Agency defends red shirt camp allegations
  • Published: 13/10/2010
  • Bangkok Post

The Department of Special Investigation is seeking to substantiate claims it made that a group of red shirt supporters underwent weapons training in Cambodia after Phnom Penh strenuously denied the allegation.

Panitan: Cambodia report ‘preliminary’

Eleven men were arrested on Oct 2 at Doi Ku Fah resort in Chiang Mai's Mae On subdistrict. They allegedly told DSI investigators they were among 39 red shirt supporters who received training in Siem Reap in preparation to assassinate key public figures, including former deputy prime minister Suthep Thaugsuban.

Panitan Wattanayagorn, the prime minister's deputy secretary-general, said the DSI was now trying to verify the claims.

Mr Panitan said Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and his Cambodian counterpart, Hun Sen, had discussed the issue on the sidelines of the Asia-Europe Summit in Brussels last week. Cambodia had promised to investigate the claims.

Cambodian government spokesman Phay Siphan on Monday denied any red shirts had received weapons training in the country, calling the allegation a"made-up story to blame Cambodia".

Mr Panitan said the DSI's reports of a training camp in Cambodia were based on preliminary information, but an investigation was under way to look into the travel records of those alleged to have trained there.

The Centre for the Resolution of the Emergency Situation had assigned officers to closely monitor the movements of certain groups bent on inciting unrest, he said.

National Security Council (NSC) secretary-general Thawil Pliensri yesterday denied the DSI had fabricated the story about the weapons training.

Mr Thawil said DSI investigator Phayao Thongsen was only repeating what the 11 suspects told him.

Justice Minister Pirapan Salirathavibhaga said some of the confessions obtained from the 11 suspects matched information received by security authorities.

Meanwhile, red shirt leader and Puea Thai Party MP Jatuporn Prompan has denied threatening to kill former core red shirt member Methi Amornwutthikul.

Mr Methi, now a prosecution witness in several cases involving red shirt leaders, asked the DSI to seek a court order to revoke Mr Jatuporn's bail. Mr Methi alleged Mr Jatuporn, who has been charged with terrorist offences but remains free because of his MP status, had threatened his life over the phone.

Mr Jatuporn said yesterday he had never phoned Mr Methi.

Mr Methi, a former actor, also alleged red shirt leaders had siphoned off about 68 million baht that had been donated to the red shirt movement while the group's rally was taking place earlier this year and fled to Malaysia. He said Mr Jatuporn knew about the matter.

Mr Jatuporn said the red shirt movement received only 37 million baht in donations and it had spent it all before the rally came to an end.

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