- By: BangkokPost.com and AFP
- Published: 17/04/2009
Sondhi Limthongkul (pictured), the Manager media mogul and founder of the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD), survived an attempt on his life early on Friday, as gunmen attacked his car with automatic rifle fire.
Chaiwan Charoenchoketavee, director of Vajira Hospital, said an operation to remove bullet shrapnel from Mr Sondhi's head was successful.
Mr Sondhi would have to remain in the hospital's intensive care unit for about a week while he recovers.
"The operation is completed. It took about two hours and Mr Sondhi is now safe, in a good condition and able to talk," Dr Chaiwan told a news conference.
"The bullet shrapnel penetrated the outer skull and caused the broken skull to crush the outer membrane of the brain, but it did not penetrate into the brain itself," he said.
The wound was more serious because of his age.
Police said the gunmen, riding in a pickup, fired about 100 rounds from assault rifles through the windows of Mr Sondhi's car as he was on the way to moderate his regular programme at the studios of the satellite TV station, ASTV, about 5am on Friday.
"At least two attackers followed Mr Sondhi's car, overtook it and sprayed it with about 100 rounds of gunfire from AK-47 and M-16s,'' Pol Col King Kwaengwisatchaicharn said.
"The motive for the attack is still under investigation.''
The black van of Sondhi Limthongkul is sprayed by bullets. (Photo by Kosol Nakachol)
The car was attacked at a petrol station near the central bank about 5am, according to PAD spokesman Panthep Puapongpan.
Mr Sondhi's driver was in a serious condition, while hisbodyguard suffered minor wounds.
Panthep Puapongpan confirmed that doctors reported that Mr Sondhi was out of danger.
"We do not know who is responsible but we do know the attack was politically motivated," he said.
"We will wait for the police investigation and follow the justice system."
The attempted assassination came days after clashes between supporters of Thaksin Shinawatra and security forces, which left four people dead and 123 injured in Bangkok.
However, Mr Sondhi's "yellow shirts" PAD have not been actively involved in politics since they ended their siege of Bangkok's two airports late last year and declared their street demonstrations over.
Dozens of casing are found on the street near Mr Sondhi's car. (Photo by Apichart Jinakul)
4 comments:
The very first assumption of who is the mastermind behind this attempt should probably be all clear to the public, right?
We can assume that it's the works of Thaksin's supporters, but I don't think that Thaksin had personally ordered the assassination attempt. The plot seem to be the works of people from the military because of the type of guns used in the attacks such as M-79 etc. Civilains can't get hold of this sort of rocket launchers.
When the civil war in thailand start ?
Well, with what we have seen in the last few months, Thai civil might be happening and the monarchy, if it still take side, might be in danger of abolition.
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