[Thai] Red Shirts, Yellow Shirts To Protest Tuesday

BANGKOK, April 24 (Bernama) -- The Yellow Shirts, who contributed to the downfall of the three administrations the preceded the present government, plan to hold mass rallies from tomorrow over the Thailand-Cambodia border issue.

The group wants the government to revoke the memorandum of understanding on the border signed in 2000, pull Thailand out of the Unesco World Heritage Committee, and expel Cambodians from the disputed area.

Their leader, Chamlong Srimuang, said: "Our rallies will end when the prime minister meets our demands."

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva had already declared that his government would not bow to the demands of the Yellow Shirts, led by People's Alliance for Democracy.

Tea Banh insists Arisaman is not in Cambodia

Monday, November 08, 2010
The Nation

Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Tea Banh said Saturday that fugitive red-shirt leader Arisaman Pongruangrong is not in Cambodia right now.

Tea Banh was speaking to Thai reporters after attending the General Border Meeting with the Thai side in Chon Buri.

When asked whether Arisaman was in Cambodia now, Tea Banh initially replied: "I don't know."

When pressed on whether Cambodia would extradite Arisaman if he is in Cambodia, Tea Banh replied: "I said I don't know. And in saying I don't know means he is not in Cambodia. If he is in Cambodia, we must now."

[Fugitive Thai red shirt leader] Arisman 'seeks Cambodian visa'

Arisman: Reportedly hiding
in Siem Reap

26/10/2010
Bangkok Post

Fugitive red shirt leader Arisman Pongruengrong has reportedly recently filed an application for a Cambodian visa from the country's consulate in Sa Kaeo's Aranyaprathet district.

Mr Arisman, who allegedly entered Cambodia earlier, reportedly wants to obtain a Cambodian visa so he can extend his stay in the country.

Sa Kaeo governor Sanit Intharasuksri said he had contacted the Cambodian consulate to tell its staff that Mr Arisman might have used a fake exit stamp from Thai immigration when applying to enter Cambodia.

Thai immigration officials have no record of Mr Arisman leaving or re-entering the country, so it was not possible for him to obtain the stamp legally for the visa application.

Mr Sanit said he had been told by Cambodian officials that they may not have realised the Thai immigration stamp on Mr Arisman's passport could be a fake and processed the application without question.

Informed sources say Mr Arisman has been in hiding Siem Reap with his bodyguard. He allegedly hired someone to file the visa application in Aranyaprathet on his behalf.

The Department of Special Investigation has indicted 25 red shirt protesters and pro-Thaksin Shinawatra politicians, including Mr Arisman, on terrorism charges, which carry a maximum penalty of death.

Mr Arisman led hundreds of protesters in storming the parliament during the red shirt demonstration on April 7.

A week later, scores of police raided a Bangkok hotel, where Mr Arisman and other red shirt leaders were staying, but police failed to arrest him after he was lowered from the third floor to supporters waiting below.

[Thai] Foreign Ministry to be asked to lodge complaint against Cambodia

Monday, October 11, 2010
The Nation

The Justice Ministry will seek help from the Foreign Ministry to lodge complaint against Cambodia for allegedly allowing arms training for red-shirt warriors to be held on its ground, a senior official said Monday.

Pol Lt Col Payao Thongsen, an investigator in charge of terrorism case for the Department of Special Investigation, said the Foreign Ministry would be asked to protest against Cambodia's alleged interference in Thailand's national security by training the dissidents to oppose against the Thai government.

Payao alleged that 39 red-shirt people had received arms training in Siem Reap for three weeks.

39 red-shirt warriors 'brainwashed' to hate monarchy during training in Cambodia: DSI

Monday, October 11, 2010
The Nation

Thirty-nine red-shirt warriors were "brainwashed" to hate the Royal Family during their three-week training in Cambodia, a senior official of the Department of Special Investigation said Monday.

Pol Lt Col Payao Thongsen, an investigator in charge of terrorism case, said he had interrogated 11 red-shirt warriors, who were rounded up at a resort in Chiang Mai.

The 11 men testified that they and 28 other men went to Siem Reap to receive training for three weeks and 35 of them returned to Thailan don August 16.

Payao said the 11 men testified that during the first week of training, the trainers showed them movies about the Royal Family to instill hatred on them.

They learned how to use various kinds of weapon during the second week and receive field training of the weapon and bomb usage during the last week.

Payao said two red-shirt leaders in Chiang Mai, Kanya Phakmaneechan and Phetchawat Watanapongsirikul, coordinated for the 39 men to receive the training.

Red Shirts given 'terrorism training' in Cambodia

Monday, October 11, 2010
ABC News (Australia)

The chief of terrorist investigations in Thailand says a group of arrested anti-government protesters was trained in terrorism and assassination techniques in Cambodia.

Lieutenant Colonel Payao Thongsane says the anti-government Red Shirts recently arrested in the north have confessed to so-called terrorist training in the neighbouring country, including weapons drills.

Thai authorities say the 11 protesters form part of a group of 39 who did the training.

They say they were also made to watch DVDs that were negative about Thailand's royal family as part of the training.

11 Thai men arrested in Chiang Mai received weapons training in Cambodia: Thai intelligence

Chiang Mai 11 linked to camp in Cambodia

Report says red shirts had weapons training

7/10/2010
Bangkok Post

A government intelligence report claims 11 men arrested at the weekend at a Chiang Mai resort received weapons training in Cambodia.

The men, taken into custody on Saturday night and placed in the witness protection programme, have not been charged with an offence, Chiang Mai police chief Sommai Kongwisaisuk said yesterday.

Six of the men were identified in the intelligence report as having been directly involved with the red shirt movement. The others did not have any known history of participating in anti-government activities or crime.

The intelligence report was obtained by the Bangkok Post yesterday.

Saharat Kaenlek, 35, of Bangkok, was identified in the report as the leader of the group. He is said to have taken part in the red shirt rallies in the capital in May.

Kittichai Chansawatdi, 24, of Prachin Buri, provided most of the in-depth information in the report. He was detained by police after he left Doi Ku Fah resort in Chiang Mai to ask for directions.

Mr Kittichai was quoted as saying they were training to carry out subversive and assassination plots in the capital.

Srithon Srisutham, 31, of Surin, was named in the report as having served as a volunteer guard for the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) in Surin and as having participated in the UDD protest at Ratchaprasong intersection in May.

Suban Yueathonglang, 38, of Uthai Thani, was said to have taken part in the bloody clash between the red shirts and security forces near Phan Fa Bridge on April 10.

Meechai Ninpan, 28, of Prachin Buri, was identified as a red shirt protester wounded on May 19 during the protest dispersal in Bangkok.

Watthana Thamtha, 29, of Khon Kaen, was identified only as having been a drug dealer.

The other five are: Kritphi Satharana, 31, of Udon Thani; Amporn Hemakul, 36, of Kalasin; Somnuek Kaeongam, 53, of Lop Buri, Den Muangkasem, 43, of Chiang Mai; and Thawit Kwangkaeo, 46, of Bangkok.

The 11 had fled to neighbouring Cambodia shortly after the dispersal of the anti-government protest in Bangkok that was led by the UDD on May 19, the report said.

Police suspect they entered Cambodia through Sa Kaeo and travelled for about two hours to stay together with 28 other key red shirt figures and supporters at the Ankor Hotel.

The report said the 39 people were sent to a jungle about 200km from the hotel for weapons training in July.

This took place after Varissareeya Boonsom, 43, and her husband, Kobchai Boonplod, 43, were arrested and deported to Thailand by Cambodian authorities. They are suspected to be linked with the June bombing near the Bhumjaithai Party's head office in Bangkok.

The report said the training, which lasted about six weeks, was a rudimentary course and only some of the participants had a chance to try shooting assault rifles and grenade launchers.

At the end of the training, the 39 people were paid 20,000 baht each rather than 90,000 baht as promised.

They travelled back to Thailand and the 11 men were later sent to stay at the Ku Fah resort and told to wait for further contacts.

Puea Thai Party spokesman Prompong Nopparit said yesterday the report was unreliable.

He said it was a "made-up story" leaked by the government.

"It did not even unveil what agency collected this information," Mr Prompong said.

Residents and the resort owner told police the 11 men had not acted suspiciously and were not receiving arms training. They are "just construction workers", the party spokesman said.

Abhisit Praises Hun Sen After US Meet [-Siem Min Choal Kbuon ... and Hun Xen is gullible as usual]

PM clinches rogue red shirt deal in New York

26/09/2010
Thanida Tansubhapol and Thai News Agency
Bangkok Post

NEW YORK : Cambodia has pledged to send rogue red shirts caught on its territory back to Thailand and resolve the border dispute near Preah Vihear temple through talks, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said yesterday.

The Thai and Cambodian leaders met on Friday for the first time since Thailand opposed Cambodia's management plan for the Hindu temple at the World Heritage Committee meeting in Brazil in August.

"Cambodia's Premier Hun Sen told me that if he finds wanted red shirt protesters in his country, he will send them back to Thailand," Mr Abhisit said yesterday.

They met after the summit between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and the United States on Friday.

Relations between the countries eased after former premier Thaksin Shinawatra gave up his job as economic adviser to Phnom Penh in August.

Cambodian authorities arrested wanted red shirts Kobchai Boonplod, 41, and his wife Varissareeya Boonsom, 42, in Siem Reap on July 3 and handed them over to Thailand two days later in Phnom Penh.

They are fighting charges of possessing and setting off explosives to cause harm to people and property, and taking a bomb into a public area.

Police suspect they are the masterminds of the June 22 bombing near the Bhumjaithai Party HQ. The pair, who allegedly fled to Cambodia to escape the law, denied the charges.

Mr Abhisit praised Hun Sen for Phnom Penh's cooperation in sending the two back to Thailand.

Some leaders of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship are believed to have fled to Cambodia after the army dispersed their protest in May.

Mr Abhisit said he and Hun Sen agreed that work on demarcating the boundary between the countries should proceed as planned.

Thailand and Cambodia signed a memorandum of understanding in 2000 to set up a Joint Boundary Commission to demarcate overlapping parts of their boundary.

But the framework for border demarcation has not been approved by parliament as required by the constitution.

"We would like the [negotiation] process to move forward and will not let border problems affect our overall relationship," said Mr Abhisit.

The two leaders also agreed to foster ties through various activities to avoid conflicts.

"I think the relationship between us will improve if we proceed as agreed," said Mr Abhisit.

Before returning to Bangkok, the prime minister met a group of Thais who live in the US.

He said a better political atmosphere is needed in the country before he calls a general election. "I have never ruled out an early election although I can serve my full term and stay until early 2012.

"I am willing to hold an early election if it will solve political problems. But if dissolving the house leads to violence, an election will be meaningless," he told his Thai audience.

Thirty red shirt protesters shouted at Mr Abhisit in front of the Plaza Athenee hotel on his way back from the Asean-US summit at the Waldorf Astoria hotel.

Yelling at his motorcade, they protested against the military crackdown on red shirt demonstrators in May.

The group held aloft banners, with one reading: "PM: You can't fool the world. 91 killed."

Sondhi: Thaksin's resignation a scheme

Sondhi Limthongkul

25/08/2010
Bangkok Post

Fugitive former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra's resignation as an economic adviser to the Cambodian government is only a political game, yellow-shirt People's Alliance for Democracy leader Sondhi Limthongkul said on Wednesday.

Mr Sondhi said he believed Thaksin's resignation was part of a political scheme since it can be done immediately by just getting an approval.

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen can show sincerity by handing back a number of people charged with terrorism like Mr Arisman Pongruangrong, who are allegedly hiding in Cambodia, to Thai authorities. The two countries would be considered good neighbours after Cambodia returned all of them to Thailand, the PAD leader said.

"If Hun Sen fails to do so, then it means he is hiding his real intention," he said.

Mr Sondhi said Thaksin had been quiet for some time as he could be plotting to take action against the government and create problems to Thai people.

"I will never trust the situation and I believe Thailand will shortly be down in flames because Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva is not resolute in his decisions.

"It is dreadful that Thai people let red-shirt leader and Puea Thai Party MP Jatuporn Prompan ramble all the time," he said.

Mr Sondhi said he would agree with Mr Jatuporn if he used reasons and logic.

When Thaksin was running the government, he was the centre of corruption. But in the Abhisit administration, corruption spread to to all ministries, he said.

"I believe there is more corruption now than during the Thaksin administration," he said.

Cambodia denies Red Shirt rumour

Arisman Pongruangrong: With a rope looped around his waist, Arisman slid down from a third-story ledge of the hotel into a waiting crowd of cheering Red Shirt supporters who led him to a car. Photo: REUTERS

Monday, 16 August 2010
Rann Reuy
The Phnom Penh Post

When they say this, it makes it seem like Cambodia and my hotel is hiding terrorists.

Siem Reap province - CAMBODIAN officials yesterday denied that Red Shirt protest leader Arisman Pongruengrong was hiding in the Kingdom, following reports that the fugitive Thai had been sighted in Siem Reap.

The Bangkok Post reported on Saturday that Thai tourists had spotted Arisman last Tuesday “singing songs” with a group of around 10 other Thais at the restaurant of the City Angkor Hotel in Siem Reap.

Thailand’s Department of Special Investigations, the report said, was working to capture and repatriate Arisman, who is wanted on terrorism charges after massive protests in Bangkok earlier this year that left at least 90 people dead.

Despite last year’s appointment of former Thai prime minister and current Red Shirt icon Thaksin Shinawatra as a Cambodian government adviser, Council of Ministers spokesman Phay Siphan said Red Shirt leaders had not been given refuge in Cambodia.

“We reiterate that Cambodia has a policy to not support terrorists,” he said. “We’re very conservative and very careful.”

Arisman was cornered in a Bangkok hotel by Thai security forces during protests in April, but he escaped in dramatic fashion by lowering himself by rope out of a third-storey window and fleeing to safety.

Num Le In, operations manager at the City Angkor Hotel, denied Arisman had visited.

“Neither Arisman Pongruengrong nor any other Thai guests have stayed in my hotel,” Num Le In said. “When they say this, it makes it seem like Cambodia and my hotel is hiding terrorists.”

A report last month from Thailand’s The Nation newspaper also placed Arisman in Cambodia, though this was denied by Cambodian officials.

Last month, Cambodia deported two Red Shirt activists – Kobchai Boonplod and Varisareeya Boonsom, both 42 – who had fled to the Kingdom and are now being held on terrorism charges.

The two were arrested in Siem Reap province in connection with a failed bombing attempt in June at the Bangkok headquarters of the Bhumjaithai Party, part of the Thai governing coalition.

The attack apparently failed after a makeshift bomb detonated prematurely.

Siem Reap deputy governor Bun Tharith said he had received no reports of Red Shirts hiding in his province.

“I know there are some Thai people who are working in Siem Reap’s restaurants and hotels, but I don’t know their political views,” he said.

ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY JAMES O’TOOLE

[Thai Red Shirt protest leader] Arisman spotted by tourists singing in Siem Reap hotel

14/08/2010
King-oua Laohong
Bangkok Post

The Department of Special Investigation is working with police to hunt down Arisman Pongruengrong, a hard-line red shirt protest leader, who is reported to have been seen in a hotel in Cambodia.

On Tuesday, Mr Arisman who has fled the terrorism charge against him, was apparently spotted by Thai tourists in the City Angkor Hotel in Siem Reap.

He was reportedly seen among a group of 10 Thai people in a restaurant in the hotel singing songs. DSI chief Tharit Pengdit said DSI officials are working with police to bring Mr Arisman back to Thailand as soon as possible.

The DSI's indictment of 25 red shirt protesters and pro-Thaksin Shinawatra politicians on terrorism charges has prompted state agencies to gear up efforts to bring back those who have fled abroad, including Thaksin, he said.

Two Puea Thai MPs - Jatuporn Prompan and Karun Hosakul - have enjoyed parliamentary immunity from being held by police, but Mr Tharit said that in the wake of their indictments they are now suspects and must appear at the first court hearing scheduled for Aug 16 and also seek a court ruling on bail.

Sirisak Tiyapan, director for international affairs of the Office of the Attorney-General, said the only way to bring Thaksin back is to ask the country where he is now staying to extradite him.

Thaksin is believed to be living in Montenegro in southeastern Europe where he has secured citizenship.

Red guard fugitive Surachai nabbed on terrorism charges

Fri, Jul 16, 2010
The Nation/Asia News Network

Surachai reportedly has admitted being with others who launched M79 grenades at a police flat on May 15, and attacked a police checkpoint near Lumpini Park with rifle fire, causing two deaths, on May 8.

Surachai, who was on the Department of Special Investigation's (DSI) "most wanted" list, was captured in a hotel room in Lop Buri's Muang district during a morning raid led by Pol MajGeneral Thanapol Sonthes, commander of the Special Patrol and Operations Division, or 191 police.

Thanapol said Surachai was wanted on three warrants on charges of terrorism, violating the emergency decree and bodily assault. Police knew Surachai had fled to Cambodia after May 19, but returned to Thailand on June 26 and had been hiding in the North, Northeast, and the East regions before moving to the Lop Buri hotel where he was captured, he said.

Pol Colonel Panurat Lakboon, deputy commander of the 191 police, said the initial investigation revealed Surachai, who had been involved in many violent incidents in Bangkok, was efficient in using weapons and welltrained. After questioning, police would hand Surachai over to the DSI, he said.

Surachai reportedly told police he was a close aide to MajGeneral Khattiya for many years and served as a trainer in the "King Taksin warriors" for eight years.

He also reportedly admitted he was one of the "men in black" who launched M79 grenades at a Lumpini police flat on May 15 and that he fired an M16 rifle at a security checkpoint at the Saladaeng intersection on May 8, when two officers were killed.

MajGeneral Khattiya planned and commanded every attack, Surachai said, but he declined to say how many people were involved. Surachai also reportedly said MajGeneral Khattiya took him and other "men in black" to undergo weapons and tactical training in Taiwan, Panurat said.

An informed source reported that, after Surachai returned to Thailand on June 26, he reunited with former subordinates of MajGeneral Khattiya. He contacted his wife, saying he was staying in a Lop Buri hotel and would send her some money after completing an important mission.

The source said the mission was believed to be related to the July 12 assassination of Nakhon Sawan provincial administrative organisation president, Amnat Sirichai.

In addition, police would also look into an alleged plot to assassinate Thailand's key person with assistance from Lop Buri local politicians, the source reported.

At DSI headquarters, directorgeneral Tharit Pengdit said yesterday deputy national police chief General Panupong Singhara na Ayutthaya had contacted him about handing over Surachai to the agency. Warrants had been issued against Surachai alleging involvement in the M79 grenade to attacks on the BTS station in Saladaeng and the police checkpoint near Lumpini Park. Police and DSI officials would interrogate him further on these matters.

Meanwhile, Metropolitan Police deputy commissioner Maj General Sumet Ruangsawat, said the police investigation into the Amnat Sirichai assassination was ongoing and, if evidence was found implicating Surachai, he would be charged accordingly. But for now it would be best to let the investigation run before commenting.

Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban said yesterday he had received the report about Surachai's arrest and would wait on the DSI investigation results.

He affirmed there was no scapegoat capturing in the case and the authority already had details of several operations carried out during the redshirt rally.

Thai woman jailed for 18 years over royal slur

Saturday, August 29, 2009
AFP

BANGKOK — A Thai court Friday convicted and sentenced a female "Red Shirt" protester to 18 years in prison for insulting the country's revered monarchy during anti-government rallies, an official said.

Daranee Charncherngsilapakul, 46, a hardcore supporter of Thailand's ousted former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, was found guilty of making speeches that were insulting to the Thai royal family.

The judge at Bangkok's main criminal court said her speeches at Sanam Luang park in the capital during three pro-Thaksin rallies in June and July last year were against the law of lese majeste, the court official told AFP.

"The court convicted the defendant on three counts and sentenced her for six years on each count," she said.

"Although the defendant testified that she did not intend to insult the monarchy or make the public believe her, she could not escape her wrongdoing," the verdict said.

Lese majeste -- insulting the monarchy -- is a serious charge in Thailand. Anyone can file a complaint, and police are duty-bound to investigate it in a country where the king is treated with almost religious adulation.

Media watchdogs have criticised increased use of the law in recent months, with crackdowns on Internet freedoms leading to more than 4,800 web pages being blocked under the law since March last year, according to officials.

In April a 34-year-old Thai engineer was jailed for ten years for posting a doctored clip on the Internet.

Daranee is better known as Da Torpedo because of her hard-hitting speeches at political protests.

Her fellow "Red Shirt" demonstrators are planning a mass rally on Sunday but the government has said it will use a harsh internal security law to prevent the gathering.