Pad Leader Sondhi Limthongkul Shot

[Steely Dan]

I thinks its an attempt to get the Yellowsirts on the streets, then total mayhem. Yellow leaders must exercise caution & restraint

I mentioned the other day that if I was in Abhisit's position I would consider trying to eliminate Thaksin if he couldn't be extradited from wherever he was hiding. Of course I missed a trick because from Thaksin's point of view getting the yellow shirts onto the streets would play directly into his hands - Of course Thaksin has the motive and I find it far more likely he was behind this than anyone else. The best move for the yellows strategically is to keep a low profile imho.

It would appear that whilst the average Thai in the streets plays drafts the leaders are using the same board to play chess on.

[LivinLOS]

If they used M-16's, doesnt suprise me that he survived. 5.56 doesnt have that much penetrating power. AK-47 is a different story but there have been conflicting reports by the media. Remembering that this was early morning in poor light with a moving vehicle so im sure a vast majority of rounds missed.

You obviously don't know sh@t about weapons.....try 7.62mm/M16...the weapon just about every Marine carried in Vietnam..

Who doesnt know sh!t ???

M16 is 5.56mm.. Theres no such thing as a 7.62mm/M16.. No marine carried one in Vietnam..

[kurtgruen]

There's a possibility that this wasn't an assasination attempt but just a warning. The reds aren't stupid enough to kill the PAD leader, it just makes him a matyr. The reds have lost enough support and credibility already. Possibly just a bunch of really pissed off strongmen or rogue group with spare time. Killing Sondhi isn't going to quell the PAD.

[some elements within] The Reds would love to kill Sondthi and make him a martyr. Do you know why?

Since the only way several groups, with their own agenda (including both Thaksin himself and coat-tailing communist groups) that would like to instigate violence to make sure the country became much more unstable that it is. Through increased violence from both sides they can launch a real revolution and be on their way to reform the state to their own liking. (Here Thaksin and the communist groups have different ideas of what is the new leadership, but they have a joint 'enemy'.)

If ever, this scenario turns into reality, after finishing the plot tacky will certainly with all might there is available, turn against them - as shown in the Interviews when he turned against them - before the put break of violence he was promising them " i will be with you!"

After all he is an elitist Capitalist with little love for Commies and their weird Ideology about socialism... they would have to turn against him...!

Am I missing something here? I know, I've been on nice, peaceful holidays for a week and didn't check TV or much other news, but wasn't it Thaksin, who promised his Red supporters, that he would be there leading them personally, at the first drop of Red blood spilled? So where is their fearless leader???

I remember Khun Sondhi, along with Khun Chamlong, leading the yellow crowds through the streets. I guess Thaksin is not much of a leader, is he?.... and his followers are not very smart, to keep doing someone's bidding, who ran away a long time ago and then got his family out of the country, while stirring on his followers to fight for him and the Billions of Baht he wants to take out of Thailand.

Oh yes, Communists and Anarchists love this scenario right now, because they see it as a chance to bring down the government and everything supporting it and to introduce their own, twisted ideas. Could Thaksin control them in the end...probalby, he is brutal enough.

I rather take my chances with the present government.

[redscouse]

he is lucky he got shot in the head, it missed his brain by about 3 feet

[BHA83]

Can't believe the anty red brigade on here. If I said that apparently many reds came from up-country to join the Bangkok riots but were stopped by the army and the gang leaders were shot. There would be a loud corus from the yellow camp of 'prove it, show us your source'.

This morning there is an attempted assassination on Sondhi and without any proof your all shouting "It's Thaksin, it's the reds".

Sorry I have not pasted the story, but it's in the Nation, story about the assassination attempt. Even they state he had many enemys, including the police and army. Not facts but a statement made by someone close to Sondhi.

Just a passing thought, I will not say for sure that reds were gunned down in Bangkok because you yellows are correct. there aren't any pictures or TV footage. But we see the army firing off rounds at one end of the road, and red shirts down the other end of the road. Has anyone seen any TV footage where they have managed to capture the gangs and cart them off to be charged. How many arrests were made during this cleaning up operation? Anybody know? Or where they all put on buses and sent back to Essan? (Not including the demonstrators outside GH)

I smell a rat, but I hope I am wrong because any loss of life is a waste, but the news is so one sided and you all believe it!

PS. I hope Sondhi recovers, the used on both sides see sence and let the leaders of both groups fight among themselves!

[animatic]

Yellow shirts' leader shot and wounded

- THE NATION -[/b]

This is only a small price to pay for the turmoil he had done to Thailand......about 100 rounds being fired and still can't find the target...lousy shooters....

Remember the last time over the top violence was used on PAD?

They moved from GH to Swampy....

Another miscalculation from Thaksin IMO.

But likely yet again NOT to bring on the effect he seeks.

[katasyd]

I just saw footage of Sondhi walking around after the shooting, obviously blood everywhere but it could be a cut from the glass.

If anyone was shot in the head, they would not be walking around.

I find it fishy, i really do.

Dr TV 'Remote-doctor-by-watching-news' Quincy is on duty. Thank God you are around to tell us how things are!

Just like every other keyboard jockey on here.

If you were shot in the head with so called bleeding on the brain, would you be walking around?

Bleeding on the brain is not a minor injury and i doubt that is what really happened.

If you believe Thai media, go ahead.

Why don't you enlighten me on what went on if you are so informed?

He is clearly not shot at point blank range with a heavy round. More likely hit by a fragment (partial bullet) or deviated bullet (via the hull of the car) with reduced projectile speed (less J). We can assume this from the casings I saw looked like handgun-casings, not from ARs and their penetration ability isn't at par with a rifle round and will lose a lot of momentum against an vehicle hull - but still be able to do some serious damage.

In any case, he is clearly hurt in the head and the bullet/fragment that entered him needs to be taken out via an operation is it is lodged in a very sensitive area.

Or you disagree?

I go on proof.

I saw him walking around, he supposedly had a bullet/shrapnel in the head.

I know that the brain would shut down if he had a severe head injury, he would not be walking around and off to hospital awake.

They claim a operation is needed to clear whatever is in his head, we will see when pics are released.

Then i will make further judgement.

Somehow, i think he will make a miraculous recovery for the PAD rally in Phuket.

[scotbeve]

It is apparent that most of you have never lived 'out in the sticks' in Thailand. They are not openly available, but AK's and M-16's are not impossible to come by...albeit at a price that would deter the average red-shirted farmer.

If the gunmen managed to get off 100 rounds without jamming they probably weren't using M-16's

Yeah, most likely easy to buy from Cambodian soldiers...

[LivinLOS]

The BBC are reporting only a shoulder injury for Sondhi, no mention of any head injury. Who has got the facts right?

[chuang]

First thought came to mind was the reds trying to kill Sondhi. If you think so, you're too naive.

And then who was it?

The Army and the P.... council.......

[Thai at Heart]

I wonder what Sondhi hopefully will/would have to say about this.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/local/1513...open-to-amnesty

Abhisit open to amnesty

PM briefs diplomats on political situation

By: PRADIT RUANGDIT

Published: 17/04/2009 at 12:00 AM

Newspaper section: News

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva says an amnesty will be considered for banned politicians to try to promote reconciliation after months of political turmoil boiled over into street violence this week.

Edited April 17, 2009 by Thai at Heart

[skooldaze]

Perhaps Thailand is just trying to catch up with the US, in terms of insane gun violence.

I love all the America-bashing on this website. Once again, what's the US got to do with this story. How many journalists have been killed in the U.S. for reporting the news? NONE in the last 40 years.

How many in Thailand in the last 20 years? 35.

The question is, where is it safer to be a reporter? Not here. That's why the media here is so meek and wont' do any hardcore investigative pieces because they know it will touch the powerful elite, who have NO qualms about "removing" somebody.

The difference here is that the rich are the main ones that perpetuate violence if they are slighted, whereas in the U.S. it's mainly drug warfare.

Bottom line is stick to the topic, stupid.

[mc2]

I wonder what Sondhi hopefully will/would have to say about this.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/local/1513...open-to-amnesty

Abhisit open to amnesty

PM briefs diplomats on political situation

By: PRADIT RUANGDIT

Published: 17/04/2009 at 12:00 AM

Newspaper section: News

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva says an amnesty will be considered for banned politicians to try to promote reconciliation after months of political turmoil boiled over into street violence this week.

I doubt Sondhi will be wanting to talk much about that,

or about the army or the police, for that matter.

hes got so many enemies its would be wise for him to lay low for now.

[swindonabroad]

As a supporter of neither red or yellow I find amazing that the same facts are overlooked or twisted constantly in these never ending arguments.

Can you really say that Thaksin is a champion for democracy?

How are yellow leaders still walking the streets and haven’t faced justice?

The reds are violent.

The yellows are violent.

Thailand has the best man for the job in the big seat.

He has shot him self in the foot by getting into bed with Newin and by not prosecuting the PAD leaders quickly enough.

Thaksin loves Thaksin

How is a PAD leader/ spokesman in the cabinet?

How is a convicted criminal allowed to travel the world?

Where are the silent majority of Thais who condemn these actions? They need to become ‘less silent’.

The yellows had the support of the army and never had any level of force used against them. If they had I’m sure their reaction and actions would have mirrored the reds violence.

Both sides seem to buy votes.

Both sides are only interested in their own agenda and do not have the good of the country or the people at heart.

Thailand deserves better.

[somluck]

I wonder what Sondhi hopefully will/would have to say about this.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/local/1513...open-to-amnesty

Abhisit open to amnesty

PM briefs diplomats on political situation

By: PRADIT RUANGDIT

Published: 17/04/2009 at 12:00 AM

Newspaper section: News

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva says an amnesty will be considered for banned politicians to try to promote reconciliation after months of political turmoil boiled over into street violence this week.

Abhishit could have just signed his own death warrant, no one likes a puppet with a mind of his own

[webfact]

I wonder what Sondhi hopefully will/would have to say about this.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/local/1513...open-to-amnesty

Abhisit open to amnesty

PM briefs diplomats on political situation

By: PRADIT RUANGDIT

Published: 17/04/2009 at 12:00 AM

Newspaper section: News

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva says an amnesty will be considered for banned politicians to try to promote reconciliation after months of political turmoil boiled over into street violence this week.

Abhishit could have just signed his own death warrant, no one likes a puppet with a mind of his own

I trust he has studied Sun Tzu "The Art of War" very well...

[bf2002]

My wife heard on the radio that Sondhi LImthongkul - the founder of the Manager Daily Newspaper, ASTV, and a core leader of the PAD - the People's Alliance for Democracy, was shot, along with his driver.

No postings yet in the english dailies, but they are reporting it on the Manager Online. - http://www.manager.co.th/Politics/ViewNews...D=9520000043048

Wife reckons they fired over 100 rounds into his car, but he has survived but his driver got the worst of it all.

At 5 am this morning.

He made a statement only yesterday critcising Thaksin and his infamous outbursts and the red supporters.

They have proved they are just thugs and murders who are not interested in real democracy, nor the beloved Thailand and it,s citizens they claim to be representative of.

By the way my wife was informed by a red shirt neighbour who said they got to know at 4 am! yes 4am !! which was an hour before it happened, ( if the news report that backs up what i was told, is correct that,s just been on the TV news channel saying it was 5am ) it is an alarming admission of them knowing before the fact ???

Have you ever heard of the movie "Colors" about gangs who shoot people based on the color they wear?

It's just one gang shooting another ---- red vs yellow. The "victim" here did his own share to destroy the Thai economy and country...he's known for his own vendetta against Thaksin....they are both tearing the country apart for their own power struggle....who is the enemies of the Thai state? Anyone who wears a color except yellow for royalty...and I was last told not to wear yellow even on the proper day of the week, since it could be confused for a PAD supporter....welcome to "Colors"! That movie was made about LA gangs...now it's come to the other city of angels (Bangkok).

[mdechgan]

I thinks its an attempt to get the Yellowsirts on the streets, then total mayhem. Yellow leaders must exercise caution & restraint

Yellow leaders should be in jail...just like the red ones. How can it possibly be legal to take over the Government House for months and refuse to leave the airport for more than a week?

Wrong topic? here is about the shooting not the jail

My thoughts exactly. The reds in this forum hear seem to want Sondhi in jail. Ok, but if he is to be in jail shouldn't Thaksin be in jail also? Heck Thaksin should have been in jail before Sondhi, and none of this would never have happened.

I can't believe some of the red supporters here actually wishing Sondhi was dead and deserves a bullet in the head. Now who has the real moral high ground here?

[Thai at Heart]

I wonder what Sondhi hopefully will/would have to say about this.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/local/1513...open-to-amnesty

Abhisit open to amnesty

PM briefs diplomats on political situation

By: PRADIT RUANGDIT

Published: 17/04/2009 at 12:00 AM

Newspaper section: News

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva says an amnesty will be considered for banned politicians to try to promote reconciliation after months of political turmoil boiled over into street violence this week.

I doubt Sondhi will be wanting to talk much about that,

or about the army or the police, for that matter.

hes got so many enemies its would be wise for him to lay low for now.

Not knowing him personally of course, I don't know whether he will lie low or not. On the basis that he isn't fatally wounded (thank god for the good of the country)from watching him in action, I doubt it. I just thought Abhisit's statement was quite astonishing considering how soon it comes after the mess in Bangkok. He has a victory in the bag over the reds, and then throws a bone to ex-TRT? To me astonishing and a very high risk strategy indeed.

I can't believe the Abhisit would suggest this without being tipped the nod first.

[TAWP]

he is lucky he got shot in the head, it missed his brain by about 3 feet

Please refrain from using yourself as a model when you make comments about other peoples anatomy.

[h90]

I wonder what Sondhi hopefully will/would have to say about this.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/local/1513...open-to-amnesty

Abhisit open to amnesty

PM briefs diplomats on political situation

By: PRADIT RUANGDIT

Published: 17/04/2009 at 12:00 AM

Newspaper section: News

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva says an amnesty will be considered for banned politicians to try to promote reconciliation after months of political turmoil boiled over into street violence this week.

I doubt Sondhi will be wanting to talk much about that,

or about the army or the police, for that matter.

hes got so many enemies its would be wise for him to lay low for now.

He told before that he don't want an amnesty. He told it several times.

An Amnesty would be complete wrong...who did wrong should be punished

[skooldaze]

Blatantly incorrect the PAD didn't remove Somchai, the courts did.

The airport take over MAY or may not have sped up

an already in process dissolution of PPP for IT'S OWN ACTIONS.

That is what removed Somchai.

The conditions for ALL of this were not fropm PAD but from Thaksin.

He called the boycotted snap election after the hue and cry about the

Temasek/SingaPORE purchase of Shin corp and NATIONAL ASSET Shinsat.

THAKSIN is the SINGLE figure central to this WHOLE debacle from start to finish.

He he hadn't cornholed Sondhi in business so many years ago,

he would not have been so motivated for revenge at all costs.

Without Thaksin this would not be coming to pass; End of story.

Which when is all and said and done proves to me that this is was and always was partially or entirely a ridiculous business war which has been waged under the disguise of some ethical purge of the country. I honestly believe that none of the so called leaders in this entire escapade have been acting on anything other than personal vindictiveness and hope of future benefit.

Everyone denied that Sondhi was acting out of personal malice and by cloaking himself in yellow he gained some kind of moral high ground. This story will be raked over by historians with whoever the victor is being painted as having some kind of moral victory be it the PAD for saving the country from business corruption and "selling the country", or the reds trying to return the country to the "hands of the people".

The reality is I think that this was always a Chinese big business turf war and to the victor go the spoils.

No argument here.

a most erudite and accurate analysis

[h90]

I wonder what Sondhi hopefully will/would have to say about this.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/local/1513...open-to-amnesty

Abhisit open to amnesty

PM briefs diplomats on political situation

By: PRADIT RUANGDIT

Published: 17/04/2009 at 12:00 AM

Newspaper section: News

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva says an amnesty will be considered for banned politicians to try to promote reconciliation after months of political turmoil boiled over into street violence this week.

I doubt Sondhi will be wanting to talk much about that,

or about the army or the police, for that matter.

hes got so many enemies its would be wise for him to lay low for now.

Not knowing him personally of course, I don't know whether he will lie low or not. On the basis that he isn't fatally wounded (thank god for the good of the country)from watching him in action, I doubt it. I just thought Abhisit's statement was quite astonishing considering how soon it comes after the mess in Bangkok. He has a victory in the bag over the reds, and then throws a bone to ex-TRT? To me astonishing and a very high risk strategy indeed.

I can't believe the Abhisit would suggest this without being tipped the nod first.

I don't understand that as well. The reds will appreciate it, but they still don't want to see him as premier.

The yellows will be furious. In Essan they'll still not vote him. In the south and BKK they might be angry and don't vote him (instead maybe PAD makes a new party).

So it does not make sense for me unless is a lie.

[BHA83]

As a supporter of neither red or yellow I find amazing that the same facts are overlooked or twisted constantly in these never ending arguments.

Can you really say that Thaksin is a champion for democracy?

How are yellow leaders still walking the streets and haven't faced justice?

The reds are violent.

The yellows are violent.

Thailand has the best man for the job in the big seat.

He has shot him self in the foot by getting into bed with Newin and by not prosecuting the PAD leaders quickly enough.

Thaksin loves Thaksin

How is a PAD leader/ spokesman in the cabinet?

How is a convicted criminal allowed to travel the world?

Where are the silent majority of Thais who condemn these actions? They need to become 'less silent'.

The yellows had the support of the army and never had any level of force used against them. If they had I'm sure their reaction and actions would have mirrored the reds violence.

Both sides seem to buy votes.

Both sides are only interested in their own agenda and do not have the good of the country or the people at heart.

Thailand deserves better.

At last common sense! I agree with everything you stated, but there are many def ears on here.

[yabaaaa]

Channel 7 is showing pics of the car. Tires shot but the car is in good shape. Seems that all entry holes are in the windscreen and rear window is broken. Sides of the car seem to have very little damage and side windows are intact.

For me it looks like little reminder who's the boss by shooting thru the car from front. It would be so easy to make sure they got him by just opening a door or shooting from the side towards rear seat. So not cold blooded execution attempt IMO.

Interested in his Thai security if he leaves the side doors open??

[canuckamuck]

All are guilty

[Tywais]

I know a bit about firearms as I used them most of my life before coming to TL and at one time I had a cartrage collection that included those and many other calibers.

I also have considerable experience having been around both rifles and handguns most of my life. Also fired the M16 many times while in the military and have two marksmanship medals for the M16 and M1 carbine. Had a large collection of handguns I sold before coming to Thailand. Includes .22, .38, 9mm, .44 Magnum, .357 Magnum and .45 Colt. Hand loaded my own ammo including hot loads for the .357. Definitely not hand gun ammo, and from the below modified photo where I inserted photos of cartridges it seems two different rifle/assault ammo - M16 & AK47. One on left, M16 which is a longer more slender casing and right - AK47 a shorter wider casing.

Yeah, I watched CSI too many times.

[Thai at Heart]

I don't understand that as well. The reds will appreciate it, but they still don't want to see him as premier.

The yellows will be furious. In Essan they'll still not vote him. In the south and BKK they might be angry and don't vote him (instead maybe PAD makes a new party).

So it does not make sense for me unless is a lie.

Well it may be a lie, or pandering to the foreigners but these statements are very rarely accidental. It was a closed meeting, and this one of the statements that made its way out. There could be a myriad of reasons, but I think someone may have banged the table and told him he has the backing to do absolutely what he thinks he NEEDS (as opposed to wants)to do to keep the country intact. His statement yesterday has nothing to do with politics and can only be seen as a statement to try to unify the country.

Let us not forget that there were words of civil war only 5 or 6 days ago. People talked of the fact that there may be factions within the army who may split. If that happens there is no way to put the country back together. Thaksins only hope is to split the country, it would appear someone has been told to pull out all the stops to unify it, even if it would appear to hang himself politically.

[worthingmike]

My wife heard on the radio that Sondhi LImthongkul - the founder of the Manager Daily Newspaper, ASTV, and a core leader of the PAD - the People's Alliance for Democracy, was shot, along with his driver.Sondhi is in serious condition : doctor

Sondhi Limthongkul is in serious condition

BANGKOK: -- Sondhi Limthongkul is in serious condition after being shot as a bullet hit his left skull. The bullet is still in his skull, causing bleeding inside his brain, Vajira Hospital Director Dr Chaiwun Charoenchoktavee said Friday.

Doctors are conducting an urgent operation on Sondhi and the operation is expected to finish around noon.

Sondhi, a core leader of yellow shirts, known also as People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD), who seized Bankok airports late last year, has no wounds on his body.

His driver, Vayupak Mussi, was also seriously wounded from the attack. Doctors said later that he survived and was now in stable condition.

Meanwhile PAD's spokesman Parnthep Pualpongpan said at least two attackers riding on a pickup blocked Sondhi's vehicle who was on Samsen Road, heading to Manager newspaper office in Banglampoo area early Friday morning.

The attackers then shot four tyres of Sondhi's vehicle before stepping out of their car and sprayed more bullets on the car. The attack lasted about five minutes and the attackers went back to their pickup which sped away along Tevet Road.

Police who rushed to the scene found Sondhi's car riddled with bullets and they could collect more than cartridges of AK-16 and rifles from the scene.

Parnthep said Sondhi was informed of reports that he could possible a target of attack, but he simply ignored the warnings.

Meanwhile Chamnong Paokorn, 53, a bus driver, said that he was driving his bus past Iamworanut Temple when he saw a blue pickup truck which had no license plate blocked Sondhi's vehicle.

Then two men on the back of the pickup then opened fires on the vehicle. Then another vehicle sped to the scene and exchanged fires with the attackers who later escaped the scene.

-- The Nation 2009-04-17

How much did that Assassination cost ? Then there is plenty where that came from ?

[solent01]

If they used M-16's, doesnt suprise me that he survived. 5.56 doesnt have that much penetrating power. AK-47 is a different story but there have been conflicting reports by the media. Remembering that this was early morning in poor light with a moving vehicle so im sure a vast majority of rounds missed.

You obviously don't know sh@t about weapons.....try 7.62mm/M16...the weapon just about every Marine carried in Vietnam..

Correct it was an Icon of the Vietnam conflict, but very wrong saying 7.62mm

Austeyr is correct in his statement, it is 5.56mm, but wrong assuming at close range it would not turn that car into swiss cheese

Edit to add....

I should have read all posts first as all I've done is repeat what about 6/7 others have already pointed out.....

Edited April 17, 2009 by solent01