Pad Leader Sondhi Limthongkul Shot

[Thai at Heart]

Plus the spray of bullets, with few hitting targets, suggests a terror campaign (to spook someone to shut them up) - rather than a hit to kill.

I don't agree. It was a hit to kill. It is a miracle that he survived. The bullet got inside his scull without damaging the brain (let's see what the doctors say about that, nevertheless). It's just a luck that he is still alive!

3 Options

a. Astonishing luck escaping a pro-hit - they would finish him off

b. Astonishing luck escaping an incompetent hit - they would still finish him off or they won't be alive tomorrow to tell the tale.

c. Astonishing luck escaping a very serious scare. - why didn't they finish him off?

Driver would unfortunately be considered expendable if the plan was to kill Sondhi. If the plan was to kill Sondhi, wouldn't it be simpler if their were no survivors? It may be Hollywood thinking, but dead men don't talk.

Why didn't they just open the door and shoot him point blank? Why didn't they finish the job? Why aren't the side windows broken? 5 am on relatively quiet road, apparently little or no defence, and approx 100 bullets fired. Incompetent killers are supposedly two a penny around Thailand, so why wouldn't someone hire a good one if money is no object?

I am sure someone will come back with a stupid statement about Thai ability to get something done properly, and incompetence is possible but surely if you are going to the extreme of killing someone, leaving them injured has to be the worst of all outcomes from the assassins perspective doesn't it unless that was the intention?

[lannarebirth]

I am sure someone will come back with a stupid statement about Thai ability to get something done properly, and incompetence is possible but surely if you are going to the extreme of killing someone, leaving them injured has to be the worst of all outcomes from the assassins perspective doesn't it unless that was the intention?

If that were the intention, then not only would these shooters not be incompetent, they may just be the greatest marksmen in history. To place an M-16 or AK-47 slug in the skull, but just deep enough so as not to kill. Amazing! Authorities can narrow their search down to Olympic Gold Medalists in the shooting events that also have twin degrees in physics and physiology.

[Oberkommando]

AK-47s are not that rare but M16s as used by the armed forces would be harder to come by.

Relatively easy to get hold of either.

Thailand is awash with guns.

[Rideau]

Whatever our assumptions are about the hit, I believe the Fugitive's strategy has apparently shifted to "Guerrilla Warfare". The aims are to destroy Abhisit's credibility as the country's leadership, provoke violence (Yellows coming out), and bring the economy down. Besides assassination of Sondhi, I believe there will be more to come like blasts at shopping malls, subway/skytrain stations, government offices, hospitals, hotels, etc.

Remember ... the Fugitive always surrounds himself with ex-CPT members. And they are still alive, well, and low-key.

If Abhisit remains naively defensive, he should then start a countdown for himself, so should Thais for a civil war.

Edited April 17, 2009 by Rideau

[h90]

Assuming Sonthi and driver were Buddhist whatever Pra amulets they were wearing will send prices soaring

yes it was already before, and now even more, my wife told me already about the magic of it

And before some versions were bought for 1.000.000 Baht

[Seizhin]

Assuming Sonthi and driver were Buddhist whatever Pra amulets they were wearing will send prices soaring

Ahahaha, I was just talking about it with my work mate. This is sure to be a big 'up' in the price tomorrow.

I felt that Sonthik was fighting for his own 'benefit' rather than fighting for this so called Democracy.

Fake news from ASTV should end, but since the assassination failed, there's more horror to come.

On honest note, I hope he recovers fast, never good to end things by killing.

Edited April 17, 2009 by Seizhin

[Chang_paarp]

They were saying somewhere that Mr T is traveling on another countries passport. Can one do this as a Thai without loosing the THAI nationality! They said it was from Nicaragua....

That would mean all the Thai spouses that have two passports will be stripped of their nationality. I don't think so.

[JetsetBkk]

...an individual has taken some type of projectile (bullet, nails, arrows, etc..) to the head and has demonstrated normal competence and faculty control....

So you think Sondhi may come out of this healthier than when he went in?

[helvetian]

Didn't Sondhi say on the PAD demonstration stage at the airport last year that he would get rid of Thaksin or die trying?

[spongeman]

The Red shirts have'nt gone anywhere. D'ont turn your back on these boys.......

[Foggy Bottom]

...an individual has taken some type of projectile (bullet, nails, arrows, etc..) to the head and has demonstrated normal competence and faculty control....

So you think Sondhi may come out of this healthier than when he went in?

post of the thread

[lor]

quote name='markokang' post='2672084' date='2009-04-17 10:23:50']

They were saying somewhere that Mr T is traveling on another countries passport. Can one do this as a Thai without loosing the THAI nationality! They said it was from Nicaragua....

As far as I know it is illegal for a Thai citizen over the age of 21 to have two nationalities. (ie: two passports). Of course many Thai people do, they just keep it quite and when they return to Thailand they use their Thai passport. But in Thaksins case he no longer has a Thai passport so if he continues to travel, openly using another passport he could be stripped of his Thai Nationality. Then goodbye to him ever having any chance of a political career here again.

I liked two lines in the first post:

The attack lasted about FIVE MINUTES

Police who RUSHED to the scene

Probably hid around the corner till all the gunfire stopped!

Chris

[khonkaen man]

If we just take Taksin out of the equation for 5 minutes, what is the real reason why thousands of people turn up in red shirts. Its not to help T get his money back and they certainly are not facing bullets for 500 baht a day. Its bcos they have spent many generations being shat on by the ruling classes and sensed an opputunity to vent their feelings.

For the genuine people in red, not the agitators, we should stand and applaud them for at last finding the balls to do something about their dire life of poverty. The little sideshows of T and Sondhi are clouding the picture. I am not in agreement with any violence and if the the reds take to the streets again and protest with no trouble I would personally applaud every last one of them. How many people making comments about the evil reds could survive on 1000 baht a month. They just want to share in the countrys wealth.

The army cannot protect the elite for ever and if T (new money)succeeds and sets foot back on home soil you will not be able to get a seat on any plane flying to China, Singapore and Hong Kong. Now that sight would make great tv. All the big boys stabbing each other in the back to get the last seat

[PawyiLee]

Now that he's of no further use, the power behind Abhisit may want to tidy up things. I wouldn't automatically assume Thaksin is behind this.

My wife is of a similar opinion, but is not quick to assume the power behind Abhist is to blame, either. Sondhi crossed people a long time ago who may just now be seizing the opportuinity to get even. Plus, whoever contracted the hit would have been contracted by another, and each cutout concerned only about the color of the money, not the color of the undershirt. Only thing for sure is that we'll never know, for these people don't write memoires. Even if they did, we would never know how much was fiction. Speaking of which, you should read "Democracy Shaken and Stirred" reviewed here http://www.2bangkok.com/2bangkok/thaimedia...ndStirred.shtml

[jumnien]

Truly a sad day in Thailand; some sad about the assasination attempt, others sad it failed!

[fullservice]

What's going on with some of you? You really think this was set up by Sonthi just because he didn't get killed?

This sounds like some of you lost touch with reality.

He was lucky, dam_n lucky and nothing else. The hitmen couldn't finish the job because the other guys came and fought them.

[katana]

This Thai news report shows (at the 44 second mark) a picture of Sonthi walking around after being shot and shows his various injuries while in hospital.

[Scrubber]

Just saw a news report on TV stating that the traffic cameras in the area of the hit had stopped working the day before. Also, they were surprised that given the number of soldiers in BK at the moment how the hitmens' vehicle wasn't stopped (although it was no surprise to me given the average attentiveness of traffic police here).

[farseer]

one of these farangs was in news last year - in Chiang Mai,you can read in ChiangMai Forum - the very real farang hitman,not celuloid

creature!One of novels by Christopher Moore also touch this subject.

Are you referring to that old Australian fart (age 62) who shot and killed the guy he had been drinking with and received 2 years and 9 months for murder?

Why do my posts keep disappearing?

[Indra]

the red shirts AND the yellow shirts are destroying our country. Justice for all, means punishment for all...ALL the red/yellow criminals need to be arrested and jailed for their crimes against Thailand.

Only then will our PM gain the respect of the silent majority of good Thai citizens.

A lot of people are trying to equate the yellows and the reds. Although the airport occupation was a stupid and harmful act, to my recollection the yellows didn't shoot anyone, or set any fires, or vandalize any public or private property. Get real. The yellows might have some questionable motives and tactics but, so far, they have not shown anything like the thuggishness and brutality of the reds.

As for Sondhi, if not for him Thailand might now be ruled by President Thaksin in the style of President Marcos. I always thought he opposed Thaksin at great personal risk, and I have unfortunately been proven right.

Given that most of the reds are uneducated poor Thais and the yellows are middle level bangkokians, you cannot expect the same style of demonstration.

However, I am sure that the yellows know the consequence of blocking the airport to Thailand economy, while the reds simply express their anger to their hard life.

[Indra]

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

Oh me gosh...Thailand is a gun slinging society. What else other than....corruption, political assassinations, prostitution, human trafficking, child sexual abuse, swindling of tourists' money, suppression of the poor, buisness dispute killings, real estate scams, jealousy crimes, autonomy by army and police, a misguided society, rioting, civil unrest, a bias Foreign business act......

I wonder now what investors would consider before investing in Thailand, is there any benefit at all to come to Thailand?

So, we are you now?

[animatic]

Just saw a news report on TV stating that the traffic cameras in the area of the hit had stopped working the day before. Also, they were surprised that given the number of soldiers in BK at the moment how the hitmens' vehicle wasn't stopped (although it was no surprise to me given the average attentiveness of traffic police here).

Yes, what an AMAZING coincidence....

[basjke]

Assuming Sonthi and driver were Buddhist whatever Pra amulets they were wearing will send prices soaring

So police can narrow down the search for suspects to those who have a stock of the amulet sondhi was wearing.

Why always accuse thaksin?

[ballpoint]

Assuming Sonthi and driver were Buddhist whatever Pra amulets they were wearing will send prices soaring

So police can narrow down the search for suspects to those who have a stock of the amulet sondhi was wearing.

Why always accuse thaksin?

They very cleverly managed to get a bullet into his head without killing him, in order to sell their amulets? Knowing that if he had have been killed they would have suddenly become worthless? It's really quite amusing to see how some people's minds work.

[Tony Clifton]

A few years ago when ASTV studios were first targeted, there was a live broadcast of a meeting with the entire staff and Sondhi did say that any of them could be hurt along the way, even lose their lives. He did not care about losing his life but asked them to really think about wanting to stay and stick by his side. He got his bullet in the end but lives. The station is still on the air as ASTV and hasn't been renamed, unlike others funded by Thaksin propagandists using govt. money to commit treason against their own country.

Someone earlier mentioned Jakaprob being behind the hit, I think not. Jakaprob is a propaganda specialist, not a roadside pirate.

This is a job for scum like the fat one on the upper left of this signboard full of homeland traitors venerating Little Emperor Coward The Great who of course cowardly screams for revolution while on the run from the law.

History will chew Thaksin up and spit him back out onto the scum pile.

In ten years from now, most won't ever admit ever voting for him.

Edited April 17, 2009 by Tony Clifton

[Kna]

Army + Blank rounds = 100 Red Shirts died. ( So the Red says )

Assasins + Live rounds = no one died.

Those assasins are soooooo stupid!!! If they use blank rounds Sondhi should be dead by now!!!

[shawndoc]

Army + Blank rounds = 100 Red Shirts died. ( So the Red says )

Assasins + Live rounds = no one died.

Those assasins are soooooo stupid!!! If they use blank rounds Sondhi should be dead by now!!!

Yes, but if they'd done that Sondhi's body would have dissapeared and there would be no video footage or photos of the attack or its aftermath.

[nakachalet]

here a link for those of you who read Thai

http://www.thairath.co.th/onlineheadnews.html?id=133297

re: webfact's post

the referenced article was about govt seeking compensation for the seriously injurious person suffered at the hand of red shirt.

it did not appear to have anything to do with the assasination attempt on sonthi.

[helvetian]

This Thai news report shows (at the 44 second mark) a picture of Sonthi walking around after being shot and shows his various injuries while in hospital.

Wow. Walking to the hospital entrance from his car, with a bullet in his head? I'm not so sure this wasn't planned anymore.

And his doctor seems to be laughing while his patient supposedly has a bullet in his head.

Edited April 17, 2009 by helvetian

[the highlander]

If we just take Taksin out of the equation for 5 minutes, what is the real reason why thousands of people turn up in red shirts. Its not to help T get his money back and they certainly are not facing bullets for 500 baht a day. Its bcos they have spent many generations being shat on by the ruling classes and sensed an opputunity to vent their feelings.

For the genuine people in red, not the agitators, we should stand and applaud them for at last finding the balls to do something about their dire life of poverty. The little sideshows of T and Sondhi are clouding the picture. I am not in agreement with any violence and if the the reds take to the streets again and protest with no trouble I would personally applaud every last one of them. How many people making comments about the evil reds could survive on 1000 baht a month. They just want to share in the countrys wealth.

The army cannot protect the elite for ever and if T (new money)succeeds and sets foot back on home soil you will not be able to get a seat on any plane flying to China, Singapore and Hong Kong. Now that sight would make great tv. All the big boys stabbing each other in the back to get the last seat

One of the best posts that I have read on the situation so far!!

By the way Sondhi did not have a bullet in the head, it was a bullet fragment/splinter. Nothing but a scrape!!

Edited April 17, 2009 by the highlander