Former Thaksin Bodyguard Fears Frame-Up

[webfact]

Former Thaksin bodyguard fears frame-up

By Budsarakham Sinlapalavan

The Nation on Sunday

A former chief bodyguard for ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra has accused the authorities of trying to frame him and to falsely charge him with terrorism in connection with the recent political unrest.

Watcharapun Chankajorn claims he is on a watch list of the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) and being targeted as a major engineer of violence during the red shirts' 10-week rally between March and May.

"Rumours have been spread that I was the person behind all the [violent incidents], and not Seh Daeng," he said, referring to the red shirts' chief strategist Maj-General Khattiya Sawasdipol, who was shot by a sniper shortly before the reds were dispersed from their protest site in central Bangkok.

Watcharapun, who once ran a security company, said he had been tipped off about this by senior-ranking friends in the Army.

"They told me that a team has been set to find fault in me. If no evidence is found, they [the authorities] are ready to set it up, with help from the DSI," he claimed.

"I am afraid that I could be unfairly charged."

He claimed that friends in the Army - some of who hold the rank of general - warned him his life was in danger.

He said there was an attempt to link him to the recent fatal blast at an apartment building in Nonthaburi, in which a red-shirt bomb-maker was killed, and to weapon training for "red warriors" in Cambodia.

He said that he would meet DSI investigators if summoned "but I wonder if they have any evidence against me".

Watcharapun, 55, said the reason he was linked to the red shirts could be because he had worked for Thaksin since the billionaire ran his mobile-phone business before entering politics.

Watcharapun's security company folded after the financial crisis of 1997. He later worked for Thaksin's business and when his boss established the Thai Rak Thai Party in 1999 and became the party leader, he acted as Thaksin's bodyguard during his election campaigning and set up the security system for him.

"He is the only person I was ready to use myself as a shield from a bullet," he said of Thaksin.

Watcharapun admitted he went to the red shirts' rally at Ratchaprasong intersection "from time to time" and offered advice to the red shirts' chief guard, Aree Krainara, when he saw some security flaws.

"I was not fully involved because it's not my job, and I was not an adviser either," he said.

Watcharapun, who runs a resort business in the northern province of Chiang Rai, said he got "two visits" from police recently. He said he had not contacted with Thaksin and that the last time they met in person was in 2004 at his mother's funeral.

The son of a senior-ranking policeman, Watcharapun was part of the security team during a student-led uprising against a dictatorial government in October 1973. He was then a law student at Thammasat University.

He said that due to his faith in Chamlong Srimuang, Thaksin's political mentor, he became a member of Chamlong's now-defunct Palang Dharma Party, Thaksin's first political home. During the pro-democracy protests in May 1992, he also acted as Chamlong's bodyguard.

-- The Nation 2010-10-24

[ianf]

Sounds like more PR nonsense to me.

[whybother]

"Rumours have been spread that I was the person behind all the [violent incidents], and not Seh Daeng,"

What? The red shirt "protector of the realm" was behind all the violent incidents?

It's amazing how some red shirts just dig the hole deeper whenever they get under a bit of pressure.

[scorecard]

The new army chief seems to be taking a strong stand about controlling the involvement of the military in such matters, wonder if he will make a comment?

[Phuket Stan]

Sounds like more PR nonsense to me.

Dont think u needed to put "PR" in your post

[random]

"Rumours have been spread that I was the person behind all the [violent incidents], and not Seh Daeng,"

What? The red shirt "protector of the realm" was behind all the violent incidents?

It's amazing how some red shirts just dig the hole deeper whenever they get under a bit of pressure.

he is not saying seh daeng was behind the violence, he is saying others are saying that, I would have thought that would we obvious from what was written.

[whybother]

"Rumours have been spread that I was the person behind all the [violent incidents], and not Seh Daeng,"

What? The red shirt "protector of the realm" was behind all the violent incidents?

It's amazing how some red shirts just dig the hole deeper whenever they get under a bit of pressure.

he is not saying seh daeng was behind the violence, he is saying others are saying that, I would have thought that would we obvious from what was written.

Why would he even mention Sah Daeng? If that was the case, why didn't he just say ""Rumours have been spread that I was the person behind all the [violent incidents]"?

I read his statement as "Sah Daeng was behind the violence, but rumours are being spread that I am".

[Ricardo]

"I was not an adviser either" but he went to the rally from time to time "and offered advice to the red shirts' chief guard, Aree Krainara, when he saw some security flaws". Quite .

[givenall]

"Rumours have been spread that I was the person behind all the [violent incidents], and not Seh Daeng,"

What? The red shirt "protector of the realm" was behind all the violent incidents?

It's amazing how some red shirts just dig the hole deeper whenever they get under a bit of pressure.

Not surprise at all. Mr.T uses anyone at any circumstance to get what he wants, and these people are easy target since they do anything for money

[OzMick]

"..............but I wonder if they have any evidence against me".

Just in case, I'll claim that I'm being set up.

[Buchholz]

Sounds like more PR nonsense to me.

Exactly. Watacharpun was nothing but a minor bit role player during the Thaksin administration and even less so after he was removed.

Watcharapun Chankajorn claims he is on a watch list of the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) and being targeted as a major engineer of violence during the red shirts' 10-week rally between March and May.

He was essentially an unknown until now, but yet all of a sudden, he now claims that "others" are saying he was the biggest player over all this and has been for months.

There's been no one else claiming this... except Watcharapun.

[asiawatcher]

Just another (deserving) fall guy trying to plead innocence from Thaksin's crumbling empire. But anyone associated with Thakky are in the gunsights and since there is no loyalty here without 'payment' the rats are running from the sinking ship with DSI and all on their asses! It's called accountability and DSI like any other pubic service needs to justify their existence so will do anything to comply. But I do back that mentality against the red thugs.

[jayjay0]

"I was not an adviser either" but he went to the rally from time to time "and offered advice to the red shirts' chief guard, Aree Krainara, when he saw some security flaws". Quite .

Yes I caught that also. Red Shirts never cease to amaze me the level of stupidity they can get down to.

[globalmenace]

These terrorists are dumb as a box of rocks.

[rubl]

For someone who is totally innocent this man says a lot. Most is about what others said, or did, or suggested, or implicated through rumours.

The only true part is maybe

"Watcharapun admitted he went to the red shirts' rally at Ratchaprasong intersection "from time to time" and offered advice to the red shirts' chief guard, Aree Krainara, when he saw some security flaws."

Anyway maybe the DSI should go along and help him out of his misery by starting a full fletched investigation. He practically asked for it

[chantorn]

Seh Daeng = fall guy. Now, I think I know who had Seh Daeng shot dead.

[rubl]

Seh Daeng = fall guy. Now, I think I know who had Seh Daeng shot dead.

Pray, do tell, who had Seh Daeng shot dead ? I thought he had his people to do that?

[SergeiY]

"Rumours have been spread that I was the person behind all the [violent incidents], and not Seh Daeng,"

What? The red shirt "protector of the realm" was behind all the violent incidents?

It's amazing how some red shirts just dig the hole deeper whenever they get under a bit of pressure.

he is not saying seh daeng was behind the violence, he is saying others are saying that, I would have thought that would we obvious from what was written.

Why would he even mention Sah Daeng? If that was the case, why didn't he just say ""Rumours have been spread that I was the person behind all the [violent incidents]"?

I read his statement as "Sah Daeng was behind the violence, but rumours are being spread that I am".

Bambies, I don't would pay that much attention at a 'N said:"X" - quote' i found in a The Nation article.

[animatic]

Just another (deserving) fall guy trying to plead innocence from Thaksin's crumbling empire. But anyone associated with Thakky are in the gunsights and since there is no loyalty here without 'payment' the rats are running from the sinking ship with DSI and all on their asses! It's called accountability and DSI like any other pubic service needs to justify their existence so will do anything to comply. But I do back that mentality against the red thugs.

Yes , this sounds about right.

"He is the only person I was ready to use myself as a shield from a bullet," he said of Thaksin.

Watcharapun admitted he went to the red shirts' rally at Ratchaprasong intersection

"from time to time" and offered advice to the red shirts' chief guard, Aree Krainara,

when he saw some security flaws...." "I was not fully involved because it's not my job,

and I was not an adviser either," he said....

...He said that due to his faith in Chamlong Srimuang, Thaksin's political mentor, he became a member of Chamlong's now-defunct Palang Dharma Party, Thaksin's first political home. During the pro-democracy protests in May 1992, he also acted as Chamlong's bodyguard.

He has an elevated capacity for shooting himself in the foot it seems.

'I gave advice but I wasn't an adviser'... huh? What were you then?

And the ability to switch sides as the situation demands.

Situational loyalties; at least he's up front about it.

Edited October 24, 2010 by animatic

[animatic]

These terrorists are dumb as a box of rocks.

Except a box of rocks;

Knows to say nothing,

and makes fewer mistakes.

We seem to have posters here who also could learn from a box of rocks.

Edited October 24, 2010 by animatic

[whybother]

Bambies, I don't would pay that much attention at a 'N said:"X" - quote' i found in a The Nation article.

Then why do you bother commenting on anything from the nation.

[animatic]

Bambies, I don't would pay that much attention at a 'N said:"X" - quote' i found in a The Nation article.

Then why do you bother commenting on anything from the nation.

Can't resist taking another slag at those he disagrees regularly with.

[Bagwan]

"..............but I wonder if they have any evidence against me".

Just in case, I'll claim that I'm being set up.

Succinct.

[Bagwan]

"He claimed that friends in the Army - some of who hold the rank of general - warned him his life was in danger."

Seems we have a number of garrulous generals. Couldn't one of them provide protection?

Whatachump (spelling?) needn't fret. I put my life in danger every time I cross Sukhumvit. Still here though.

[SergeiY]

Bambies, I don't would pay that much attention at a 'N said:"X" - quote' i found in a The Nation article.

Then why do you bother commenting on anything from the nation.

Get real.

If you wanna discuss what this man actually meant or wanted to say you must know what he had actually really said.

In the Nation you get just a translation*. And even his originally words will be open to different interpretation if you just concentrate on one little sentence.

* If you would speak more than one language you would probably know who weak translation can be when it comes to transport the 'meaning' from one language into another.

Edited October 24, 2010 by SergeiY

[OzMick]

Bambies, I don't would pay that much attention at a 'N said:"X" - quote' i found in a The Nation article.

Yes, they are all false. The Nation loves defending defamation suits. DOH!

[truethailand]

Seh Daeng = fall guy. Now, I think I know who had Seh Daeng shot dead.

yes I do too.. Was it Gen. P

[SergeiY]

Bambies, I don't would pay that much attention at a 'N said:"X" - quote' i found in a The Nation article.

Yes, they are all false. The Nation loves defending defamation suits. DOH!

Did you saw the debate of the two bambis?

They dealt with like it was from the Talmud, the Quran or some bible text and started to argue about the really true deep 'meaning' and the only valid possible interpretation like some religious fanatics would argue about.

[Buchholz]

Seh Daeng = fall guy. Now, I think I know who had Seh Daeng shot dead.

yes I do too.. Was it Gen. P

I doubt it. Most reggae singers from the Caribbean are pacifists.

[craigt3365]

Watcharapun admitted he went to the red shirts' rally at Ratchaprasong intersection "from time to time" and offered advice to the red shirts' chief guard, Aree Krainara, when he saw some security flaws.

"I was not fully involved because it's not my job, and I was not an adviser either," he said.

-----------------------------------------------------------

Do I read a contradiction here??? Jatuporn must be behind this...seems like his logic.