Police Arrest 5 Suspects For Grenade Attacks In Chiang Mai, Bangkok

[webfact]

Police arrest 5 suspects in grenade attacks in Chiang Mai, Bangkok

BANGKOK, Nov 23 – Five suspects were arrested in connection with having fired M-79 grenades in the northern province of Chiang Mai and the capital of Bangkok, Police chief Wichean Potephosree told a news conference on Tuesday.

The five suspects are Wallop Phitheeprom, Somkid Makwong, Wanchai Sangkhao, Anan Meerod, Chatchai Phokanupab. The police also seized C4 plastic explosives, electric blasting caps, mobile phone time delay circuits, a shotgun and cartridges, he said.

Mr Wallop was arrested at a gas station in Bangkok’s Saimai district on an arrest warrant from a Chiang Mai provincial court on charges of causing an explosion to damage another’s property and possessing an unlicensed gun and ammunition.

He was allegedly involved in a grenade attack at Chiang Mai Construction company in the provincial seat on Sept 12, 2010 and three other grenade attacks in this northern province. The company is owned by the father-in-law of Newin Chidchob, de facto leader of the Bhumjaithai Party.

Mr Wallop confessed to firing RPG projectiles eight times in Bangkok and the adjacent provinces including the attacks at a house in Soi Ladprao 23, buildings in the Government House compound, at Lumpini Park, and on expressways on May 16, 18 and 19, 2010 during the turmoil and security force operations to end the April-May Red Shirt protest. He was also apparently involved in M79 grenade attacks on Bangkok Bank branches.

After his arrest, the police seized evidence from a rental room in Ladkrabang district and arrested four more suspects.

Mr Wallop said he did it because he adhered to his political ideology and said he was irate over the security operations to disperse the Red Shirt protesters at Din Daeng in April 2009.

He said he never underwent weapons training, but learned to use weapons when he was soldier and he bought weapons from the Cambodian border. Investigations are continuing to arrest more suspects in the attacks.

The Red Shirts, also known as the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD), protested in Bangkok from March to May this year, demanding that Prime Minister Abhisti Vejjajiva call new elections.

The Red Shirt leaders ended their protest at Ratchaprasong following army operations to disperse the protesters who had shut down nearby businesses, shopping and tourism sites. Afterward some angry Red Shirts rampaged and set fire to two dozen buidings in the capital. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2010-11-23

[Buchholz]

Good to see these mopping up operations are resulting in the apprehension of Red Shirt Bomber Battalion members.

Exposing this peace movement as using "C4 plastic explosives, electric blasting caps, mobile phone time delay circuits, a shotgun and cartridges"

and

"unlicensed gun and ammunition"

and

"grenade attacks"

and

"M79 grenade attacks"

Edited November 23, 2010 by Buchholz

[phiphidon]

Good to see these mopping up operations are resulting in the apprehension of Red Shirt Bomber Battalion members.

Exposing this peace movement as using "C4 plastic explosives, electric blasting caps, mobile phone time delay circuits, a shotgun and cartridges"

and

"unlicensed gun and ammunition"

and

"grenade attacks"

and

"M79 grenade attacks"

Indulge me, where in the OP is there any links between the 5 accused and the red shirt movement that could have led you to the immediate accusation of "Red Shirt Bomber Battalions"? Let alone your comment "using C4 plastic explosives, electric blasting caps, mobile phone time delay circuits, a shotgun and cartridges". The wording was "in possession of". But hey, never mind, you just carry on your sensationalism. Oh and by the way, the title includes the word "Suspects".

[Buchholz]

Good to see these mopping up operations are resulting in the apprehension of Red Shirt Bomber Battalion members.

Exposing this peace movement as using "C4 plastic explosives, electric blasting caps, mobile phone time delay circuits, a shotgun and cartridges"

and

"unlicensed gun and ammunition"

and

"grenade attacks"

and

"M79 grenade attacks"

Indulge me, where in the OP is there any links between the 5 accused and the red shirt movement that could have led you to the immediate accusation of "Red Shirt Bomber Battalions"? Let alone your comment "using C4 plastic explosives, electric blasting caps, mobile phone time delay circuits, a shotgun and cartridges". The wording was "in possession of". But hey, never mind, you just carry on your sensationalism. Oh and by the way, the title includes the word "Suspects".

Plenty of references to the use of various explosive devices, but I can amend the slogan to Red Shirt Sympathizer Bomber Battalion if it will make your apologist post less sensational.

"Mr Wallop said he did it because he adhered to his political ideology and said he was irate over the security operations to disperse the Red Shirt protesters at Din Daeng in April 2009"

.

Edited November 23, 2010 by Buchholz

[philw]

Good to see these mopping up operations are resulting in the apprehension of Red Shirt Bomber Battalion members.

Exposing this peace movement as using "C4 plastic explosives, electric blasting caps, mobile phone time delay circuits, a shotgun and cartridges"

and

"unlicensed gun and ammunition"

and

"grenade attacks"

and

"M79 grenade attacks"

I love it, where do you get the rhetoric ??

Red shirt bomber battalions indeed.

Do you have an assistant to help ??

More seriously, I no more approve than you do and it is very ominous that c4 and timers are now in play.

There are some seriously embittered people out there, on all sides, and more violence will come I fear,

[phiphidon]

Good to see these mopping up operations are resulting in the apprehension of Red Shirt Bomber Battalion members.

Exposing this peace movement as using "C4 plastic explosives, electric blasting caps, mobile phone time delay circuits, a shotgun and cartridges"

and

"unlicensed gun and ammunition"

and

"grenade attacks"

and

"M79 grenade attacks"

Indulge me, where in the OP is there any links between the 5 accused and the red shirt movement that could have led you to the immediate accusation of "Red Shirt Bomber Battalions"? Let alone your comment "using C4 plastic explosives, electric blasting caps, mobile phone time delay circuits, a shotgun and cartridges". The wording was "in possession of". But hey, never mind, you just carry on your sensationalism. Oh and by the way, the title includes the word "Suspects".

Plenty of references to the use of various explosive devices, but I can amend the slogan to Red Shirt Sympathizer Bomber Battalion if it will make your apologist post less sensational.

"Mr Wallop said he did it because he adhered to his political ideology and said he was irate over the security operations to disperse the Red Shirt protesters at Din Daeng in April 2009"

.

I'm not apologising for anyone, just trying to calm down the hyperbole. There's enough tension going around at the moment . Why can't we just wait a day or so instead of jumping in and making assumptions on the latest headline. As has been seen in the past more information is provided as time goes on and gives a more informed background for discussion. Lets face it the local media here has its moments.

[Buchholz]

Red shirt bomber battalions indeed.

You are correct. As the number of Red Shirts implicated in various bombings around the country grows, it's closer to Platoon-size than Battalion. I'll amend for future use.

[Buchholz]

I'm not apologising for anyone, just trying to calm down the hyperbole. There's enough tension going around at the moment . Why can't we just wait a day or so instead of jumping in and making assumptions on the latest headline.

I missed your condemnation of Post # 2 of this thread:

[jdinasia]

Mr Wallop confessed to firing RPG projectiles eight times in Bangkok and the adjacent provinces including the attacks at a house in Soi Ladprao 23, buildings in the Government House compound, at Lumpini Park, and on expressways on May 16, 18 and 19, 2010 during the turmoil and security force operations to end the April-May Red Shirt protest. He was also apparently involved in M79 grenade attacks on Bangkok Bank branches.

But really folks! It was the military doing all the shooting, and all the killing in May!

The evidence is getting a bit stronger to suggest that ... um ... it was ... ummm ..... the reds!

[Buchholz]

5 suspects arrested over M79 attacks in Bangkok

Police have arrested five suspects accused of launching several M79 and bomb attacks in Bangkok and elsewhere during the red-shirt protests in May.

The five suspects are identified as Wallop Phitheephrome, Somkhid Makwong, Wanchai Sangkhao, Anant Meerod and Chatchai Phokhanuphrab.

Police said Wallop admitted to being behind 12 M79 attacks including four in Chiang Mai on a business office owned by father-in-law of key government ally Newin Chidchob.

There are no details about the other four suspects' account. All of them have been arrested with possession of many bomb-making materials, explosives, a homemade pistol, two and munitions and a pickup truck police said was used during the launch of the attacks.

They have been charged with possessing explosives and firearms without permission.

-- The Nation 2010-11-23

[OzMick]

Good to see these mopping up operations are resulting in the apprehension of Red Shirt Bomber Battalion members.

Exposing this peace movement as using "C4 plastic explosives, electric blasting caps, mobile phone time delay circuits, a shotgun and cartridges"

and

"unlicensed gun and ammunition"

and

"grenade attacks"

and

"M79 grenade attacks"

Indulge me, where in the OP is there any links between the 5 accused and the red shirt movement that could have led you to the immediate accusation of "Red Shirt Bomber Battalions"? Let alone your comment "using C4 plastic explosives, electric blasting caps, mobile phone time delay circuits, a shotgun and cartridges". The wording was "in possession of". But hey, never mind, you just carry on your sensationalism. Oh and by the way, the title includes the word "Suspects".

Do you have a reading/comprehension problem? Para 6 - "Mr Wallop said he did it because he adhered to his political ideology and said he was irate over the security operations to disperse the Red Shirt protesters....."

then try Para 4 "Mr Wallop confessed to firing RPG projectiles................" which by my summation makes him a red shirt, and a bit more than a suspect.

He was also in possession of bomb-making materials, and even if he had no intention of using them (which I strongly doubt), simple possession is a criminal offence that linked with the other charges should ensure a long, long sentence.

[phiphidon]

I'm not apologising for anyone, just trying to calm down the hyperbole. There's enough tension going around at the moment . Why can't we just wait a day or so instead of jumping in and making assumptions on the latest headline.

I missed your condemnation of Post # 2 of this thread:

http://www.thaivisa....ost__p__4042778

Condemnation, no, I disagreed with it and offered an alternative viewpoint (still allowed?) some 30 posts later so plenty of other information being provided there.OK not a day later but it wasn't an immediate response to an OP

[webfact]

Five arrested over bomb and grenade attacks in Bangkok

By The Nation

Police have arrested five suspects accused of launching several M79 and bomb attacks in Bangkok and elsewhere during the redshirt protests in May.

The five suspects are Wallop Phitheephrome, Somkhid Makwong, Wanchai Sangkhao, Anant Meerod and Chatchai Phokhanuphrab.

Police say Wallop admitted to being behind 12 M79 attacks, including four in Chiang Mai on a business office owned by the fatherinlaw of key government ally Newin Chidchob.

There were no details about the other four suspects. They were allegedly caught possessing many bombmaking materials, explosives, a homemade pistol, munitions and a pickup truck that police say was used in launching the attacks.

They have been charged with possessing explosives and firearms without permission.

The five suspects were also behind many grenade or bomb attacks throughout Bangkok, including an attack on a branch of Bangkok Bank near Pratunam.

Police chief Pol General Wichean Potephosree did not say whether the five men were members of the redshirt movement.

Wallop was the first suspect arrested due to an extensive police investigation into an M79 attack on September 12 on Chiang Mai Construction Co Ltd in Muang district. He was arrested on Monday night at a petrol station in Bangkok in a pickup, found to have also been used in many attacks he allegedly undertook.

Meanwhile, red shirt leader Jatuporn Promphan yesterday said he never threatened to harm another red shirt, former actor Methee Amornwutthikul, who is now a key Department of Special Investigation (DSI) witness, neither facetoface nor over the phone, as Methee had claimed.

Pheu Thai MP Jatuporn was speaking after meeting yesterday with a senior prosecutor. The prosecutor will act soon, at the request of DSI chief Tharit Phengdit, and appeal to the Criminal Court to no longer allow Jatuporn a temporary release from detention after the current parliamentary session ends.

The MP denied ever speaking to Methee, now under DSI witness protection after he was offered immunity from prosecution in exchange for testimony against Jatuporn and other red shirt leaders, for their alleged roles in funding and ordering terror attacks during the redshirt protests in May.

Jatuporn called on Tharit to produce evidence or audio clips of his words threatening to kill or harm Methee.

The MP said he had called on red shirts to not stage a counterrally against their rivals, the People's Alliance for Democracy, who are now protesting outside Parliament, or get near the area.

"If there is anyone staging a rally nearby, I call for arrests of those people, because they are the fake reds," he said.

Somyos Phrueksakasemsuk, a leader of the June 24 Democracy movement, accused the government of a double standard, for allowing the PAD yellow shirts to use loud speakers during their rally while threatening to arrests red shirts for doing the same.

He said each redshirt rally always drew a minimum 5,000people while the PAD rally now had a lot fewer people.

-- The Nation 2010-11-24

[brahmburgers]

Indulge me, where in the OP is there any links between the 5 accused and the red shirt movement that could have led you to the immediate accusation of "Red Shirt Bomber Battalions"? Let alone your comment "using C4 plastic explosives, electric blasting caps, mobile phone time delay circuits, a shotgun and cartridges". The wording was "in possession of".

Buchholz doesn't need me to speak for him, but whether they're called 'Red Shirt Bomber Battalions' or 'Black Shirts' or 'Sae Daeng's Boys' or 'Thaksin's Secret Weapon' (a rose by any other name....) they still have all the markings of a group of thugs aligned with the Reds. Whether they were directed by (or tolerated by) Red leaders or not remains to be proven in court. It will also be interesting to see where their funding came from. Regular Thai tough guys can't just go in to a local shop and purchase military grade weapons, and even if they could, it's doubtful they would pay out of their own pockets. Methinks there are others crawling under the same rock where these guys were found - women also (facilitating funding, harboring criminals, etc).

[ChinesePanda]

Buchholz doesn't need me to speak for him, but whether they're called 'Red Shirt Bomber Battalions' or 'Black Shirts' or 'Sae Daeng's Boys' or 'Thaksin's Secret Weapon' (a rose by any other name....) they still have all the markings of a group of thugs aligned with the Reds. Whether they were directed by (or tolerated by) Red leaders or not remains to be proven in court. It will also be interesting to see where their funding came from. Regular Thai tough guys can't just go in to a local shop and purchase military grade weapons, and even if they could, it's doubtful they would pay out of their own pockets. Methinks there are others crawling under the same rock where these guys were found - women also (facilitating funding, harboring criminals, etc).

Well said Mr. Bigmac, and very good point there where the usual bunch missed out in the everyday 'confrontation' here in TV, I always got carried away by the hot issues and fault pin-pointing which entertains me, but your highlight of areas much closer to the roots of causes is a very admirable statement, just hope there is no accusations or jumping the shotgun hereafter.:jap:

[Buchholz]

Somyos Phrueksakasemsuk

He said each red shirt rally always drew a minimum 5,000 people

Another Red lie from the editor of Red Power, Red News, etc.

[jdinasia]

Somyos Phrueksakasemsuk

He said each red shirt rally always drew a minimum 5,000 people

Another Red lie from the editor of Red Power, Red News, etc.

agreed ... some of them gathered only a few 100 .... but hey! Who needs the truth when you have your own media outlet to spread lies!

[hammered]

Good news

[jdinasia]

Good news

Indeed

It should put to rest SOME of the "prove it" requests from people that blamed everything on the military and Government and Yellows The rest? well .... they "just believe"

[Buchholz]

Ties to the Nonthaburi apartment building Red bomb-making explosion that killed four:

Suspects in Multiple M79 Attacks Arrested

Police have arrested a suspect in the multiple bombings in Chiang Mai province and Bangkok during the unrest between April and September.

National Police Chief, Police General Wichien Pojphosri has announced the arrest of 26 year old Wallop Phiteephrom, a former private at the 7th Cavalry Squadron in Uttaradit province, under an arrest warrant issued by the Chiang Mai Provincial Court.

The man has been accused of multiple M79 grenade attacks in Bangkok and Chiang Mai province between April and September.

He is currently being held at Chiang Mai Court.

Wallop admitted to having staged an attack against the head office of Chiang Mai Construction, a company owned by the father in law of Bhum Jai Thai Party de facto leader Newin Chidchob as well as attacks in a parking area at the Makro superstore, a furniture factory, and the area in front of the 5th Special Forces Regiment compound.

The suspect admitted to eight other incidents in Bangkok, including the one near the home of Akaratorn Chularat, the President of the Administrative Court, as well as others at Bangkok Bank's Talingchan and Vibhavadi branches, Indra Hotel in Ratchathevi area, and the Government House.

He confessed that he fired 60 grenades into Lumpini Park on May 16, after the security forces threatened to launch a crackdown, and he engaged in a gun battle with security forces from within the red-shirt group during the clashes on May 18 and 19.

Wallop said he used to work as red-shirt guard, but only to get intelligence from the group.

He claimed that he staged the attacks because he wanted revenge for the military crackdown last April.

The man said he obtained the arms from vendors at Thai Cambodian border crossings, but he denied having had any special training with any group.

However, he revealed that there are people who provide pipelines for the red shirt movements, but he refused to give any names.

Following the arrest, Police searched a room in the Rom Klao state housing project.

There, they captured four other suspects and confiscated a variety of weapons and components, including two 2 kilograms of C-4 explosives, gunpowder, shotguns, and other weapons.

The suspects claimed they were hired to watch over the cache.

However, police found that the four knew the suspect in the bombing at an apartment in Nonthaburi's Bangbuathong area, and they are conducting further investigation to verify their links.

-- Tan Network 2010-11-24

Edited November 24, 2010 by Buchholz

[Buchholz]

There, they captured four other suspects and confiscated a variety of weapons and components, including two 2 kilograms of C-4 explosives, gunpowder, shotguns, and other weapons.

only 70 grams of C-4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qoVrXDDpvF4

C-4 detonation velocity is 8,040 m/s (26,400 ft/s), or 28,900 km/h (18,000 mph).

[Wombat6]

I hope the Thai authorities liase with their Cambodian counterparts in a clean up of 'vendors" of grenades etc. on the border in order to stem the flow of these weapons that have claimed the lives of a lot of innocent people and destruction of property.

[asiawatcher]

The fact they have them is fine. The fact one idiot admits firing because he was angry - kinda says it all. Incarcerate them for terrorists acts and give them maximum penalty so its sends a message. Its okay to get 18 years for Lese Majeste but acts like this have so far only caught 2 year penalties. No sensibility here in justice whatsoever.

[LJW]

I am happy to see the Chiang Mai Court being so involved in this issue, and I am happy they caught one of the bombers

[bf2002]

Of coarse people are bitter on the UDD/red shirt side.

The elites have used the courts to remove their last 2 elected governments, and then are now in power by that and not a real election open to the whole country.

Add to this that the UDD included many poor and uneducated, who are now seeing (or being told by the leaders who are rich again) that they are the fodder that enriches only the elite, and what do you think will happen?

There was this thing called a revolution that happened in France and in the USA over this very type of elitist attempt to rig the system. The UK had a serious of conflicts over it that forced it's monarchy to finally allow parliament and rights for commoners.

So what if the red shirts are associated with Thaksin....does that make it less obvious the Yellows are elitist, royalists, and middle class only, and effectively a minority of the voters in this 3rd world country (contrary to what the lies claimed by both Thaksin AND Abhisit that Thailand is actually a developed country)?

[rubl]

He confessed that he fired 60 grenades into Lumpini Park on May 16, after the security forces threatened to launch a crackdown, and he engaged in a gun battle with security forces from within the red-shirt group during the clashes on May 18 and 19.

Puts a whole new 'spin' to the 'peaceful protesters, not terrorists' slogan.

[jdinasia]

Of coarse people are bitter on the UDD/red shirt side.

The elites have used the courts to remove their last 2 elected governments, and then are now in power by that and not a real election open to the whole country.

Add to this that the UDD included many poor and uneducated, who are now seeing (or being told by the leaders who are rich again) that they are the fodder that enriches only the elite, and what do you think will happen?

There was this thing called a revolution that happened in France and in the USA over this very type of elitist attempt to rig the system. The UK had a serious of conflicts over it that forced it's monarchy to finally allow parliament and rights for commoners.

So what if the red shirts are associated with Thaksin....does that make it less obvious the Yellows are elitist, royalists, and middle class only, and effectively a minority of the voters in this 3rd world country (contrary to what the lies claimed by both Thaksin AND Abhisit that Thailand is actually a developed country)?

You certainly seem to have no understanding of history (either modern Thai history or the history of France, the UK or the USA!) Perhaps you should define what you mean by elites ... and show us the political platform of the redshirts When you have done that please explain to the rest of us how coalition governments work in the parliamentary type of democracy. Finally, tell us how the red leadership isn't "elite" and why they turned down the offered early elections (not once but TWICE)

[whybother]

Of coarse people are bitter on the UDD/red shirt side.

The elites have used the courts to remove their last 2 elected governments, and then are now in power by that and not a real election open to the whole country.

Add to this that the UDD included many poor and uneducated, who are now seeing (or being told by the leaders who are rich again) that they are the fodder that enriches only the elite, and what do you think will happen?

There was this thing called a revolution that happened in France and in the USA over this very type of elitist attempt to rig the system. The UK had a serious of conflicts over it that forced it's monarchy to finally allow parliament and rights for commoners.

So what if the red shirts are associated with Thaksin....does that make it less obvious the Yellows are elitist, royalists, and middle class only, and effectively a minority of the voters in this 3rd world country (contrary to what the lies claimed by both Thaksin AND Abhisit that Thailand is actually a developed country)?

It's not really worth pointing out all the inaccuracies in your statements, except to say, read a bit more.

[jdinasia]

He confessed that he fired 60 grenades into Lumpini Park on May 16, after the security forces threatened to launch a crackdown, and he engaged in a gun battle with security forces from within the red-shirt group during the clashes on May 18 and 19.

Puts a whole new 'spin' to the 'peaceful protesters, not terrorists' slogan.

Absolutely ... it also adds a bit more to the discussion about WHO killed people during the move to get the UDD out of BKK.

[Pi Sek]

Of coarse people are bitter on the UDD/red shirt side.

The elites have used the courts to remove their last 2 elected governments, and then are now in power by that and not a real election open to the whole country.

Add to this that the UDD included many poor and uneducated, who are now seeing (or being told by the leaders who are rich again) that they are the fodder that enriches only the elite, and what do you think will happen?

There was this thing called a revolution that happened in France and in the USA over this very type of elitist attempt to rig the system. The UK had a serious of conflicts over it that forced it's monarchy to finally allow parliament and rights for commoners.

So what if the red shirts are associated with Thaksin....does that make it less obvious the Yellows are elitist, royalists, and middle class only, and effectively a minority of the voters in this 3rd world country (contrary to what the lies claimed by both Thaksin AND Abhisit that Thailand is actually a developed country)?

I actually agree with most of what you said... except for your commonly-misinterpreted factually-incorrect first sentence (both bits). But if you had ever been to a 3rd world country, you would quickly realise that Thailand is not one and has not been one for a verrrry long time. Even in Kalasin or wherever.