Grenade Attack Targets Pheu Thai Worker: Pre-Poll Violence

[webfact]

PRE-POLL VIOLENCE

Grenade attack targets Pheu Thai worker

By The Nation

Police believe homemade device probably not intended to kill

In what seems to be becoming customary, preelection violence has begun to escalate. A canvasser for a potential Pheu Thai Party candidate was the target of a grenade attack at her home in Samut Prakan yesterday, three days after veteran MP Pracha Prasobdee of the same party was injured in an assassination attempt.

Somthawil Ruenthong, who is close to potential candidate Worrachai Hema, told police that her pickup truck sustained damage from a grenade lobbed at her house in Bang Phli district early yesterday.

The woman said she received a phone call last month telling her to stop supporting Worrachai but she turned the caller down.

Police said the grenade could be a homemade type and was possibly not intended to kill.

A local politician in Samut Prakan, Mallika Thiansuwan, dismissed rumours that she or her younger brother Weerasak was behind the shooting of Pracha, saying that her family never had conflicts with Pracha, whom she claimed to have met last month.

Referring to Pracha's statement that the mastermind was a son of an influential local politician, Mallika said that although the description matched Weerasak, he had no reason to have conflicts with Pracha, nor was he running in the July 3 general election under the banner of the Bhum Jai Thai Party, which is a rival to Pracha's Pheu Thai, or any other party.

"I don't have any clue about the motive behind the shooting of Pracha. I never crossed a line with him," she added.

Weerasak is now an adviser to the mayor of tambon Phra Sumut Chedi municipality, while Mallika is a former deputy head of the Provincial Administrative Organisation.

Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban said he never "piled up on Pracha's misery" as Pracha claimed on Thursday, by giving any statement in his disfavour after he was shot. Suthep said he could possibly have been misquoted by a third person who conveyed his message to Pracha.

Suthep said violence in politics was not acceptable, and that he had ordered police to treat Pracha's shooting equally well as any crimes or political violent cases, while a police suppression on gunforhire rackets was underway.

He dismissed a statement by Pheu Thai Party MP Jatuporn Promphan that violence was being used and would escalate to prevent the July 3 election from being completed, saying that exaggeration was a habit of Jatuporn's and he would not comment further on the matter.

Doctors at Rama IX Hospital turned down Pracha's request to return home, because his gunshot wound has not completely healed, and yesterday became a bit infected. They said nine bullet fragments in his back did not need to be removed.

-- The Nation 2011-05-14

[ianf]

I would not put it beyond the reds to attack their own side. This would follow a pattern of behaviour transparently so since the red occupation of BKK. They are arch manipulators and would stop at nothing, absolutely nothing, to get their beloved leader back into power.

[rreddin]

I would not put it beyond the reds to attack their own side. This would follow a pattern of behaviour transparently so since the red occupation of BKK. They are arch manipulators and would stop at nothing, absolutely nothing, to get their beloved leader back into power.

There is nothing like having an open mind.

[raylo]

I would not put it beyond the reds to attack their own side. This would follow a pattern of behaviour transparently so since the red occupation of BKK. They are arch manipulators and would stop at nothing, absolutely nothing, to get their beloved leader back into power.

Agreed. They have repeatedly demonstrated that trait. Sort of reminds you of suicide bombers and their handlers ethics?

Of course this is all conjecture but will bring out the anti everythings.

[bangkokeddy]

I would not put it beyond the reds to attack their own side. This would follow a pattern of behaviour transparently so since the red occupation of BKK. They are arch manipulators and would stop at nothing, absolutely nothing, to get their beloved leader back into power.

Why they should do that and risk that the election might be postponed

[maewrocks]

I would not put it beyond the reds to attack their own side. This would follow a pattern of behaviour transparently so since the red occupation of BKK. They are arch manipulators and would stop at nothing, absolutely nothing, to get their beloved leader back into power.

Agreed. They have repeatedly demonstrated that trait. Sort of reminds you of suicide bombers and their handlers ethics?

Of course this is all conjecture but will bring out the anti everythings.

Well it couldn't have anything to do with the government because they are all saints. Must be those evil red guys. Terrorists!! Should bring GWB in to do a 'shock & awe' campaign.

[timekeeper]

I would not put it beyond the reds to attack their own side. This would follow a pattern of behaviour transparently so since the red occupation of BKK. They are arch manipulators and would stop at nothing, absolutely nothing, to get their beloved leader back into power.

Agreed. They have repeatedly demonstrated that trait. Sort of reminds you of suicide bombers and their handlers ethics?

Of course this is all conjecture but will bring out the anti everythings.

Well it couldn't have anything to do with the government because they are all saints. Must be those evil red guys. Terrorists!! Should bring GWB in to do a 'shock & awe' campaign.

for once i agree with you Maewrocks, it had to be the red terrorists

GWB is all washed up

we need Obamas seals to make a real impression on getting rid of the red menace

[anterian]

I am becoming increasingly amazed at the totally closed minds exhibited by many TV writers. No questioning, no evaluation of facts or ideas, simply a compulsive, knee jerk response.

[timekeeper]

I am becoming increasingly amazed at the totally closed minds exhibited by many TV writers. No questioning, no evaluation of facts or ideas, simply a compulsive, knee jerk response.

i used to have an open mind but my brain kept falling out.........

[Macmundi]

There is a good and bad to every story. But here, the dead are politicians, so its okay, there are lots more. And for the ones who pay to kill, well, they are politicians too, so, they will eventually have a taste of their own medicine.

[bangkokeddy]

I am becoming increasingly amazed at the totally closed minds exhibited by many TV writers. No questioning, no evaluation of facts or ideas, simply a compulsive, knee jerk response.

Are you new here?

[featography]

I would not put it beyond the reds to attack their own side. This would follow a pattern of behaviour transparently so since the red occupation of BKK. They are arch manipulators and would stop at nothing, absolutely nothing, to get their beloved leader back into power.

There is nothing like having an open mind.

[animatic]

What dead here?

It need not be Reds against less agressive members of PTP or it's canvasing staff. The Politicians themselves are more than agressive enough. The PTP Party List positions are up for grabs in the lower listings, and the tighter the race the more the need for a higher list positioning or risk getting NOTHING.

So as usual and as stated, "becoming customary", the underlings of influentials are trying to scare off, or simply remove, those that might either take away a share of the gravy train, or their chance at a part list position without doubt.

The top list is not their possibility, but since voter numbers determine HOW far down the list they get elected, the worry would be to move your man up the list till you bump into a 'written in stone from the top' lister and can go no further up.

Will this same type of thing play out in the Red PTP List members? Not as likely, because their leaders are being installed from the top. But if there are PTP players who have talked against them, or are not seen as strongly enough pro Reds, then maybe all bets are off for their safety. The Reds seem to be rather monochromatic in outlook so a non-friend is potentially an enemy if you are not with us 110% they you are our enemy.

Still the greater likelihood is PTP and influential infighting as the list positions come up for grabs. AFTER the list is set in stone, then we may see inter party and local admin vs potential Bangkok based 'party spoilers' going at each other.

Edited May 14, 2011 by animatic

[anterian]

I am becoming increasingly amazed at the totally closed minds exhibited by many TV writers. No questioning, no evaluation of facts or ideas, simply a compulsive, knee jerk response.

Are you new here?

About a year newer than you, but I still retain my sense of wonder. I do wonder at the evolutionary benefits of the human brain, it seems to function best in destructive mode. Ants with far less brains seem to be biologically far more succesful than humans.

[slapout]

The photo of the vehicle and the damage to the windscreen looks more like a thrown rock, or a bird strike while driving than the aftermath of a grenade.

The reports of attempted bombing. attempted assassinations, etc, really brings into question the real hit men who are caught, absconded, never found, etc, and their employers. If the failed, attempted political assassinations, are any indication of the forethought/common sense that is involved in the Thai political social order, they could probably better serve mankind as fish bait.

[moe666]

I would not put it beyond the reds to attack their own side. This would follow a pattern of behaviour transparently so since the red occupation of BKK. They are arch manipulators and would stop at nothing, absolutely nothing, to get their beloved leader back into power.

They got volunteers to go for being shot, blown up, and the next thing will be a knifing. They were told it will only be a flesh wound.

[otherstuff1957]

If you read the article, it actually implies a Bhumijai Thai/Phua Thai conflict. I, for one, am not surprised to see grenades & bullets flying in such a case.

[animatic]

If you read the article, it actually implies a Bhumijai Thai/Phua Thai conflict. I, for one, am not surprised to see grenades & bullets flying in such a case.

No, actually it implies that someone else

implied a Bhumijai Thai/Phua Thai conflict,

and that it is being denied.

Edited May 14, 2011 by animatic

[AleG]

All this looks like a little feud between local politicians, I don't think it's necessary to force country-wide movements involvement.

However the impression I have of the TRT/PTP attracting the lowest dregs from the bottom of the politics barrel probably skews things towards situations like this.

[mca]

However the impression I have of the TRT/PTP attracting the lowest dregs from the bottom of the politics barrel probably skews things towards situations like this.

Makes me wonder how the DPM slipped through the net.

[dunkin2012]

it's not a big surprise!!!

more to come!!!!

count on me then.....

[AleG]

However the impression I have of the TRT/PTP attracting the lowest dregs from the bottom of the politics barrel probably skews things towards situations like this.

Makes me wonder how the DPM slipped through the net.

Indeed!

[chainarong]

Don't ya just love em ,the real people of the world, when something doesn't go to their liking, we get this crap, just go to the ballot box, cast your vote and then abide by the umpires decision, err that's if it ain't rigged, votes brought, intimidation , corruption etc, U know what i mean.