Bangkok Ratchaprasong: M79 'launched from Pratunam'

[webfact]

M79 'launched from Pratunam'
Phathinya Iamtan
The Nation


People lay funeral flowers yesterday to mourn the two children and a woman who died after a blast in front of a Big C store near a rally site in Ratchaprasong.

Shooter allegedly an expert; attacks used to justify protests, NSC boss says

BANGKOK: -- The M79 grenade that landed near the anti-government rally at Ratchaprasong intersection late on Sunday afternoon, killing three people and injuring several others, was most likely launched from the vicinity of Pratunam intersection, the police ordnance division chief Pol Maj-General Ronnakorn Suphasamut said yesterday.

"The round was fired in a projectile motion with the aim of harming people and property in front of the [big C] shopping mall," he said. The M79 hit trees before bouncing off the kerb and exploding on the road, he added.

Ronnakorn said the blast had created a 5-by-2-centimetre crater and evidence found at the scene showed it was a 40-mm round fired from a launcher.

"The shooter is likely an expert in using M79 launchers judging

from the accuracy of the round [landing inside the rally stage area]," he said.

Security has been heightened in areas adjacent to the three rally sites - including Pathumwan and Asoke intersections - senior commander Pol Maj-General Suebsak Phansura said. In an earlier statement, he had said he believed the M79 fired at Ratchaprasong may have been shot from ground level.

He added that police will man checkpoints around the clock to ensure no weapons are taken into rally sites and will check vantage points in the three protest areas to cut down on the chance of them being used for future attacks.

Meanwhile, National Security Council (NSC) chief Paradorn Pattanatabut yesterday dismissed a Navy commander's claim that foreign forces were involved in fatal attacks against anti-government protesters in Bangkok and Trat over the weekend.

Instead, Paradorn put the attacks down to extremists who had joined the rally under the guise of being protesters.

Naval Security Warfare commander Rear Admiral Winai Klom-in had said earlier that the random shooting and bomb attacks in the border province of Trat, which resulted in the death of a five-year-old girl, with another in coma and several people injured, were the work of "foreign forces".

Allegations

The NSC chief responded by saying certain people were "using violence to justify the existence of the anti-government protesters" and that these people were also behind the attack in Trat, because they had a "similar purpose".

Pol Maj-General Piya Uthayo, spokesman for the Royal Thai Police, said surveillance camera footage showed that two vehicles were used by up to six men who staged the attack in Trat. One was a black Toyota pick-up without a licence plate, while the other was a silver Toyota pick-up with its licence plate covered.

Both vehicles were seen heading toward downtown Trat using Sukhumvit Road, he said.

Meanwhile, caretaker Labour Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung, who is chief of the government's anti-protest command, said he knew everything about both the attacks, but would reveal details about them later. He also said that launching M79 rounds 100-metres from the rally stage had been done with "the intention of exploiting the violence". He did not elaborate.


-- The Nation 2014-02-25

[Minnehaha]

"Chalerm Yoobamrung, who is chief of the government's anti-protest command, said he knew everything about both the attacks, but would reveal details about them later. He also said that launching M79 rounds 100-metres from the rally stage had been done with "the intention of exploiting the violence". He did not elaborate."

He knows everything. Except what to do about anything.

[animatic]

Just coincidental that this over the top violence starts after ;

The police are told by courts that they can't use force to disperse protesters.

The Red Shirts UDD are having War Drums rallies.

There is a concerted effort to hobble Shinawatra clan financial interests.

The election is not happening and all threats at the EC are ineffectual.

Yingluck is getting charged for criminal negligence in office

The farmers are up in arms and riding thousands of tractors to Bangkok.

The government has emptied the coffers and is hanging on by toenails.

[ShannonT]

Just coincidental that this over the top violence starts after ;

The police are told by courts that they can't use force to disperse protesters.

The Red Shirts UDD are having War Drums rallies.

There is a concerted effort to hobble Shinawatra clan financial interests.

The election is not happening and all threats at the EC are ineffectual.

Yingluck is getting charged for criminal negligence in office

The farmers are up in arms and riding thousands of tractors to Bangkok.

The government has emptied the coffers and is hanging on by toenails.

I thought the protesters have been complaining for months now about these attacks?

Sorry to bust your theory.

[londonthai]

so it wasn't a tuk tuk driver from sisaket, which was stopped by the pdrc guards. Easy to blame anybody on the spot

[fleeing]

"Chalerm Yoobamrung, who is chief of the government's anti-protest command, said he knew everything about both the attacks, but would reveal details about them later. He also said that launching M79 rounds 100-metres from the rally stage had been done with "the intention of exploiting the violence". He did not elaborate."

He knows everything. Except what to do about anything.

He knows everything. But is still looking for someone, preferably from the South, to 'confess' and implicate some soldiers for the princely sum of 8,000 baht and a new identity?

[fleeing]

For anyone who doesn't know the area or where the protest stage is, Richard Barrow has kindly made a (google) map available.

http://www.richardbarrow.com/2014/01/everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-bangkok-shutdown/

[ikurauni]

<Meanwhile, caretaker Labour Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung, who is chief of the government's anti-protest command, said he knew everything about both the attacks, but would reveal details about them later. He also said that launching M79 rounds 100-metres from the rally stage had been done with "the intention of exploiting the violence". He did not elaborate.>

He said he knows everything but does not want to disclose the detail now. Why is that? Any logical reasons for this?

[NongKhaiKid]

The BBC World News' footage of the area showed more military than BIB in attendance and that included Military Police who appeared to be doing Scene of Crime work. So just who was the lead agency ?

I'm sure the investigation will not be enhanced by too many cooks and probably not working in tandem since they come from vastly different organisations not noted for mutual respect and co-operation.

Is this another sleeping dog best left lying ?

[Fryslan boppe]

"...the intention of exploiting the violence".

"The shooter is likely an expert in using M79 launchers judging..."

"...extremists who had joined the rally under the guise of being protesters"

"...using violence to justify the existence of the anti-government protesters"

One can expend all the hot air one wants, pointing fingers in every direction, but above quotes from the article are the only ones that make sense.

All of it geared toward maximizing havoc on the streets which serves the purpose of one side, and one only.

As with the PDRC encouraged gun covered with a popcorn bag in possession of military appearing individuals, bombs being thrown off trucks in the middle of a protest procession, etc., this thing is not as murky or as politically confrontational as the coup-mongers like to characterize it as.

It is too bad military leadership doesn't whisper some carefully crafted words in the ear of coup-monger leadership, and this anti-Democracy thing would be over....But when they are self-appointed protectors of the Elite, as clearly demonstrated during 2010 R'Song attack on those opposed to an unelected, Elitist coup-rooted Govt, that would be expecting too much.

It all boils down to following the anarchic, political minority down a path of anti-democracy, or get this current election over with asap. The results tabulated will identify who the majority are for Governance going forward...Only with that avenue propelling Thailand back into Parliament, will this thing become positive....

Self-servingly demonizing, denigrating and diminishing the election by PAD-Dem's merely serves anti-democratic purposes and needs to be consigned to that motive, and that one alone. Sympathizing with that approach also contextualizes one's political underpinnings.

Edited February 25, 2014 by Fryslan boppe

[fleeing]

The BBC World News' footage of the area showed more military than BIB in attendance and that included Military Police who appeared to be doing Scene of Crime work. So just who was the lead agency ?

I'm sure the investigation will not be enhanced by too many cooks and probably not working in tandem since they come from vastly different organisations not noted for mutual respect and co-operation.

Is this another sleeping dog best left lying ?

Considering that the RTP have about as much credibility as the 'real' Rolex watches on sale at Patpong night market, it might mean that the attack is actually being investigated for a change.

[BigMountain]

Does anyone know if the suspect tuk-tuk driver the army detained soon after the incident was released or found to be innocent?

[taony]

brilliant analysis by the police, and it only took two days. Everyone knew it was launched from there. Where else would it have come from. And yes, the person who did it was quite the expert. It only bounced off a few trees and the curb before exploding. I guess if it had landed in Din Daeng, that might have been considered inaccurate.

It was launched randomly by a coward from a safe area and that coward immediately fled the scene by continuing on down the road. Do the police even ask around for statements from witnesses? Or do they just squat on the floor staring at the blood for six hours so they can get their pictures in the newspapers???

[JRSoul]

Does anyone know if the suspect tuk-tuk driver the army detained soon after the incident was released or found to be innocent?

I believe there is a "Get Out of Jail Free" printed on the back of PTP/UDD membership cards.

[Stradavarius37]

<script type='text/javascript'>window.mod_pagespeed_start = Number(new Date());</script>

Does anyone know if the suspect tuk-tuk driver the army detained soon after the incident was released or found to be innocent?

I believe there is a "Get Out of Jail Free" printed on the back of PTP/UDD membership cards.

It certainly aint free - costs 1 soul

[craigt3365]

A post violating a forum rule has been removed from view, along with a number of very good replies. Next post like this will result in the member receiving a posting holiday. Apologies to the members with the appropriate replies.

In volatile situations such as what currently exists in Bangkok, rumours, and hearsay can result in people being put in harms way. At this time we heed all members to remember this, and avoid posting inflammatory allegations, rumours, and other harmful posts that could endanger others.

Many members are in and around the areas affected and require accurate, honest, and clear information about what is happening in order to keep themselves and their families safe. It is imperative that all members pitch in to help them with this, be it by providing accurate information, or by self-moderating yourself and stifling your emotions before responding to a topic.

It's at times of crisis like this that people turn to this forum (including all of you) for guidance, and we hope all members will do their bit to help out.

That being said, we will not have any patience for outlandish behaviour right now, Disruptive people will simply be removed.

Those who have been, and are continuing to help give a clear picture to our members and ourselves, you have our thanks.

Thaivisa.com

[NongKhaiKid]

The BBC World News' footage of the area showed more military than BIB in attendance and that included Military Police who appeared to be doing Scene of Crime work. So just who was the lead agency ?

I'm sure the investigation will not be enhanced by too many cooks and probably not working in tandem since they come from vastly different organisations not noted for mutual respect and co-operation.

Is this another sleeping dog best left lying ?

Considering that the RTP have about as much credibility as the 'real' Rolex watches on sale at Patpong night market, it might mean that the attack is actually being investigated for a change.

You are correct about the BIB but military involvement doesn't mean the investigation will be any better especially if two sets of investigators work against each other rather than with.

Is the purpose of any investigation here to identify those responsible and let justice take its course or identify those involved and cover it up ?

[animatic]

Just coincidental that this over the top violence starts after ;

The police are told by courts that they can't use force to disperse protesters.

The Red Shirts UDD are having War Drums rallies.

There is a concerted effort to hobble Shinawatra clan financial interests.

The election is not happening and all threats at the EC are ineffectual.

Yingluck is getting charged for criminal negligence in office

The farmers are up in arms and riding thousands of tractors to Bangkok.

The government has emptied the coffers and is hanging on by toenails.

I thought the protesters have been complaining for months now about these attacks?

Sorry to bust your theory.

So tell me how many children were being killed in front of Big C,

or while cleaning dishes at family noodle stalls, in the last 4 months?

In under 24 hours, 3 children have been kill and more injured.

That qualifies as over the top escalation. The shooters don't care who is there.

They were not targeting random innocents without compunction, until now.

Sorry to bust your attempted parry of a mortal thrust.

Can't fight facts without adequate tools to do so.

You are defending the indefensible.

Edited February 25, 2014 by animatic

[mrtoad]

Obvioulsy Chalerm has already had a few drops this morning. The man is a legend in his own drinks cabinet.

Sent from my GT-I9500 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[JesseFrank]

So now we know that the M79 was fired from within the protest zone, while at the same time the judges prohibited the police from searching the protest zones for weapons. The PDRC guards, who are always so good at searching everyone thoroughly, didn't catch these weapons from entering the protest zones?

Riiiiiight.....

Where does it say that it was fired from within the protest site?

Sent from my XT1032 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

In the initial post. Read it.

It says it was launched from the vicinity of the Praunam intersection. The entire area is one big PDRC protected area.

The "vicinity " of the Pratunam intersection describes quite a large area . There is a Amari Hotel, so maybe it was the manager of that hotel who launched the grenade, there is also a Panthip Plaza so maybe it were computer experts.

At least I hadn't expected to read that the M-79 grenade was fired from somewhere in the Silom area.

[Arjay]

<Meanwhile, caretaker Labour Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung, who is chief of the government's anti-protest command, said he knew everything about both the attacks, but would reveal details about them later. He also said that launching M79 rounds 100-metres from the rally stage had been done with "the intention of exploiting the violence". He did not elaborate.>

He said he knows everything but does not want to disclose the detail now. Why is that? Any logical reasons for this?

What do you expect from Chalerm? Obviously he's not a logical or rational guy.

[fleeing]

The BBC World News' footage of the area showed more military than BIB in attendance and that included Military Police who appeared to be doing Scene of Crime work. So just who was the lead agency ?

I'm sure the investigation will not be enhanced by too many cooks and probably not working in tandem since they come from vastly different organisations not noted for mutual respect and co-operation.

Is this another sleeping dog best left lying ?

Considering that the RTP have about as much credibility as the 'real' Rolex watches on sale at Patpong night market, it might mean that the attack is actually being investigated for a change.

You are correct about the BIB but military involvement doesn't mean the investigation will be any better especially if two sets of investigators work against each other rather than with.

Is the purpose of any investigation here to identify those responsible and let justice take its course or identify those involved and cover it up ?

Considering that till now no one seems to have been charged for any of the attacks on protesters, not even the man with a car full of weapons at Rangsit or the woman driving the car used to shoot at people at Democracy Monument, it would be appear that someone in the RTP/CMPO is doing as little as possible to bring culprits to justice. Hopefully the military are less subservient to this, but there's only so much that can be traced from grenade fragments and the wounds of the dead and injured. Although it will be interesting to see if the tendentious claims by the police and Chalerm are contradicted by the military later today.

[Seastallion]

"The M79 hit trees before bouncing off the kerb and exploding on the road"

"""The shooter is likely an expert in using M79 launchers judging from the accuracy ...." "

So, he's saying the actual target was some trees?

[rubl]

Just coincidental that this over the top violence starts after ;

The police are told by courts that they can't use force to disperse protesters.

The Red Shirts UDD are having War Drums rallies.

There is a concerted effort to hobble Shinawatra clan financial interests.

The election is not happening and all threats at the EC are ineffectual.

Yingluck is getting charged for criminal negligence in office

The farmers are up in arms and riding thousands of tractors to Bangkok.

The government has emptied the coffers and is hanging on by toenails.

I thought the protesters have been complaining for months now about these attacks?

Sorry to bust your theory.

Reading and understanding is not easy to some, it would seem.

1. The police was told by courts last week

2. red-shirt had a war drum gathering last weekend

3. boycott Shin business started last week

4. election still not happening, but being pushed by Pheu Thai, renewed effort srated this week

5. Yingluck getting charged, made known last week, too busy, will send legal time.

6. Farmers up in arms a month and protests increasing with every promise from the government to pay real soon now

7. Government still desperately trying to raise money even today

Of course the protesters have been complaining about this for months. They simply know this would happen as they had a really good crystal ball.

[ChrisY1]

"Chalerm Yoobamrung, who is chief of the government's anti-protest command, said he knew everything about both the attacks, but would reveal details about them later. He also said that launching M79 rounds 100-metres from the rally stage had been done with "the intention of exploiting the violence". He did not elaborate."

He knows everything. Except what to do about anything.

Another serious blight on Thailand having this fool in this position....such an utter embarrassment!

[slapout]

As I age my recall of event sequences sometimes need a reminder. But I seem to recall a anti government protest at a football stadium which was forewarned by 'big mouth' and company that the red shirts were on the way.

Subsquently the red shirts got a real bloody nose from their endevor and did a night time retreat.

Since that action the attacks on the anti government protest sites/groups have been carried out with no reguard to the innocents who are in the area.

The comment that an "expert" was probably involved in the M 79 attack, firing from a 100 meter distance, round bounces off a tree and a kerb, before hitting target, should raise questions about the "expert" who even made this statement.

[tomacht8]

"Meanwhile, caretaker Labour Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung, who is chief of the government's anti-protest command, said he knew everything about both the attacks, but would reveal details about them later."

He is apparently the only one who knows everything about the last 2 attacks.

How is this possible?
That makes him therefore suspect.

Or he retains important evidence?
Police must act quickly, because the killers are still running around freely.

[JamesDean3]

Just coincidental that this over the top violence starts after ;

The police are told by courts that they can't use force to disperse protesters.

The Red Shirts UDD are having War Drums rallies.

There is a concerted effort to hobble Shinawatra clan financial interests.

The election is not happening and all threats at the EC are ineffectual.

Yingluck is getting charged for criminal negligence in office

The farmers are up in arms and riding thousands of tractors to Bangkok.

The government has emptied the coffers and is hanging on by toenails.

I thought the protesters have been complaining for months now about these attacks?

Sorry to bust your theory.

You are right. Its been 3 & half months now and no scoundrel has been caught. But miracles of all miracles, a Red Shirt gets shot and the police catches the shooters within days.

[rickirs]

Everyone seems to overlook this statement: "The NSC chief responded by saying certain people were 'using violence to justify the existence of the anti-government protesters' and that these people were also behind the attack in Trat, because they had a 'similar purpose'."

He gives no evidence behind this stunning allegation, but then no one else has been giving evidence of cupability for violence but many ThaiVisa readers seem perfectly happy to assign blame for all violence on the PTP. From a modis operandi viewpoint, an anti-government protest led by the former democrat deputy prime minister Suthep accused of killing PTP protesters in 2010 would seem more than reasonable to kill his own protesters for political power than what the PTP would gain.

[Fryslan boppe]

As I age my recall of event sequences sometimes need a reminder. But I seem to recall a anti government protest at a football stadium which was forewarned by 'big mouth' and company that the red shirts were on the way.

Subsquently the red shirts got a real bloody nose from their endevor and did a night time retreat.

Since that action the attacks on the anti government protest sites/groups have been carried out with no reguard to the innocents who are in the area.

The comment that an "expert" was probably involved in the M 79 attack, firing from a 100 meter distance, round bounces off a tree and a kerb, before hitting target, should raise questions about the "expert" who even made this statement.

But I seem to recall a anti government protest at a football stadium which was forewarned by 'big mouth' and company that the red shirts were on the way.

Subsquently the red shirts got a real bloody nose from their endevor and did a night time retreat.

Permit me to correct this inadvertent bit of historical revisionism.

The UDD/RS were gathering at the said stadium as a show of force - in large numbers - to counter what was then growing coup-monger stuff in the streets.

They never ventured out of that facility.

The coup-mongers needed confrontation however, and it wasn't coming to them.....They were the only ones in whose interest it was for that.....The UDD/RS were not about to accommodate them. The stadium was in part selected far away from coupist activities to insure there was no accidental encounters that would serve the coup-monger interests.

In order to instigate the desired confrontation, the coupists mobilized students from a nearby University to create confrontation around the stadium.

It was at that point that the UDD/RS cancelled the gathering, not wanting to be a target to serve the interests of others, and not to give the voter-selected Govt. a problem, beyond dealing with the coupists.

Historical revisionism only works with those who are ill-informed...That is mostly not the case on TV.

"...attacks on the anti government protest sites/groups have been carried out with no reguard"

In keeping with above rationale, there are many convinced that what appear to be attacks, are in fact not attacks...One needs to constantly be mindful of whose interests are served, through havoc, mayhem and what are characterized as 'attacks'. The coup-mongers need attacks, confrontation, bombs, firecrackers and what-have-you, or they are 'dead in the water'.

Given those motives, it is not a reach to conclude who originates this stuff. Certainly Yingluck and her elected administration do not need it, and their constituencies are fully aware of it...They are not about to undermine the Govt. they elected.

Edited February 25, 2014 by Fryslan boppe