Daily slams 'outrageous' attack

[Lite Beer]

Daily slams 'outrageous' attack
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Two M79 grenade attacks on Thursday aimed at the Thai-language Daily News newspaper in northern Bangkok and the Central Administrative Court in Nonthaburi resulted in no casualties but caused property damage.

Deputy national police chief General Aek Angsananont deplored the attack on the daily's compound but did not speculate on whether politics was the motive behind it.

He also did not speculate on the motive behind the attack on the courthouse, but said it was aimed at anti-government protesters who had converged in areas near it.

He said it was likely that those behind both attacks were the same people, and discussed security measures to guard against future attacks.

The Daily News was targeted in a twin M79 attack seven years ago, with police failing to bring those behind it to justice.

The attack on Thursday took place at around 10pm, with the grenade likely shot from ground level at the front of the compound on inbound Vibhavadi Rangsit lanes at a distance of around 150-200 metres.

It hit the ground at around 40 degrees, according to Pol Colonel Kamthorn Oui-charoen, an Explosives Ordnance Disposal commander.

The M79 grenade that hit the courthouse was possibly launched from the CAT, which is located next to it on Chaeng Wattana Road.

Kamthorn said the round was launched in a projectile movement from around 250 metres from the courthouse's northeast and was aimed at a protest site nearby, but the grenade's flight was altered by strong winds.

The Daily News condemned the attack on its compound, saying threatening the media was the same as threatening the people.

It called for swift police action.

In a later statement, the daily paper described the action as outrageously violent.

"The attack threatened a media organisation's right to perform its duty, which would lead to a blockage in providing fair and accurate news to the Thai people," it said.

"During this conflict, we will perform our duty as a media outlet to the full for the benefit of the country and the people."

The Thai Journalists Association and the National Press Council of Thailand issued a joint statement condemning the attack on the Daily News, saying that it was harmful not only to the media, but also to Thai society and the public.

They called on the government's Centre for the Administration of Peace and Order and national police chief General Adul Saengsingkaew to find out who was responsible for the attacks and bring them to justice.

Separately on Thursday night, a military intelligence officer, Colonel Wittawat Wattanakul, was sent to Mongkutwattana Hospital after being shot near the anti-government People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) rally site on Chaeng Wattana Road as he was driving home.

A PDRC chief guard went to visit him and apologised yesterday saying the guards misunderstood and shot the soldier in the foot as they were afraid that he would be one of the groups who want to attack the protesters.

Supreme Commander General Tana-sak Patimapragorn yesterday ordered investigation and beefing up security measures near the Royal Thai Armed Forces Commands and the protest areas.

-- The Nation 2014-04-26

[smutcakes]

what an odd sentence

""He also did not speculate on the motive behind the attack on the courthouse, but said it was aimed at anti-government protesters who had converged in areas near it.

[issanaus]

what an odd sentence

""He also did not speculate on the motive behind the attack on the courthouse, but said it was aimed at anti-government protesters who had converged in areas near it.

And then said that the perpetrators were likely to be the same

[ratcatcher]

what an odd sentence

""He also did not speculate on the motive behind the attack on the courthouse, but said it was aimed at anti-government protesters who had converged in areas near it.

I quite admire non-speculating police officers even when the evidence is staring them in the face.

[NongKhaiKid]

The injured soldier shouldn't be too aggrieved as shots in the foot is part of the essence of Thainess.

[Piichai]

They called on the government's Centre for the Administration of Peace and Order and national police chief General Adul Saengsingkaew to find out who was responsible for the attacks and bring them to justice.

Good luck with that. The police haven't been able to find out who was responsible for attacks against the peaceful anti-government demonstrators since the beginning.

The Thai police is truly a disgrace.

[FangFerang]

"The attack threatened a media organisation's right to perform its duty, which would lead to a blockage in providing fair and accurate news to the Thai people," it said.

Fair and accurate news. Fair and accurate news? Fair and accurate news?!

This quote came from another con artist who is beginning to believe his own lies....

[moonao]

what an odd sentence

""He also did not speculate on the motive behind the attack on the courthouse, but said it was aimed at anti-government protesters who had converged in areas near it.

not odd, a clear motive for the rocket attack as already been established, the day before the attack it was the only paper that published a photo of police being detained at the PDRC haeng Wattana rally site on its front page

PDRC supporters don't exactly have the best track record in refraining from violence (physical or verbal) when it comes to handling criticism of their fascist movement.

[gabruce]

what an odd sentence

""He also did not speculate on the motive behind the attack on the courthouse, but said it was aimed at anti-government protesters who had converged in areas near it.

Speculation not necessary. He knows who is behind all the attacks.

Or maybe a translation error.

[gabruce]

what an odd sentence

""He also did not speculate on the motive behind the attack on the courthouse, but said it was aimed at anti-government protesters who had converged in areas near it.

not odd, a clear motive for the rocket attack as already been established, the day before the attack it was the only paper that published a photo of police being detained at the PDRC haeng Wattana rally site on its front page

PDRC supporters don't exactly have the best track record in refraining from violence (physical or verbal) when it comes to handling criticism of their fascist movement.

This is what happens when one looks at the world through red colored glasses.

[PatOngo]

what an odd sentence

""He also did not speculate on the motive behind the attack on the courthouse, but said it was aimed at anti-government protesters who had converged in areas near it.

not odd, a clear motive for the rocket attack as already been established, the day before the attack it was the only paper that published a photo of police being detained at the PDRC haeng Wattana rally site on its front page

PDRC supporters don't exactly have the best track record in refraining from violence (physical or verbal) when it comes to handling criticism of their fascist movement.

Some posters also don't exactly have such a good grasp with their comments either...........if you stick around for a while,you'll realize they are clowns on both sides of the fence! PDRC...PTP!

[Scamper]

As Chalerm's bottom of the bottle insinuation yesterday fell by the sheer weight of its idiocy, the public - and even the police, as evidenced by the statements here - can't really escape the transparency of these attacks, any more than the ones perpetrated against the Criminal Court, independent agencies, Abhisit's home, Suphumbhand's home, the Democratic party's headquarters, Dr. Narong's home, or the homes of PDRC leaders, including Suthep's home ( three times ). So the public doesn't need statements from the police that confirm what their own pre-school children already know. No, what people want to know is when the police are going to provide real surveillance and protection.

[noitom]

The Thais are outraged at the attack on the press. The Thais don't permit the press to write the truth or do investigative journalism, but they are outraged at efforts to stop them from writing tripe.

[JenniferSG]

I'd be interested to know if those of you living in Bangkok feel unsafe (or any more unsafe than in previous years). My 20 year old is moving to BKK in August to attend school for 2 semesters and the troubles seem to be getting scarier. Grenades? Yikes.

[ramrod711]

The Daily News was targeted in a twin M79 attack seven years ago, with police failing to bring those behind it to justice.

The owners of the Daily won't be holding their collective breaths for this attack to be solved then.

[rreddin]

"The attack threatened a media organisation's right to perform its duty, which would lead to a blockage in providing fair and accurate news to the Thai people," it said.

Fair and accurate news. Fair and accurate news? Fair and accurate news?!

This quote came from another con artist who is beginning to believe his own lies....

The OP was going quite well up to that point.