Five “Men in Black” suspects are in police custody

[Lite Beer]

Five “Men in Black” suspects are in police custody

BANGKOK: -- Five members of the so-called mysterious “Men in Black” who battled with troops at Kok Wua intersection near the Democracy Monument during the red-shirt protests in April 2010 resulting to the death of Romklao Phuvatham have been arrested by police.

Pol Gen Somyos Poompanmuang, deputy national police chief, told the media that the five suspects who identities were withheld confessed during the police interrogation that they were involved in the shooting of army troops and civilians near the Democracy Monument on April 10 at the height of the red-shirt protests against the Abhisit government.

The battle resulted to several troops of being killed, including Colonel Romklao who was posthumously promoted as a general, and also injured.

Pol Gen Somyos said the five were initially charged with possessing, carrying in public and using war weapons. Police are still looking for two more members of the “Men in Black”, he added.

The deputy police chief continued saying that since the case against the “Men in Black” was being investigated by the Department of Special Investigation, the police would notify the DSI of its intention to join the investigation.

He claimed that the police had video clips and still pictures to nail the five suspects but he declined to disclose whether the five that implicated any more people who were involved in the violence or who ordered the attack on the troops.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/five-men-black-suspects-police-custody/

-- Thai PBS 2014-09-11

[Lite Beer]

2010 POLITICAL STRIFE
Five arrested, two sought for killing of military officers

BANGKOK: -- Police have arrested five men for their alleged involvement in an attack during the 2010 political violence that resulted in the deaths of five military officers, including Colonel Romklao Thuwatham.

Romklao and four other army officials were killed during a military crackdown on red shirt protesters in 2010 at Kok Wua intersection when grenades were fired. Romklao was promoted to the rank of army general in honour for his sacrification.

Deputy police chief Gen Somyot Pumpunmuang identified the suspects as Kittisak Soomsri, 45, Preecha Yuyen, 24, Ronnarit Surisa, 33, Chamnarn Pakichai, 45 and Punika Chusri. Two others - Wattanachok Jeenpui, 23 and Thanadet Ekapiwat, 39 - are still at large;

Somyot said the suspects confessed to being involved with the M79 grenade attacks on the red shirt protesters and the military officials on April 10. He however refused to reveal details of the investigation in which the suspects were implicated.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/Five-arrested-two-sought-for-killing-of-military-o-30243037.html

-- The Nation 2014-09-11

[siampolee]

Pol Gen Somyos Poompanmuang, deputy national police chief, told the media that the five suspects who identities were withheld confessed during the police interrogation that they were involved in the shooting of army troops and civilians near the Democracy Monument on April 10 at the height of the red-shirt protests against the Abhisit government.

The battle resulted to several troops of being killed, including Colonel Romklao who was posthumously promoted as a general, and also injured.

Somyot said the suspects confessed to being involved with the M79 grenade attacks on the red shirt protesters and the military officials on April 10. He however refused to reveal details of the investigation in which the suspects were implicated.

So it would appear that these five among others no doubt were hitting both sides and at any other side that may have appeared in their sights.

Going to be very interesting to see if the truth actually is revealed just who or what organisation was behind these attacks along with where was the financing coming from and where was the ordinance coming from?

Indeed an interesting case, one is led to wonder if any of the suspects may suddenly develop incurable infections ailments etc that might prove fatal in the not too distant future, or possibly some careless prison officer might neglect to lock doors and gates and leave the ignition key in his or her vehicle etc?

[Tatsujin]

About time . . . and I do hope they sing loud and clear as to who financed, organized and gave them their instructions . . .

". . . confessed during the police interrogation that they were involved in the shooting of army troops and civilians . . ."

So can we finally put to rest that these people did exist, did shoot and kill civilians, and that it wasn't ONLY the Military with firearms/war weapons . . .

[ParadiseLost]

This could finally reveal the puppet master for what he truly was.

Check their Dubai bank accounts, or any other dirty money center.

Follow the money!

[StealthEnergiser]

Best news for the day , finally the birds are singing

[halloween]

I'm sure the DSI are truly appreciative of the assistance from the RTP in this investigation which has baffled them for so long.

Edited September 11, 2014 by halloween

[smedly]

Is it just me or does anyone else consider the DSI as just another branch of the Thakisin - Red shirt - PTP terrorist movement

If there was ever a department in Thailand that needed completely gutted and rebuilt from the ground up the DSI is it

[Mango Bob]

Good to hear this. Now we can get to the bottom who these people are and what group or person/monk they may represent.

[jacky54]

I'll be more impressed if they arrest the killer of Sah Deang, almost certainly assassinated by an army marksman

[Artisi]

Let the games begin, a long way to go before the final event but you can count of some interesting entertainment along the way..

[bkkjames]

Good to hear this. Now we can get to the bottom who these people are and what group or person/monk they may represent.

lol

[WhizBang]

Is it just me or does anyone else consider the DSI as just another branch of the Thakisin - Red shirt - PTP terrorist movement

If there was ever a department in Thailand that needed completely gutted and rebuilt from the ground up the DSI is it

Well, under Tarit it certainly was a Thaksin/Red Shirt franchise. But now, I am not so sure. Getting prodded with bayonettes has sure spured both the DSI and RTP into action.

As far as reform goes, both DSI and the RTP are still in need of a complete, top to bottom, reaming.

[whybother]

Good to hear this. Now we can get to the bottom who these people are and what group or person/monk they may represent.

Everyone knows which group and person they represent.

[Artisi]

Good to hear this. Now we can get to the bottom who these people are and what group or person/monk they may represent.

Probably representing a camel herder, you know the one, the one without any balls who promised to come back and to assist his troops paid thugs.

[h90]

This could finally reveal the puppet master for what he truly was.

Check their Dubai bank accounts, or any other dirty money center.

Follow the money!

Reveal?

Everyone knows it and surely there is enough evidence (or can be found if someone really wants to find it) to link him.

But as the family is flying around and come back to Thailand I suspect a backroom deal was made.

If they really want them, they would have searched all the buildings of this family + friends and arrested them. Let them explain every transaction. Surely they would find something and if it is only unpaid tax. And someone would start to sing to safe himself.

But no it isn't happening....the small one will go in jail the big one continue their happy rich life.

[ramrod711]

The deputy police chief continued saying that since the case against the “Men in Black” was being investigated by the Department of Special Investigation, the police would notify the DSI of its intention to join the investigation.

I'm sure this case could never have been solved if it hadn't been for Tharit, the fine upstanding crack investigator. After 5 years there are arrests now that he is no longer in charge.

[Nickymaster]

Good to hear this. Now we can get to the bottom who these people are and what group or person/monk they may represent.

person/monk/billionaire you mean? right?

[Artisi]

The deputy police chief continued saying that since the case against the “Men in Black” was being investigated by the Department of Special Investigation, the police would notify the DSI of its intention to join the investigation.

I'm sure this case could never have been solved if it hadn't been for Tharit, the fine upstanding crack investigator. After 5 years there are arrests now that he is no longer in charge.

Think you are stating the obvious, which of course will go over like a pregnant pole-vaulter to the camel herders rabble.

[Thai at Heart]

Nice to see that for once, they didn't announce a week ahead of time that they were about to make an arrest.

[worgeordie]

Is Will Smith one of them ?

regards Worgeordie

[chainarong]

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Is it just me or does anyone else consider the DSI as just another branch of the Thakisin - Red shirt - PTP terrorist movement

If there was ever a department in Thailand that needed completely gutted and rebuilt from the ground up the DSI is it

Well, under Tarit it certainly was a Thaksin/Red Shirt franchise. But now, I am not so sure. Getting prodded with bayonettes has sure spured both the DSI and RTP into action.

As far as reform goes, both DSI and the RTP are still in need of a complete, top to bottom, reaming.

Why has it taken so long and why so quick under Ret: General Prayuth

[Cuchulainn]

Good to hear this. Now we can get to the bottom who these people are and what group or person/monk they may represent.

I don't think they represented any monks, but you had to get your little red gutless snipe in anyway, didn't you?

Good to hear this? Yeah, right.

[Nickymaster]

http://asiancorrespondent.com/37606/the-first-men-in-black-finally-arrested-but-what-will-this-mean/

http://thaipoliticalprisoners.wordpress.com/2012/03/15/men-in-black-and-dsi/

Some good reading to understand that first the police and DSI can find MIB, when Yingluck came to power there where no MIB. And now that Yingluck is kicked out they can find them again....

[gemini81]

Good to hear this. Now we can get to the bottom who these people are and what group or person/monk they may represent.

Oh, Thaksin went to be a monk huh? News to me. At least your gears are turning prodigiously.

[AleG]

About time . . . and I do hope they sing loud and clear as to who financed, organized and gave them their instructions . . .

". . . confessed during the police interrogation that they were involved in the shooting of army troops and civilians . . ."

So can we finally put to rest that these people did exist, did shoot and kill civilians, and that it wasn't ONLY the Military with firearms/war weapons . . .

If they were not shooting at protesters and were there to protect them they did a pretty poor job. What with shooting at the army line at ground level through the the areas occupied by protesters and all that.

Either they are the most moronic "guardian angels" (as called by Red Shirt leaders) or they had the minimal mental capacity to realize that doing so would end up with protesters injured or dead, even if the soldiers didn't fire a single shot back, and didn't care. Or perhaps creating a sufficient number of martyrs was part of the plan all along.

In any case they showed a complete disregard for the lives of both the soldiers they specifically targeted and anyone else caught in between.

[trogers]

That was 2010, almost four years ago. Why are they being caught now?

My theory - they ran out of money and needed more but none is forthcoming. Instead of being given more money, they are now on an elimination list to silence them, and thus needed protection themselves.

[Cuchulainn]

Good to hear this. Now we can get to the bottom who these people are and what group or person/monk they may represent.

Oh, Thaksin went to be a monk huh? News to me. At least your gears are turning prodigiously.

Don't bother mate. He probably doesn't understand sarcasm.

[bangrak]

I'll be more impressed if they arrest the killer of Sah Deang, almost certainly assassinated by an army marksman

Your theory... Mine would rather be, maybe an army/ranger/police marksman (Thai or from a neighbouring country), paid as a mercenary, to 'physically eliminate' Saeh Deang, who had 'fulfilled his purpose' for his, self declared, 'master', and had become a 'liability' at that time, partly because he seemed to like to speak to members of the press. But you could be right, that some RTA brass considered he had betrayed his oath so much that it was the quickest way to get rid of him, avoiding military courts, and, maybe, the risk to be 'compromitted' by SD when he would have been kicking back, washing the RTA's dirty laundry in front of the press. But my guess is NOBODY, even inside UDD, wants all the truth about this rogue Maj Gen, who was IMO no 'hero' at all, to be exposed!

[Bob12345]

Pol Gen Somyos Poompanmuang, deputy national police chief, told the media that the five suspects who identities were withheld confessed during the police interrogation that they were involved in the shooting of army troops and civilians near the Democracy Monument on April 10 at the height of the red-shirt protests against the Abhisit government.

Curious how that interrogation took place exactly: they seemed to have confessed "so easily" after so many years while the evidence consists of still pictures and video clips.

Given there is still martial law I do not think their lawyer was keeping an eye on your rights.