New DSI investigation team to take over 'men in black' case
The Nation

Senior policemen yesterday watch a suspect re-enact his role as one of the alleged Men in black

BANGKOK: -- Fresh officials to probe deadly clash in April 2010 at Bang Lamphu

The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) will take over the case involving five people accused of being the "men in black" who attacked troops in a notorious clash during the red-shirt protests in 2010, DSI chief Pol General Chatchawal Suksomjit said yesterday.

The five suspects - one of whom is a woman - are in police custody and face initial charges of possessing war weapons and explosives. The DSI has the job of compiling more evidence against the suspects, who are also accused of killing a senior army officer, then-Colonel Romklao Thuvatham.

Chatchawal has promised to handle the case transparently and only complete it once he has all the evidence.

A DSI source said the department already has records of the five people and relevant information implicating them, but no progress had been made so far. Things came to a standstill after former deputy PM Chalerm Yoobamrung, who oversaw the DSI board during the previous government, issued a statement denying the "men in black" even existed.

Also, the previous team of DSI agents investigating the "men in black" controversially shifted their focus to former PM Abhisit Vejjajiva and his then-deputy Suthep Thaugsuban. This team has been completely replaced.

Meanwhile, four male members of the "men in black" yesterday re-enacted their alleged crimes at Khok Wua intersection in Bangkok - the site of a bloody clash on April 10, 2010, between red-shirts and soldiers in which people from both sides were shot and killed by war weapons. At least two dozen were killed and hundreds injured.

According to the police-supervised re-enactment, the four detained men and the woman, plus three other men, travelled to Khok Wua in a van, disembarked at Wat Mahannap and walked down Tanao Road toward the intersection.

Of the four suspects in detention, Chamnan Phakheechai and Kittisak Sumsri carried an M-16 assault rifle, while Preecha Yooyen carried an AK-47. Thammarat Sumsri, who is apparently dead now, carried an M-79 grenade launcher. The suspects recounted that they then stopped by a Government Savings Bank branch near the intersection and were let through a police checkpoint using the password "White Pigeon".

Though police officers had tried to apprehend Thammarat, who was carrying an M-79 grenade launcher, they were overpowered by a large number of red-shirt protesters and the man managed to escape.

Punika Choosri, the only female suspect in custody, said she was waiting in the van armed with a firebomb to use against hostile targets in case of emergency.

The suspects also showed how they allegedly fired at troops from different locations and later returned to the van, which headed for Din Sor Road. When the van was driving past an Army vehicle, Kittisak said he lowered his window and yelled profanities at the soldiers because he wanted them to remember his face.

Pol General Somyot Poompan-moung, who will be the next national police chief, said that judging from the five suspects' accounts and re-enactments, there should be many more people involved.

Former deputy Democrat Party leader Thaworn Senniam said he was approached by four unnamed men in 2012 offering to volunteer information about their role in the 2010 protests in exchange for Bt10 million, but he turned them down.

However, he said, he had to stay silent in order to keep his word about this.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/New-DSI-investigation-team-to-take-over-men-in-bla-30243207.html

-- The Nation 2014-09-13

why do all the suspects just love to do re enactments? don't any of them just say, your the detective investigate and gather evidence against me by yourself. The crooks are so stupid here and the do the prosecutions work for them.

A DSI source said the department already has records of the five people and relevant information implicating them, but no progress had been made so far. Things came to a standstill after former deputy PM Chalerm Yoobamrung, who oversaw the DSI board during the previous government, issued a statement denying the "men in black" even existed.

Did not former DPM Chalerm Yoobamrung also say at one time that he knew who the MIB were ?

Ear medication tends to do strange things to those who indulge.

The suspects recounted that they then stopped by a Government Savings Bank branch near the intersection and were let through a police checkpoint using the password "White Pigeon".

There was obviously a large political conspiracy with many high-ranking participants.

I hope many murder accomplice heads will roll.

Thais killing Thais. Will DSI find the mastermind behind the attacks? There always must be money involved. Perhaps that will help getting further with the investigation. If there was an offer of ten milion for information the information is still with those that offered it. they should be found and made to talk.

Looks like the blind leading the blind to me!

A DSI source said the department already has records of the five people and relevant information implicating them, but no progress had been made so far. Things came to a standstill after former deputy PM Chalerm Yoobamrung, who oversaw the DSI board during the previous government, issued a statement denying the "men in black" even existed.

Did not former DPM Chalerm Yoobamrung also say at one time that he knew who the MIB were ?

Ear medication tends to do strange things to those who indulge.

He did indeed.

'Men in black' are policemen, Chalerm claims

"I would like to reiterate here that they are policemen," Chalerm said.

Asked whether he had evidence to back up his claim, Chalerm said: "If I weren't ready, I wouldn't say it."

Source:

The Nation December 13, 2011 1:00 am

Some of the worst crooks namely Chalerm and Tarit's along with other Pheu Thai MP's and Shinawatra heads should roll as current investigations more and more uncover the perversion of justice these scumbags were guilty of.

why do all the suspects just love to do re enactments? don't any of them just say, your the detective investigate and gather evidence against me by yourself. The crooks are so stupid here and the do the prosecutions work for them.

Are you forgetting the 50% sentence reduction for confession? I would assume that this requires full co-operation, including re-enactments and informing on your accomplices, and seems to be a better arrangement, if not so agreeable to criminals, of the Australian and US system of a free pass for informants.

Edited September 13, 201411 yr by halloween

".....former deputy PM Chalerm Yoobamrung, who oversaw the DSI board during the previous government, issued a statement denying the "men in black" even existed."

"...DSI agents investigating the "men in black" controversially shifted their focus to former PM Abhisit Vejjajiva...."

Clear statements of the former government's interference in police investigations to benefit themselves and their military wing. AKA corruption. Does anybody else remember an earlier statement that hundreds of investigations of 2010 red shirt crimes were dropped after the election? First step in changing an armed mob into "peaceful protesters".

".....former deputy PM Chalerm Yoobamrung, who oversaw the DSI board during the previous government, issued a statement denying the "men in black" even existed."

"...DSI agents investigating the "men in black" controversially shifted their focus to former PM Abhisit Vejjajiva...."

Clear statements of the former government's interference in police investigations to benefit themselves and their military wing. AKA corruption. Does anybody else remember an earlier statement that hundreds of investigations of 2010 red shirt crimes were dropped after the election? First step in changing an armed mob into "peaceful protesters".

Each administration uses these public shows to gain political credit. As believable as a Democrat book!

".....former deputy PM Chalerm Yoobamrung, who oversaw the DSI board during the previous government, issued a statement denying the "men in black" even existed."

"...DSI agents investigating the "men in black" controversially shifted their focus to former PM Abhisit Vejjajiva...."

Clear statements of the former government's interference in police investigations to benefit themselves and their military wing. AKA corruption. Does anybody else remember an earlier statement that hundreds of investigations of 2010 red shirt crimes were dropped after the election? First step in changing an armed mob into "peaceful protesters".

Each administration uses these public shows to gain political credit. As believable as a Democrat book!

Did "Johnny did it too!" work with your mother?

According to another source, Prayuth: Knowing everyone behind attacks.

The coup leader said he had the names of the supporters and financiers
of the violent attacks in 2010 and in 2013 and this year, and he urged them to report to authorities.

“You would be shocked and surprised if I revealed the names”.

If so, why the public did not know the names?

Read on another site the following statement from the PM today

"You would be shocked and surprised if I revealed the names of those who provided support for the acquisition of such weapons, including their financing," he said.

According to another source, Prayuth: Knowing everyone behind attacks.

The coup leader said he had the names of the supporters and financiers

of the violent attacks in 2010 and in 2013 and this year, and he urged them to report to authorities.

“You would be shocked and surprised if I revealed the names”.

If so, why the public did not know the names?

Why should they be named before they are arrested and charged ?

Four years on and still no conviction. In England, this would be likened to a Pantomine.

"Modern pantomime includes songs, slapstick comedy and dancing, employs gender-crossing actors, and combines topical humour with a story loosely based on a well-known fairy tale".

According to another source, Prayuth: Knowing everyone behind attacks.

The coup leader said he had the names of the supporters and financiers

of the violent attacks in 2010 and in 2013 and this year, and he urged them to report to authorities.

“You would be shocked and surprised if I revealed the names”.

If so, why the public did not know the names?

The only way I will be 'shocked and surprised' is if Thaksin and Chalerm are NOT on the list of those deeply involved in the attempted 'soft coup' of the Abhisit government.

Four years on and still no conviction. In England, this would be likened to a Pantomine.

"Modern pantomime includes songs, slapstick comedy and dancing, employs gender-crossing actors, and combines topical humour with a story loosely based on a well-known fairy tale".

Almost 3 of those 4 years were more like black comedy.

".....former deputy PM Chalerm Yoobamrung, who oversaw the DSI board during the previous government, issued a statement denying the "men in black" even existed."

"...DSI agents investigating the "men in black" controversially shifted their focus to former PM Abhisit Vejjajiva...."

Clear statements of the former government's interference in police investigations to benefit themselves and their military wing. AKA corruption. Does anybody else remember an earlier statement that hundreds of investigations of 2010 red shirt crimes were dropped after the election? First step in changing an armed mob into "peaceful protesters".

Does anybody else remember an earlier statement that hundreds of investigations of 2010 red shirt crimes were dropped after the election?

No. Why don't you remind us of that statement?

".....former deputy PM Chalerm Yoobamrung, who oversaw the DSI board during the previous government, issued a statement denying the "men in black" even existed."

"...DSI agents investigating the "men in black" controversially shifted their focus to former PM Abhisit Vejjajiva...."

Clear statements of the former government's interference in police investigations to benefit themselves and their military wing. AKA corruption. Does anybody else remember an earlier statement that hundreds of investigations of 2010 red shirt crimes were dropped after the election? First step in changing an armed mob into "peaceful protesters".

Does anybody else remember an earlier statement that hundreds of investigations of 2010 red shirt crimes were dropped after the election?

No. Why don't you remind us of that statement?

Because I don't have a link to hand. But I didn't expect YOU to remember it as your memory is rather selective.

Lookee. I found it in under a minute.

"As soon as she took over as premier, Tarit was clever enough to cut down the number of political cases in his hand from the 281 he had in 2010 during Abhisit Vejjajiva's time to 48 cases last year and to just four cases this year."

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/DSI-chief-is-proving-to-be-a-powerful-political-to-30182713.html

Edited September 13, 201411 yr by halloween

A DSI source said the department already has records of the five people and relevant information implicating them, but no progress had been made so far. Things came to a standstill after former deputy PM Chalerm Yoobamrung, who oversaw the DSI board during the previous government, issued a statement denying the "men in black" even existed.

Did not former DPM Chalerm Yoobamrung also say at one time that he knew who the MIB were ?

Ear medication tends to do strange things to those who indulge.

How many times did Chalerm say he ' knew ' all sorts of things and would make an earth shattering announcement LATER, which he never did.

So, what we gleam from this: the police was letting them through, they were assisted by "peaceful protesters" and the DSI under the PTP administration dropped the case and focused on nailing Abhisit and Suthep for premeditated murder as civilians.

Well, knock me over with a feather...

According to another source, Prayuth: Knowing everyone behind attacks.

The coup leader said he had the names of the supporters and financiers
of the violent attacks in 2010 and in 2013 and this year, and he urged them to report to authorities.

“You would be shocked and surprised if I revealed the names”.

If so, why the public did not know the names?

The only way I will be 'shocked and surprised' is if Thaksin and Chalerm are NOT on the list of those deeply involved in the attempted 'soft coup' of the Abhisit government.

I think there's a small probability that it was, at least in part, the work of a third party vying to come on top after the dust settled.

However it is very unlikely since the presence of the Black Shirts among the Red Shirts was no secret, that they were assisted by Red Shirts and welcomed by them neither; if they would had been strangers to them that wouldn't had happened, all it would take was for some at the Red Shirt leadership start asking "Whoa, who are those guys!? Did you invite them Brother No.2? No? Brother No.3? can you go asking WHO brought them here then? because it may be a problem to have unknown armed men roaming among us if we don't know who they are"
With the emphasis they placed in barricading themselves and all the guards they had it defies belief that they would have allowed the Black Shirts to operate within their areas if they didn't know who they were.

Fast forward to today, or yesterday, with the pathetic denials from some of the Red Shirt leadership, like Weng, "oh, no those are not the real Men in Black", which presumes that he knows who the real MiB where, funnily enough he hasn't come forward to help identify the real ones in the last four years, so either he is lying or he is protecting them... but they say they don't condone the use of violence so... yes, just lying then.

".....former deputy PM Chalerm Yoobamrung, who oversaw the DSI board during the previous government, issued a statement denying the "men in black" even existed."

"...DSI agents investigating the "men in black" controversially shifted their focus to former PM Abhisit Vejjajiva...."

Clear statements of the former government's interference in police investigations to benefit themselves and their military wing. AKA corruption. Does anybody else remember an earlier statement that hundreds of investigations of 2010 red shirt crimes were dropped after the election? First step in changing an armed mob into "peaceful protesters".

Does anybody else remember an earlier statement that hundreds of investigations of 2010 red shirt crimes were dropped after the election?

No. Why don't you remind us of that statement?

No idea, but I found this interesting article. Maybe I can satisfy you with this ?

"The largest group of Red Shirts in 2010 were ordinary people from each region of the country. The next largest were the Red Shirt guards who were modeled after the “Thahaan Phran,” a paramilitary army tasked with terrorizing members of the Communist Party of Thailand in the 1970s. A much smaller group, the Black Shirts, were described to Human Rights Watch by journalist Oliver Sarbil: “…their job was to protect the Red Shirt protestor, but their real job was to terrorize soldiers… these guys were fearless. They operated mostly at night, but sometimes during the day. They went out in small teams [to confront the Army]…”They weren’t really ‘black-shirts’ – they were sometimes in green military uniforms and others dressed like Red Shirt protestors. They…weren’t interested in dealing with the Red Shirt leaders…The guys I met knew how to move and shoot. They also had experience handling explosives…The Black Shirts didn’t come to try and take territory – they shoot and then they leave, they hit [the soldiers] and retreat.” [2]"

http://www.globalresearch.ca/thailand-thaksins-red-shirts-and-the-ongoing-violence/5376310

According to another source, Prayuth: Knowing everyone behind attacks.

The coup leader said he had the names of the supporters and financiers

of the violent attacks in 2010 and in 2013 and this year, and he urged them to report to authorities.

“You would be shocked and surprised if I revealed the names”.

If so, why the public did not know the names?

Why should they be named before they are arrested and charged ?

Then let's hope that soon arrests are reported and the backers can not flee abroad.

The masterminds are warned now.

".....former deputy PM Chalerm Yoobamrung, who oversaw the DSI board during the previous government, issued a statement denying the "men in black" even existed."

"...DSI agents investigating the "men in black" controversially shifted their focus to former PM Abhisit Vejjajiva...."

Clear statements of the former government's interference in police investigations to benefit themselves and their military wing. AKA corruption. Does anybody else remember an earlier statement that hundreds of investigations of 2010 red shirt crimes were dropped after the election? First step in changing an armed mob into "peaceful protesters".

Does anybody else remember an earlier statement that hundreds of investigations of 2010 red shirt crimes were dropped after the election?

No. Why don't you remind us of that statement?

No idea, but I found this interesting article. Maybe I can satisfy you with this ?

"The largest group of Red Shirts in 2010 were ordinary people from each region of the country. The next largest were the Red Shirt guards who were modeled after the “Thahaan Phran,” a paramilitary army tasked with terrorizing members of the Communist Party of Thailand in the 1970s. A much smaller group, the Black Shirts, were described to Human Rights Watch by journalist Oliver Sarbil: “…their job was to protect the Red Shirt protestor, but their real job was to terrorize soldiers… these guys were fearless. They operated mostly at night, but sometimes during the day. They went out in small teams [to confront the Army]…”They weren’t really ‘black-shirts’ – they were sometimes in green military uniforms and others dressed like Red Shirt protestors. They…weren’t interested in dealing with the Red Shirt leaders…The guys I met knew how to move and shoot. They also had experience handling explosives…The Black Shirts didn’t come to try and take territory – they shoot and then they leave, they hit [the soldiers] and retreat.” [2]"

http://www.globalresearch.ca/thailand-thaksins-red-shirts-and-the-ongoing-violence/5376310

That quote Rubi begs the question : How many of the so called 'peaceful protesters' shot by the army were in fact part of the armed groups that were carrying weapons and shooting at the army when they were targeted and shot ?

You can guarantee that if one of the armed group was shot then his weapon would not be left with his (or her) body but quickly removed and passed on.

It would not have even to difficult to remove black outer garments from someone who was wounded or killed in those circumstances.

So, what we gleam from this: the police was letting them through, they were assisted by "peaceful protesters" and the DSI under the PTP administration dropped the case and focused on nailing Abhisit and Suthep for premeditated murder as civilians.

Well, knock me over with a feather...

According to another source, Prayuth: Knowing everyone behind attacks.

The coup leader said he had the names of the supporters and financiers

of the violent attacks in 2010 and in 2013 and this year, and he urged them to report to authorities.

“You would be shocked and surprised if I revealed the names”.

If so, why the public did not know the names?

The only way I will be 'shocked and surprised' is if Thaksin and Chalerm are NOT on the list of those deeply involved in the attempted 'soft coup' of the Abhisit government.

I think there's a small probability that it was, at least in part, the work of a third party vying to come on top after the dust settled.

However it is very unlikely since the presence of the Black Shirts among the Red Shirts was no secret, that they were assisted by Red Shirts and welcomed by them neither; if they would had been strangers to them that wouldn't had happened, all it would take was for some at the Red Shirt leadership start asking "Whoa, who are those guys!? Did you invite them Brother No.2? No? Brother No.3? can you go asking WHO brought them here then? because it may be a problem to have unknown armed men roaming among us if we don't know who they are"

With the emphasis they placed in barricading themselves and all the guards they had it defies belief that they would have allowed the Black Shirts to operate within their areas if they didn't know who they were.

Fast forward to today, or yesterday, with the pathetic denials from some of the Red Shirt leadership, like Weng, "oh, no those are not the real Men in Black", which presumes that he knows who the real MiB where, funnily enough he hasn't come forward to help identify the real ones in the last four years, so either he is lying or he is protecting them... but they say they don't condone the use of violence so... yes, just lying then.

In case you missed this newspaper article: Unmasked: Thailand's men in black (29May2010)

http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Southeast_Asia/LE29Ae02.html

Black Shirt Behind the April 10 Violence? “Human Rights Watch examined a video [shot during the April 10th violence] released by Agence France Presse that shows Col. Romklao Thuwatham, in charge of the military operation near Phan Fa Bridge, trying to give orders to his troops from atop an armored personnel carrier. A green laser beam can be seen pointed at him. Seconds later 40mm grenades fired from grenade launchers explode, killing Romklao and severely wounding other senior officers. UDD leaders loathed Romklao, deputy chief of staff of the army’s 2nd Infantry Division, because he commanded the April 2009 dispersal of UDD protesters in Bangkok at the Dindaeng junction

http://factsanddetails.com/southeast-asia/Thailand/sub5_8a/entry-3199.html

Because I don't have a link to hand. But I didn't expect YOU to remember it as your memory is rather selective.

Lookee. I found it in under a minute.

"As soon as she took over as premier, Tarit was clever enough to cut down the number of political cases in his hand from the 281 he had in 2010 during Abhisit Vejjajiva's time to 48 cases last year and to just four cases this year."

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/DSI-chief-is-proving-to-be-a-powerful-political-to-30182713.html

Ah thank you, an ever so non partisan article by Piyanart Srivalo .

So "hundreds" of investigations of 2010 red shirt crimes were dropped. Which translates to

As soon as she took over as premier, Tarit was clever enough to cut down the number of political cases in his hand from the 281 he had in 2010 during Abhisit Vejjajiva's time to 48 cases last year and to just four cases this year.

He chose to drop several cases against members of the ruling Pheu Thai Party and the red shirts.

39 of those cases presumably being the Lese Majeste cases brought by abhisit, who was not backward in coming forward when it came to using Lese majeste as a political tool

By 2007, the number of charges increased almost fourfold to 126. This number jumped to 164 in 2009, and then tripled to 478 cases in 2010.

The most dramatic increases occurred under the Democrat Party-led government of Abhisit Vejjajiva, which adopted a royalist line strongly backed by the military.

http://www.asiasentinel.com/society/thailand-tightens-the-lese-majeste-screws/

OK, so lets look at the rest of the "hundreds of cases" that were "dropped".

Oh wait, there's no mention of any other cases in the link provided, let alone spelt out in detail.

You're going to have to try harder than that, but then again, why bother, just throw out opinion as fact, somebody will believe you, especially on here.

Oh dear, the Don't Seriously Investigate (DSI) team are going to investigate..... Guess no one wants the truth.

".....former deputy PM Chalerm Yoobamrung, who oversaw the DSI board during the previous government, issued a statement denying the "men in black" even existed."

"...DSI agents investigating the "men in black" controversially shifted their focus to former PM Abhisit Vejjajiva...."

Clear statements of the former government's interference in police investigations to benefit themselves and their military wing. AKA corruption. Does anybody else remember an earlier statement that hundreds of investigations of 2010 red shirt crimes were dropped after the election? First step in changing an armed mob into "peaceful protesters".

Does anybody else remember an earlier statement that hundreds of investigations of 2010 red shirt crimes were dropped after the election?

No. Why don't you remind us of that statement?

No idea, but I found this interesting article. Maybe I can satisfy you with this ?

"The largest group of Red Shirts in 2010 were ordinary people from each region of the country. The next largest were the Red Shirt guards who were modeled after the “Thahaan Phran,” a paramilitary army tasked with terrorizing members of the Communist Party of Thailand in the 1970s. A much smaller group, the Black Shirts, were described to Human Rights Watch by journalist Oliver Sarbil: “…their job was to protect the Red Shirt protestor, but their real job was to terrorize soldiers… these guys were fearless. They operated mostly at night, but sometimes during the day. They went out in small teams [to confront the Army]…”They weren’t really ‘black-shirts’ – they were sometimes in green military uniforms and others dressed like Red Shirt protestors. They…weren’t interested in dealing with the Red Shirt leaders…The guys I met knew how to move and shoot. They also had experience handling explosives…The Black Shirts didn’t come to try and take territory – they shoot and then they leave, they hit [the soldiers] and retreat.” [2]"

http://www.globalresearch.ca/thailand-thaksins-red-shirts-and-the-ongoing-violence/5376310

You could try but don't ask me to take it seriously as an example of independent non partisan writing.

The opening paragraphs set out the tone. At first glance I thought it was the work of Cartalucci, whose works of fiction regularly appear on this "Global Research" Blog, but it appears he has a clone. Oh and your quote - that appeared in the your latest "favourite report to quote", the HRW one.

Not that your post has anything to do with my reply to the statement by halloween that "hundreds" of investigations were dropped after the election in 2011.

Perhaps you could post it in the thread with your views on the content.

A DSI source said the department already has records of the five people and relevant information implicating them, but no progress had been made so far. Things came to a standstill after former deputy PM Chalerm Yoobamrung, who oversaw the DSI board during the previous government, issued a statement denying the "men in black" even existed.

AH Chalerm, don't you miss him? Be honest now, his ridiculous behavior, his prevarications and his drunken escapades. I think a book is in order, I think CHALERM WHERE ARE YOU would be a suitable title. Can anyone think of a suitable author?