Thaksin's Cousin Denies Links to Bangkok Grenade Attack

[Lite Beer]

Thaksin's Cousin Denies Links to Bangkok Grenade Attack

By Khaosod Eng.

BANGKOK — A cousin of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has denied involvement in the grenade attack on the Criminal Court in Bangkok on Saturday.

Gen. Chaiyasith Shinawatra was responding to police reports that his name was found in the phone book of the 34-year-old man who allegedly threw a hand grenade at the parking lot of the Criminal Court on 7 March.

Gen. Chaiyasith, who has served as army chief and supreme commander of the Thai armed forces, said today that he had no connection to the bomb plot and only knew the suspect from “a long time ago,” when the man sought his help.

"Whoever comes to seek my help because of some troubles, I have always helped as much as I could. Some people ask for money. Some ask for food," Gen. Chaiyasith said at a press conference at his home in Pathum Thani today. "It happened long time ago. So long that I forgot about it. As for the intention to drag me into this and attempt to link me to anyone, please, don't drag me into this."

According to the military, soldiers posted near the court saw the explosion and chased after the suspect, identified as Mahahin Khunthong, who fired a pistol at soldiers while he fled on the back of a motorcycle. Soldiers shot back, injuring the suspect’s getaway driver, Yutthana Yenpinyo. Both men, and two others arrested in connection with the attack, are now in military custody.

Gen. Chaiyasith accused security officers of trying to implicate him in the bombing today, and threatened to take legal action against those tainting his reputation.

"The police have been doing good work — they knew in advance that there would be an attack, so they should focus on that point, instead of focusing the point about the discovery of my phone number," Gen. Chaiyasith said. "It shows that there is an intention to drag me into the case ... They should prepare to see my lawyer, because they are damaging me. I will sue them all, because they like to put misleading questions [to the suspect]. And I am starting to feel suspicious about whether the suspect was persuaded or fooled [in the interrogation]."

He added, "However, I am confident that the justice system in Thailand would still allow a Shinawatra some place to stand, instead of going after all Shinawatras."

Gen. Chaiyasith's cousin, Thaksin Shinawatra, was ousted in a coup in 2006 but remains the de facto leader of the Redshirt movement, despite having living in self-imposed exile to avoid a corruption conviction. Thaksin’s allies have repeatedly risen to power in every election since his ouster, thanks to broad support from Redshirts in Thailand’s north and northeast. Thaksin's sister, former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, led the Redshirt-allied government toppled in the 22 May 2014 coup.

In yesterday’s press conference, military officers said they believed that Redshirt activists in Pattaya supplied weapons to the suspects behind the grenade attack.

According to Lt.Gen. Pongsawasdi Panchit, commander of the 1st Infantry Division, the group was also preparing to stage an attack on 15 March.

"Security officers are not letting their guard down," Lt.Gen. Pongsawasdi said, "The people should be eyes and ears of the authorities."

Read More: http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.php?newsid=1425907616&section=11&typecate=06

-- Khaosod English 2015-03-09

[Anthony5]

Looks as if his left eye met some obstruction.

[Neeranam]

Hopefully they will find some links and jail the guy. The more Shinawatras that are put away for good the better for a free and democratic, safe country.

[tingtongfarang]

Looks as if his left eye met some obstruction.

Mosquito bite

[candide]

Looks as if his left eye met some obstruction.

Walk into a closed door?

[Basil B]

I assume the guy in the photo is one of the hired thugs caught in the act.

Be interesting if they can actually find hard evidence the Shinewatra's are behind a lot of the grenade attacks.

[Cuchulainn]

It's that squeaky-clean, upstanding, honest, pillar-of-society family again!!

[Cuchulainn]

................He added, "However, I am confident that the justice system in Thailand would still allow a Shinawatra some place to stand, instead of going after all Shinawatras.".................

I ain't and its great!!

...............and threatened to take legal action against those tainting his reputation...................

[Captain_Bob]

"However, I am confident that the justice system in Thailand would still allow a Shinawatra some place to stand, instead of going after all Shinawatras"

wishful thinking ;-)

[Paulc01]

Gen. Chaiyasith accused security officers of trying to implicate him in the bombing today, and threatened to take legal action against those tainting his reputation.

And in return those being threatened of being sued for defamation by Chaiyasith can also now proceed in a defamation suit against Chaiyasith for defaming them by accusing them of defaming him. Rule #1 in Thailand: relax, enjoy the weather, and take it easy; if you get riled up about anything, you'll just find yourself in court.

[waitforusalso]

In a desperate attempt to justify & legitimise a coup they will stop at nothing.

The alleged MIB have rescinded their confessions forced out under severe duress. Now we see the signs of physical abuse on the new scapegoats.

[Misterwhisper]

Gen. Chaiyasith certainly must be accorded the benefit of the doubt. Just because his name was written in the phone book of the suspect doesn't automatically mean he was the mastermind behind the bomb attack.

However, his explanation begs the question how many more nobodies might have his name scribbled down in their note books because they once asked him "for food or money a long time ago". As the charitable character the general might be, I am sure he willingly gives out his personal details to anyone who comes knocking at his door, asking him "for food or money". Or doesn't he? What is his exact relationship with the suspect then?

Edited March 9, 2015 by Misterwhisper

[NeverSure]

So, if my name was Shinawatra I would automatically be guilty as charged on TVF of (whatever) and I should be removed from the planet.

Cool.

[dcutman]

Some inbreeding going on in the Shin family?

Would explain a lot i guess.

[rubl]

So, if my name was Shinawatra I would automatically be guilty as charged on TVF of (whatever) and I should be removed from the planet.

Cool.

To be fair, there also seem to be a slight bias against others. Abhisit and Suthep seem high on the list as well.

[dcutman]

Shin family tree. https://nickobongiorno.wordpress.com/2013/10/30/the-shinawatra-family-tree-2/

Dont see this guy's name any where on it.

[rubl]

Shin family tree. https://nickobongiorno.wordpress.com/2013/10/30/the-shinawatra-family-tree-2/

Dont see this guy's name any where on it.

Seems Thai like to change their names regularly to confuse foreigners. The general was known as "Chaisit" before. Wiki redirects "chaisit shinawatra' to 'chayasit shinawatra'

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chaiyasit_Shinawatra

[dcutman]

Shin family tree. https://nickobongiorno.wordpress.com/2013/10/30/the-shinawatra-family-tree-2/

Dont see this guy's name any where on it.

Seems Thai like to change their names regularly to confuse foreigners. The general was known as "Chaisit" before. Wiki redirects "chaisit shinawatra' to 'chayasit shinawatra'

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chaiyasit_Shinawatra

So my previous post about inbreeding was out of line or no?

[NeilSA1]

So, if my name was Shinawatra I would automatically be guilty as charged on TVF of (whatever) and I should be removed from the planet.

Cool.

"Gen. Chaiyasith, .... said ... he only knew the suspect from “a long time ago, when the man sought his help". " (Gen. Chaiyasith's) "name was written in the phone book of the suspect "

Probably prudent to investigate a little deeper.

[lildragon]

I think this is just a bunch of pissed off dumbos. Someone HAD to be stumping up the 20k for him though. If this does reach all the way back to old square head then I can't see his logic in ordering this kind of thing, he is just making it worse for himself and the reputation of his followers.

[rubl]

Shin family tree. https://nickobongiorno.wordpress.com/2013/10/30/the-shinawatra-family-tree-2/

Dont see this guy's name any where on it.

Seems Thai like to change their names regularly to confuse foreigners. The general was known as "Chaisit" before. Wiki redirects "chaisit shinawatra' to 'chayasit shinawatra'

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chaiyasit_Shinawatra

So my previous post about inbreeding was out of line or no?

Yes. In this case it was just a simple matter of "some mothers do 'ave 'em"

To avoid confusion http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Some_Mothers_Do_%27Ave_%27Em

Edited March 9, 2015 by rubl

[Basil B]

If that was the guy throwing the grenade, was he trying to pass the blame onto us Brits by wearing that shirt?

[pedro01]

In a desperate attempt to justify & legitimise a coup they will stop at nothing.

The alleged MIB have rescinded their confessions forced out under severe duress. Now we see the signs of physical abuse on the new scapegoats.

Stoop at nothing - you mean like following up legitimate leads based on the bombers phone book?

Yes - what a low blow that is.

I am sure they were just discussing the correct qty of ingredients for a good Som Tam.

[djjamie]

There is always a shin in their somewhere when political motivated violence is perpetrated.

Look no further than the Khon Kaen model. Of course without any surprise, thaksin right at the top of that management structure.

They truly are a scourge and feared by the majority of Thai's. If only this 7% could be swayed away from their violent tendencies it would make Thailand a much safer place to live. I suppose that is why reform is needed so terrorism does not go unpunished like it did before the 22nd of May…Which Surprise surprise happened to be when the country was under the shinawatra influence...

Terrorism. I hate it and I will never defend it or make excuses for it or compare it to car accident fatalities to try to water down the gravity and seriousness of the situation.

Edited March 9, 2015 by djjamie

[animatic]

The Shin clan has opened Pandora's Box and it just is not going to go back in.

No matter how they try, their connections to violence will always return like a bad penny.

[Torrens54]

Looks as if his left eye met some obstruction.

Most likely had a bit of a punch-up with his Mussus, or maybe he resisted arrest.

[rametindallas]

"However, I am confident that the justice system in Thailand would still allow a Shinawatra some place to stand, instead of going after all Shinawatras"

wishful thinking ;-)

A jail cell would be a nice place for this Shinawatra to stand. Now, have a seat over there while we figure out your involvement. BTW, I don't believe they are going after 'all' the Shinawatras; just the corrupt and dangerous ones.

[rametindallas]

So, if my name was Shinawatra I would automatically be guilty as charged on TVF of (whatever) and I should be removed from the planet.

Cool.

I LIKE your thinking. Clean slate, innit?

[rametindallas]

I think this is just a bunch of pissed off dumbos. Someone HAD to be stumping up the 20k for him though. If this does reach all the way back to old square head then I can't see his logic in ordering this kind of thing, he is just making it worse for himself and the reputation of his followers.

I think the operation was predicated on the notion that self-preservation would prevent them being caught and, thereby, maintaining plausible deniability.

[halloween]

Looks as if his left eye met some obstruction.

Most likely had a bit of a punch-up with his Mussus, or maybe he resisted arrest.

Maybe? Like shooting at the arresting officers and attempting to flee?

The obstruction might have been the road when the pursuit can knocked them off the bike, but I prefer to believe the a-hole got a kick in the head that he richly deserved.