Court sentences two redshirt guards to life imprisonment for grenade attack on PDRC rally

[spidermike007]

A grenade attack into a crowd, always warrants a very harsh sentence. Hope these cretins never get out and are well looked after by their "boyfriends".

[metisdead]

A post in violation of fair use policy has been removed as well as the quoted replies. Other nonsense bickering posts have been removed. Discuss the topic, not other posters please.

[Prbkk]

I wonder what was the purpose of throwing 2 grenades what was their intention there was obviously no direction involved all they managed to do was cause damage to an antenna .

I was in Bangkok in early April 2014, and managed to be in the middle of one of the street demonstrations. There were people everywhere and no crowd control by the police.

When you review the news accounts of the attacks in Bangkok in the January - May 2014 time frame, it is clear that some of the attacks were carried out at times and places to limit the possibility of injuries or deaths. (On the other hand, some of the attacks were obviously designed to hurt people).

The M79 grenade is launched by a gun that looks like a large bore shotgun. It has limited accuracy, but it could be used to deliberately hit a crowd or miss a crowd.

I guess, even though the suspects confessed, we're not going to be told by the officials and media what their intent was.

I do know, based on my personal experiences with those crowds that it would be easy to harm people if that was the intent.

Anyway, regardless, it was a heinous crime, and punishment is well deserved.

Yes,

The protests went on for weeks without even a hint of violence from either side. It started to go feral the night of the UDD rally at Rajamangala when those wolf-like thugs attacked the buses carrying people to the venue (and an ensuing gun fight at Ramkaengheng.

Yes, of course grenade throwers belong in jail ....just as the (one who is pleased to call himself a) monk belongs there for his oversight of the torture of the police.

People will have greater faith in the sincerity of the junta , perhaps, when they are seen to be pursuing criminals on both sides, without fear or favour.

[mikemac]

When you review the news accounts of the attacks in Bangkok in the January - May 2014 time frame, it is clear that some of the attacks were carried out at times and places to limit the possibility of injuries or deaths. (On the other hand, some of the attacks were obviously designed to hurt people).

Well, that makes it alright then, that some of the attacks were not really attacks at all. On the other hand some obviously were.

The M79 grenade is launched by a gun that looks like a large bore shotgun. It has limited accuracy, but it could be used to deliberately hit a crowd or miss a crowd.

Obviously designed for people like the redshirts, who specialize in deliberately missing crowds, but occasionally make a mistake and actually hit them.

I guess, even though the suspects confessed, we're not going to be told by the officials and media what their intent was.

I could tell you, but you may not like it.

I do know, based on my personal experiences with those crowds that it would be easy to harm people if that was the intent.

My God, its a wonder you survived those personal experience with those crowds !

All in all, your amazing tale made some interesting light reading on the weekend, but if you ever decide to write a book based on your "personal experiences" it will have to be a novel !

[Scott]

A post with an snipped quote which changes the meaning of the quote has been removed.

[phoenixdoglover]

When you review the news accounts of the attacks in Bangkok in the January - May 2014 time frame, it is clear that some of the attacks were carried out at times and places to limit the possibility of injuries or deaths. (On the other hand, some of the attacks were obviously designed to hurt people).

Well, that makes it alright then, that some of the attacks were not really attacks at all. On the other hand some obviously were.

The M79 grenade is launched by a gun that looks like a large bore shotgun. It has limited accuracy, but it could be used to deliberately hit a crowd or miss a crowd.

Obviously designed for people like the redshirts, who specialize in deliberately missing crowds, but occasionally make a mistake and actually hit them.

I guess, even though the suspects confessed, we're not going to be told by the officials and media what their intent was.

I could tell you, but you may not like it.

I do know, based on my personal experiences with those crowds that it would be easy to harm people if that was the intent.

My God, its a wonder you survived those personal experience with those crowds !

All in all, your amazing tale made some interesting light reading on the weekend, but if you ever decide to write a book based on your "personal experiences" it will have to be a novel !

I don't mind the sarcasm. I was just hoping it was leading to something.

[tbthailand]

On the plus side, I am happy to see this was the "Criminal Court", rather than a military court, that handed down this verdict and sentencing.

I would hope we can all agree that there is no place for this sort of violent action by any side.

While I don't believe the Junta had sufficient justification for their coup, It is also obvious the near daily violence in Bangkok was intolerable. The previous government failed to stop it, and that is a huge black mark for them.

On the other hand...life sentence, commuted to 43 years...that's pretty extreme. I would hope these guys serve 10 to 20 years.

Failed to stop it ?. Are you serious ?.

And you might have been taking a nap, but this sort of violence only comes from one side.

The UDD are very tightly coupled with Pheu-Thai. They would never do this without orders from the top.

It was state sanctioned terrorism. Nothing less.

Here is one example of how the opposition was also responsible for violence.

Feb 21, 2014 (CNN)

"After police fired tear gas in an attempt to disperse crowds of demonstrators in the streets, people among the protesters began firing guns at police. With the two sides about 200 meters (656 feet) apart, police responded by firing rubber bullets and live ammunition. During the firefight, which lasted about 20 minutes, a grenade exploded near a group of police officers, knocking them to the ground. At least four of them were wounded, said Lt. Gen. Paradon Patthanathabut, the national security chief."

There is little doubt the majority of violent actions in 2014 were committed by "pro government" factions, but your assertion that they were the only ones to commit violence is false.

Further, your assertion that the violence was orchestrated at the top is unsubstantiated, and inflammatory to say the least. Do you (ever) have any news reports or other links to substantiate your opinions?

Seems I was right, the dye hard red denialists are doing their best...

'phoenixdoglover' it is, indeed, 'inflammatory to say the least' to spin it as far away as possible from these two redshirt(!) convicted(!) terrorists'(!) in the way you attempt to do it, can you, f.i. please 'substantiate' your assertion that the violence would NOT have been orchestrated at the top of... the PTP, their 'armed faction' UDD (the 'government' at the time)?

How can you deny such attacks wouldn't have had any possible 'chance' to be perpetrated when they would not have been 'orchestrated' by the, call it top or sub-top, I don't care, of the red movement, the UDD, with at least the participation, or knowledge of by, the PTP idem!

he is hardly in denial, even stating, erroneously, that

There is little doubt the majority of violent actions in 2014 were committed by "pro government" factions,

when in fact the PDRC was responsible for much violence throughout. Killings and shootings including those of innocents and of police were perpetrated by the PDRC. They harassed government officials and threatened to kidnap relatives. They blocked the the registration of candidates as fought with police in a clash that left 90 injured and one officer and one protester dead. Yes, the PDRC were seen with grenade launchers and of course they famously assaulted people who were simply trying to vote...

Here is just one incident from Feb 18:

The clash erupted as police sought to retake Phan Fah Bridge on Ratchadamnoen Road from anti-government protesters of the so-called Dharma Army, who are part of the PDRC’s network. After negotiations between the two sides collapsed, police baton-charged, threw teargas canisters, and fired rubber bullets at protesters. Police moved through the protest site and at approximately 10 a.m. arrested PDRC leader Somkiat Pongpaibul.

Shortly afterwards, police came under heavy gunfire from gunmen who appeared to be operating in tandem with protesters. A grenade thrown at the police line wounded more than 10 officers. Four gunmen freed Somkiat from the police truck in which he was being detained. Police responded by firing pistols, shotguns, and assault rifles at protesters, using live ammunition. Witnesses told Human Rights Watch that some protesters opened fire at a police minivan, wounding one officer, and dragged the driver out and beat him. The clash finally stopped at around 3 p.m. when police returned to the Metropolitan Police Bureau compound and the protesters retired behind their barricades.

That was the second time that the PDRC used trained gunmen against police. A different example, on Feb 1st,

more than 20 gunmen supporting the PDRC, some with M16 assault rifles, engaged in a daytime street battle against members of the pro-government United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD), known as the “Red Shirts,” on Chaengwatta Road near Bangkok’s Lak Si district. Seven people, including Red Shirt supporters, bystanders, and a photographer, were wounded in the fighting.

and of course there was violence against the PDRC as well. The two sides hate each other. That is clear.

There was no justification for violence from either side, and yet both sides instigated violence. All this is to point out that some posters ignore the obviously violent parts of the PDRC and only see the violence of the red shirts. That is truly denial...

Meanwhile, in other related news,

Court acquits anti-election protester of preventing 2014 election

A court has dismissed charges against an anti-election protester accused of preventing the 2014 advance election, saying that it was election officials who cancelled the election.