Late Gen Khattiya’s aide arrested for multiple attacks

BANGKOK, Jul 15 - A close aide to the late Red Shirt military strategist Maj-Gen Khattiya Sawasdipol was arrested early Thursday for having fired M79 grenades and for involvement in an M16 attack at Bangkok's prime commercial area during the recent anti-government demonstrations, saying the late general was the mastermind of the attacks.

Director-General Tharit Pengdit of the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) told reporters that police had confirmed the arrest of Surachai Thewarat, 25, in Lopburi province.

Mr Surachai was accused of firing ten M79 grenades at a police flat in the Lumpini area on May 15 and was identified as one of the gunmen in black outfits who fired M16 bullets at police on duty at Saladaeng intersection in May.

Both areas are adjacent to the Red Shirt rally site at Ratchaprasong intersection where they had encamped from early April through May 19 to pressure Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva to dissolve the Parliament and call a fresh election.

Mr Surachai, with an outstanding arrest warrant of for terrorism, said that the late Gen Khattiya was mastermind of the attacks and trained himself and other team members to use the M79 grenades, and other weapons, fighting tactics and how to change mobile phone SIM card quickly to avoid police arrest.

The detainee said the team decided to escape after Gen Khattiya, known as “Seh Daeng”, was killed. Mr Surachai said he himself fled to Cambodia and returned to Thailand June 26 to join with his team for a "big job".

Mr Surachai was arrested after his mobile phone signal was detected from June 26 until 30, with the calling destination being Lopburi.

He was also suspected to have been involved with the killing of the president of the Nakhon Sawan Provincial Administrative Organisation who was shot dead on July 12.

The mobile phone signal of the suspect was detected from 30 kilometres away from the shooting scene. Mr Surachai was found to have told his wife to wait for a while and that he would send money to her as he had a "big job" to do".

The DSI chief said police will transfer Mr Surachai to the department Thursday afternoon and will jointly investigate as Mr Surachai is a key suspect.

Mr Tharit added that the accused initially confessed he was involved with the M79 grenade attacks and use of military weapons during the Red Shirt protest. (MCOT online news).