DSI confirms Red Shirt arms training in Cambodia

Oct 11, 2010
(MCOT online news)

BANGKOK - Thailand's Department of Special Investigation (DSI) on Monday said investigation found that 39 Thai men have been trained for arms use in Cambodia for a mission to assassinate this country's key public figures including Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva.

Pol-Lt Col Payao Thongsen, chief of DSI investigators probing the terrorism charge-related activities, held a news conference on the 11 men detained in the northern province of Chiang Mai.

Local police last week arrested 11 men suspected of involvement in a movement to destabilise national security and plan to kill the country's very important persons as well as overthrow the monarchy in a resort in Mae On district.

Police said they are well-trained in using firearms. They are now under witness protection scheme in exchange for useful information which could lead to an arrest of other accomplices.

Col Payao affirmed Monday the suspects confessed to being members of the anti-government movement, the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD), and that they were 11 among the 39 men who were recruited and taken by Red Shirt leaders to Cambodia for arms training.

Some said they saw people using war weapons against troops in confrontation between both sides during April-May chaos, said the DSI chief investigator.

Red Shirt leaders in northern region, mainly Red Shirt disc jockeys at community radio stations, organised the meeting in three routes: the first group convened in Bangkok, leaving Thailand by way of the Chong Jom border crossing in Surin province, the second group gathered at Nakhon Ratchasima and left Thailand via Chong Jom, and the last group met at Sa Kaeo and crossed to Cambodia, according to Col Payao, adding all of them entered Cambodian territory without passing legal immigration processes.

Gen Payao elaborated that the eleven said their three-week training was held in a Cambodian army camp and they were trained by Cambodian soldiers.

The first week focused on political education but inciting anger and hatred on the monarchy while the second week was how to use military weapons and the third week was field operations training, said the DSI investigator.

The investigation also found that a map of routes leading to home of former deputy prime minister Suthep Thaugsuban who oversees national security had been used for the training of how to carry out the assassination plot and how to deal with his security guards, said Col Payao.

The investigators chief added the 11 disclosed 35 men returned to Thailand after the training was complete, while another four were chosen by Red Shirt leader Arisman Pongruangrong to be his bodyguards while he remains in Cambodia with outstanding arrest warrants for terrorism.

Among the four men remaining in the neighbouring kingdom, one was identified as Mongkol Sarapan, with arrest warrant on terrorism charge.

Col Payao described the 35 armed men arrived Thailand August 16 and then went separate ways before reuniting again in Phufa Resort in Chiang Mai in September to be standby for the operation as asked by UDD leaders in the northern region.

For the operation plan, Col Payao said, the targets of assassination include the prime minister, deputy premier Suthep, de facto leader of coalition Bhumjaithai party Newin Chidchob and acting Police Inspector-General Pol Lt-Gen Somkid Boonthanom.

Col Payao said the arrest of the 11 men occurred as one of them, Kittichai Chansawas, escaped from the group as he was unwilling to continue in the operation anymore. Mr Kittichai sought help from local residents and then reported the matter to police.

The 11 however denied their involvement in the April-May chaos when an armed black-clad group fired at security forces during the Red Shirt protests, according to the investigator.

For the remaining armed men, Col Payao said, DSI will work with security agencies to tracking them and will seek coordination from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to contact Cambodian authorities on the case.

When asked whether Samai Wongsuwan, suspected bomb-maker who was killed last week in an explosion at Bang Bua Thong apartment, is linked with the detained armed group, Col Payao said initial investigation did not find any connection, but the 11 men conceded there was a first arms training in Cambodia before they joined the second one.

In addition to the confessions of the 11 detainees, Col Payao said, police also have other solid evidence such as phone call details between these people and Red Shirt DJs group in Cambodia and that plastic chips similar to telephone SIM cards were given to persons who passed the training.