Thai Army linked to summit violence

By Lindsay Murdoch in Bangkok

ELEMENTS of Thailand's powerful military, loyal to the disgraced former leader Thaksin Shinawatra, wanted to humiliate the Prime Minister, Abhisit Vejjajiva, by allowing protesters to overrun - and force the cancellation of - the recent ASEAN summit, analysts say.

The 5000-strong security force, deployed at the beach resort of Pattaya, failed to stop several hundred protesters storming the venue of the Association of South-East Asian Nations meeting. The protesters had publicly declared days before that they would try to disrupt the summit.

Despite the threat, neither the chief of police, Patcharawat Wongsuwan, nor the head of the army, Anupong Paochinda, was in Pattaya to supervise the summit security operation.

Thai media have reported that Mr Abhisit sidelined General Anupong after the summit's cancellation as red-clad pro-Thaksin protesters moved from Pattaya to Bangkok, where they rampaged through the streets.

Thanong Khanthong, editor of the English-language newspaper The Nation, described the Pattaya security failure as a "dark plot" against Mr Abhisit, who has led a fragile coalition government for four months.

These accusations against elements of the army, which styles itself as defender of the nation, come as questions are asked about the role played by security forces in the attempted assassination on Friday of the political leader Sondhi Limthongkul. Five gunmen used high-powered military-issue AK-47 and M-16 automatic weapons to spray Sondhi's vehicle with more than 100 bullets. He survived.

Sondhi's People's Alliance for Democracy has accused the military of being behind the assassination attempt. "The shooting with assault rifles bore the hallmarks of work by men in uniform during emergency rule," said a party spokesman, Suriyasai Katasila.

Somkiat Pongpaiboon, the party's co-leader, called for the removal of security chiefs.

While Mr Abhisit has blamed the army and police for failing to protect 12 regional leaders at the ASEAN summit he has resisted calls to move immediately against the commanders responsible. He told journalists at the weekend that the Government faces many tough challenges and now is not the time to make personnel changes.

"I feel the policemen and soldiers did not do their jobs to the best of their ability," he said in his first public comment on the storming of the Royal Cliff Beach Hotel on April 11.

Asia's most powerful leaders were forced to flee the hotel, some escaping via the rooftop by helicopter. Kevin Rudd was en route as the violence erupted and his plane turned around mid-air and returned to Australia.

Thanong, a well connected analyst, said that in the wake of the ASEAN incident, Mr Abhisit hastily assembled a special command centre under his direction. "Veterans and some retired generals came to his rescue," he said. "Anupong's troops and the police could not be trusted and were edged out of the scene."

Mr Abhisit has been praised for his handling of the Bangkok violence, in which two people died and more than 120 were injured.

Thanong said that Mr Abhisit used security forces brought to Bangkok from the provinces to confront the protesters, most of whom were being paid a daily wage to provoke unrest.

Regarding the shooting of Sondhi, the national deputy police chief, Jongrak Jutanond, cautioned against blaming the military. "Some people might have such an impression, but police work on evidence," Lieutenant-General Jongrak said.

A government spokesman, Panitan Wattanayagorn, also said the weapons did not necessarily indicate state involvement. "These weapons can be purchased anywhere," he said.

A state of emergency remains in place in Bangkok.

SMH