Pei Hu
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

BANGKOK, Thailand – Sondhi Limthongkul, the founder of Thailand’s “yellow shirt” protest movement was shot and wounded in an assassination attempt. The attacked occurred just days after the Thai military began a crack down on rioting protesters from the “red shirt” protesters.

The attack happened just hours before the government met for a special Cabinet meeting to discuss the recent violence due to political turmoil and measures undertaken to boost Thailand’s economy.

Sondhi is a media tycoon who owns the pro-government TV channel ASTV. Bangkok police spokesman, Suporn Pansua said Sondhi was on his way to work before dawn when at least two men in a pick-up truck ambushed his car and opened fire with an M-16 and AK-47 machine guns.

The tires and vehicle was sprayed with bullets, 84 bullet shells were found on the road near the attack in Western Bangkok. Suporn said, “Considering the nature of the attack and the weapons used, we believe it was carried out by people with expertise… We believe the attack was meant to take lives.” The driver and another passenger were seriously wounded.

Sondhi supports the current government, People’s Alliance for Democracy. Sondhi was responsible for the protests movements that shut down the airport last year to oppose the previous government. Chaiwan Charoenchoktawee, Vajira Hospital director, said that Sondhi is in stable condition after the surgery that removed a bullet from his skull.

The yellow shirts immediately labeled Sondhi’s attack as politically motivated, a claim that is under investigation by the police. Red shirt protesters have expressed anger that several of their leaders were arrested while Sondhi and his alliance were never prosecuted over the airport seizures last year.

After the attack, security moved quickly to protect Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva. The Prime Minister had imposed a state of emergency in Bangkok since Sunday. Before this week’s riots, Abhisit’s vehicle was attacked twice by red shirt protesters. Abhisits told the media that he had decided “not to revoke the emergency degree… We have to make sure peace and order truly returns.”  For the 6th day in a row, the Thai capital remains under emergency rule.

For more information, please see:

AP – Gunmen attack Thai ‘yellow shirt’ protest leader – 17 April 2009

BBC – Thai ‘yellow shirt’ leader shot – 17 April 2009

LA Times – Thailand extends state of emergency – 17 April 2009