Probe for M79 attacks at Sala Daeng demanded

BANGKOK, 25 April 2010 (NNT) – The opposition Puea Thai Party has called on the government and Army Commander-in-Chief, General Anupong Paochinda, to investigate the M79 grenade attacks at Sala Daeng Intersection against the multi-color-clad Alliance of Patriots.

Puea Thai Party Spokesperson, Prompong Nopparit, stated that the government and the army chief should investigate the origin and the person engineering the attack in the area despite the strict security operations by both military and police officers.

Earlier, Director of the Central Institute of Forensic Science, Khunying Pornthip Rojanasunan, as a committee member in the Center for the Resolution of Emergency Situation (CRES), inspected the scene and indicated that only some units in the army were authorized to possess M79.

The M79 grenade attacks on 22 April night at Sala Daeng BTS sky train, the Dusit Thani Hotel, and the Bangkok Bank Headquarters killed one person and injuring 78 other people. Some of the injuries are supporters of the Alliance of Patriots.

Mr Prompong also alleged that some people attending the 22 April rally of the multi-color-clad Alliance of Patriots were set up with military acknowledgement. He cited a report in the media as saying that military officers stopped the police from pursuing unrest instigators during the demonstration of the multi-color-clad group that night.

The spokesperson then asked the police, particularly Caretaker National Police Chief, Police General Pateep Tunprasert, to do something protect the pride of police due to the incident.