THAILAND: Sondhi postpones news conference

People's Alliance for Democracy founder and ASTV owner delays meeting with media about assassination attempt on his life

Bangkok Post
Friday, May 1, 2009

Yellow-shirt leader Sondhi Limthongkul postponed a news conference on the attempt on his life two weeks ago from Friday to Sunday, claiming that he has a fever.

Mr Sondhi, a founder of the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD), said had postponed the meeting with the media to explain what happened and put forward a theory about who might want him dead from 12.30 pm Friday to the same time on Sunday.

He had a mild fever and doctors had suggested that he should rest.

The planned news conference has been getting much media attention as it would be the first time he has spoken publicly about the ambush in downtown Bangkok on April 17.

His vehicle was attacked by gunmen near the Bang Khun Phrom intersection on Samsen road as he was on his way to work at ASTV, which he owns.

He suffered a head wound and underwent surgery.

On Thursday, Mr Sondhi spoke to police about the attempt on his life. The investigation is being led by deputy national police chief Gen Thani Somboonsap.

Mr Sondhi said afterwards he had full confidence in the team led by Pol Gen Thani.

He did not believe the police would arrest a scapegoat.

Mr Sondhi did not ask about progress in the investigation, saying he did not want to pressure the police.

He denied reports he had set up the botched attack on his life to gain public sympathy and also dismissed rumours he was taking a break from politics by going on a pilgrimage to India or Nepal.

Pol Gen Thani on Thursday denied reports detectives had been sent to Ratchaburi, Kanchanaburi and Lop Buri provinces to track down two soldiers and a civilian suspected of shooting Mr Sondhi.

Police, he said, were concentrating on witnesses and evidence found at the scene, including videotape from surveillance cameras.

Police had found no clues linking the shooting to men in uniform, he said.

Metropolitan Police Bureau chief Lt-Gen Worapong Chewpreecha had asked the army about the origin of bullet cases found at the scene, Pol Gen Thani said. It was army-issue ammunition, although the army said it might have been stolen.

A police source said suspected gunmen were hiding in Kanchanaburi province and they took their orders to shoot Mr Sondhi from a senior military officer.

The order was passed to a former soldier with a criminal record.

That man then contracted a politician in Kanchanaburi to find gunmen to assassinate Mr Sondhi.

Detectives were also looking for other suspects led by a local politician in Lop Buri.

Date Posted: 5/1/2009