Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09BANGKOK982
2009-04-17 09:53:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Bangkok
Cable title:
LEADING ANTI-THAKSIN ACTIVIST SONDHI SHOT IN
how-toVZCZCXRO2389 OO RUEHCHI RUEHCN RUEHDT RUEHHM DE RUEHBK #0982 1070953 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 170953Z APR 09 FM AMEMBASSY BANGKOK TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6766 INFO RUEHZS/ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS PRIORITY RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA PRIORITY 9610 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO PRIORITY 1554 RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING PRIORITY 6966 RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL PRIORITY 5433 RUEHCHI/AMCONSUL CHIANG MAI PRIORITY 6468 RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC PRIORITY RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RHHMUNA/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L BANGKOK 000982
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/17/2019
TAGS: PGOV KJUS KDEM ASEC TH
SUBJECT: LEADING ANTI-THAKSIN ACTIVIST SONDHI SHOT IN
BANGKOK
REF: A. BANGKOK 907 (LARGE RED RALLY)
B. 07 BANGKOK 15 (BOMBINGS)
Classified By: DCM James F. Entwistle, reason: 1.4 (b and d).
SUMMARY AND COMMENT
-------------------
C O N F I D E N T I A L BANGKOK 000982
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/17/2019
TAGS: PGOV KJUS KDEM ASEC TH
SUBJECT: LEADING ANTI-THAKSIN ACTIVIST SONDHI SHOT IN
BANGKOK
REF: A. BANGKOK 907 (LARGE RED RALLY)
B. 07 BANGKOK 15 (BOMBINGS)
Classified By: DCM James F. Entwistle, reason: 1.4 (b and d).
SUMMARY AND COMMENT
--------------
1. (SBU) Unidentified gunmen shot a leading "yellowshirt"
political activist in Bangkok in the early morning hours of
April 17. As of mid-day, the victim, Sondhi Limthongkul, was
recovering from surgery. Sondhi previously led protests
against former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra but
maintained a low profile after the December 2008 occupation
of Bangkok's airports. In an unrelated development, the
authorities released a suspect in a recently-alleged
assassination plot against a Privy Councilor.
2. (C) Comment: It is premature to speculate about the
perpetrators of the Sondhi shooting, but the attack may well
be connected to the recent mob actions in Bangkok. The
ambush, more sophisticated than a typical Thai contract
killing, will likely heighten political tension and make the
RTG reluctant to lift the state of emergency in Bangkok in
the near future. Following an April 17 cabinet meeting, PM
Abhisit announced that the state of emergency would remain in
effect for now.
3. (C) Comment, continued: Premeditated political violence in
Bangkok, particularly when directed at powerful figures, has
often taken the form of small and ineffective bombings -- ref
B lists a number of such bombings that targeted Thaksin's
foes. The attack on Sondhi represents a significant
escalation of tactics. End Summary and Comment.
AMBUSH
--------------
4. (SBU) Between 5:00 and 6:00 a.m. on April 17, unidentified
gunmen ambushed Sondhi Limthongkul as he traveled by car to a
Bangkok television studio for a regularly-scheduled
broadcast. Sondhi and his driver were wounded and
hospitalized. The media reported in the afternoon of April
17 that doctors removed a bullet from Sondhi's head, and that
Sondhi was conscious and able to speak.
5. (SBU) The media reported that at least two assailants in a
truck fired on Sondhi and fled the scene. Based on shell
casings retrieved from the scene, the authorities believe
that the gunmen used M-16 and AK-47 assault rifles.
According to at least one media report, the authorities also
found an unexploded M-79 grenade at the scene.
6. (C) Sondhi, a media mogul, became a leading critic of
Thaksin and co-founded the People's Alliance for Democracy
(PAD). The PAD pushed for then-Prime Minister Thaksin's
ouster in 2005-6 and then protested against pro-Thaksin
administrations that held power in 2008. During PAD's 2008
protest, its supporters, under Sondhi's leadership, occupied
the Government House compound for three months and closed
Bangkok's airports for a week. Contacts have told us that
Sondhi privately told other Thais that Queen Sirikit directly
supported his efforts. In advance of a recent application
for a U.S. visa, Sondhi requested expedited procedures for
his appearance at the Embassy, citing concerns for his
security.
PRIVY COUNCILOR ALLEGEDLY TARGETED
--------------
7. (C) In a separate development, the authorities released a
Navy Captain, Chakkrit Sekhanant, who had been detained in
connection with the alleged plot to assassinate Privy
Councilor Charnchai Likitjitta (ref A). A high-ranking
police official told us that the police working on this case
appeared to have done sloppy work, which (for him) cast doubt
on whether the alleged assassination plot was genuine.
JOHN
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/17/2019
TAGS: PGOV KJUS KDEM ASEC TH
SUBJECT: LEADING ANTI-THAKSIN ACTIVIST SONDHI SHOT IN
BANGKOK
REF: A. BANGKOK 907 (LARGE RED RALLY)
B. 07 BANGKOK 15 (BOMBINGS)
Classified By: DCM James F. Entwistle, reason: 1.4 (b and d).
SUMMARY AND COMMENT
--------------
1. (SBU) Unidentified gunmen shot a leading "yellowshirt"
political activist in Bangkok in the early morning hours of
April 17. As of mid-day, the victim, Sondhi Limthongkul, was
recovering from surgery. Sondhi previously led protests
against former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra but
maintained a low profile after the December 2008 occupation
of Bangkok's airports. In an unrelated development, the
authorities released a suspect in a recently-alleged
assassination plot against a Privy Councilor.
2. (C) Comment: It is premature to speculate about the
perpetrators of the Sondhi shooting, but the attack may well
be connected to the recent mob actions in Bangkok. The
ambush, more sophisticated than a typical Thai contract
killing, will likely heighten political tension and make the
RTG reluctant to lift the state of emergency in Bangkok in
the near future. Following an April 17 cabinet meeting, PM
Abhisit announced that the state of emergency would remain in
effect for now.
3. (C) Comment, continued: Premeditated political violence in
Bangkok, particularly when directed at powerful figures, has
often taken the form of small and ineffective bombings -- ref
B lists a number of such bombings that targeted Thaksin's
foes. The attack on Sondhi represents a significant
escalation of tactics. End Summary and Comment.
AMBUSH
--------------
4. (SBU) Between 5:00 and 6:00 a.m. on April 17, unidentified
gunmen ambushed Sondhi Limthongkul as he traveled by car to a
Bangkok television studio for a regularly-scheduled
broadcast. Sondhi and his driver were wounded and
hospitalized. The media reported in the afternoon of April
17 that doctors removed a bullet from Sondhi's head, and that
Sondhi was conscious and able to speak.
5. (SBU) The media reported that at least two assailants in a
truck fired on Sondhi and fled the scene. Based on shell
casings retrieved from the scene, the authorities believe
that the gunmen used M-16 and AK-47 assault rifles.
According to at least one media report, the authorities also
found an unexploded M-79 grenade at the scene.
6. (C) Sondhi, a media mogul, became a leading critic of
Thaksin and co-founded the People's Alliance for Democracy
(PAD). The PAD pushed for then-Prime Minister Thaksin's
ouster in 2005-6 and then protested against pro-Thaksin
administrations that held power in 2008. During PAD's 2008
protest, its supporters, under Sondhi's leadership, occupied
the Government House compound for three months and closed
Bangkok's airports for a week. Contacts have told us that
Sondhi privately told other Thais that Queen Sirikit directly
supported his efforts. In advance of a recent application
for a U.S. visa, Sondhi requested expedited procedures for
his appearance at the Embassy, citing concerns for his
security.
PRIVY COUNCILOR ALLEGEDLY TARGETED
--------------
7. (C) In a separate development, the authorities released a
Navy Captain, Chakkrit Sekhanant, who had been detained in
connection with the alleged plot to assassinate Privy
Councilor Charnchai Likitjitta (ref A). A high-ranking
police official told us that the police working on this case
appeared to have done sloppy work, which (for him) cast doubt
on whether the alleged assassination plot was genuine.
JOHN