Wednesday, April 22, 2009

Kasit: Thaksin behind attack on Sondhi

The Bangkok Post says Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya has accused outlawed former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra of being involved in the failed attack on People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) leader Sondhi Limthongkul last Friday.

"Thaksin failed with the populist movement and now I think he has resorted to some sort of assassination attempt," Mr Kasit said in a speech to the Asia Society in New York.

He did not provide any evidence to back his claim, but made it clear he believed that he and four other cabinet ministers were also possible targets for assassination.

These statements run counter to those of the PAD's own leadership, who have said that they believe that "men in uniform" were behind the attacks. It also contradicts blogs by Sondhi's son, who is the head of his television station, who is also writing about a growing military movement against both the Red Shirts and the Yellow Shirts.

Bangkok Pundit quotes from Jittanart Limthongkul's blog:
He said there is a new form of war by a group who want to create a new government consisting of the police and army in neutral gear (ie who won't take the "necessary action"), one Minister who has great desire, and politician(s) behind the blue shirts. Jittinart said this "new power group" is putting up military barrier on the outer ring to prevent Thaksin Shinawatr from returning while blocking Premier Abhisit with an inner ring. Sondhi's son said the incident at the Interior Ministry last week when Premier Abhisit Vejjajiva came under attack had been planned "to kill the prime minister -- and put the blame on the red-shirts."
Could there be a new alliance between Thaksin and Sondhi brewing?

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