PAD points finger in Sondhi attack

The People's Alliance for Democracy has asked why no progress has been made in the police investigation into the attempt on Sondhi Limthongkul's life on April 17 - and offered at least one reason.

PAD leaders Maj-Gen Chamlong Srimuang, Somsak Kosaisuk and Pibhop Dhongchai and coordinator Suriyasai Katasila made the point at a press conference on Thursday, stressing that it was now more than two months since the attack.

However, police investigators led by Pol Gen Tanee Somboonsap, the deputy police chief, had made little or no progress.

Mr Suriyasai said the PAD became worried after Pol Gen Tanee admitted a few days ago that his team had hit a stumbling block.

He was firm in the belief that the ambush  of Mr Sondhi's van by gunmen in Bangkok on May 17 was the work of men in uniform, but he was not sure if they were a combined team of police and soldiers, according to Mr Suriyasai.

However, the PAD had reliable information that a general had threatened some investigators to stop their inquiries or their promotions would be blocked, Mr Suriyasai said.

Mr Suriyasai called for national police chief Pol Gen Patcharawat Wongsuban, Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban, who oversees the police, and Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva to attach more importance to the case.

Mr Pibhop said he and Maj-Gen Chamlong would on Friday go to the office of the National Anti-Corruption Commission to ask Panthep Klanarongran, the chairman, why the investigation into the police crackdown on PAD protesters in front of parliament on Oct 7 last year has not been completed.

It was necessary that the investigators' findings be revealed publicly, as many people were killed and wounded in the incident, he said.