Ekkayuth takes a punch | Bangkok Post: learning

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Someone apparently got very annoyed with controversial businessman Ekkayuth Anchanbutr as he was checking out the activities of the prime minister.

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Well-known businessman Ekkayuth Anchanbutr points to his right eye after saying he was physically assaulted inside a five-star hotel in Bangkok yesterday. PATIPAT JANTHONG

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Thaksin foe socked in eye, wants PM to act

Well-known businessman Ekkayuth Anchanbutr seems to enjoy controversy.

Yesterday he was back in the news, telling a press conference he was physically assaulted inside a five-star hotel in Bangkok soon after seeing Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra leave.

Mr Ekkayuth, a leading campaigner against the Thaksin Shinawatra government in the past, told the press conference he saw Ms Yingluck enter the Four Seasons Hotel on Ratchadamri Road, go to an upper floor of the hotel around 2pm yesterday and come down about 4pm.

Mr Ekkayuth, who was at the hotel's coffee shop, said the prime minister must have seen him from a short distance away. About 10 minutes after Ms Yingluck left the hotel, a man punched him in the face and he fell to the floor.

The attacker was carrying what Mr Ekkayuth believed to be a weapon. However, his personal guards had intervened and the attacker ran out of the hotel.

Mr Ekkayuth said the attacker was in uniform and he did not recognise him.

He inquired into the incident and witnesses told him the man was close to Thaksin.

Mr Ekkayuth said he had no intention of filing a police complaint because he did not want to burden authorities.

He said he was curious to know who the prime minister met at the hotel. She could have set a meeting venue at the hotel restaurant instead of a private room.

He said he did not wish to accuse Ms Yingluck of having anything to do with the attack. But it might have been the work of some security personnel.

The businessman urged Ms Yingluck and Chalerm Yubamrung, the deputy prime minister in charge of the Royal Thai Police Office, to see to it that the attacker is promptly arrested.

On his Facebook page, Mr Ekkayuth said he would unnerve a lot of people if he gave the names of those seen with the prime minister at the hotel.

Ms Yingluck, meanwhile, declined to comment on the matter.

Deputy government spokesman Anusorn Iamsa-ard said the incident may have been a set-up. He said Mr Ekkayuth had been monitoring Ms Yingluck's movements.

Adapted from a story in today’s Bangkok Post by Penchan Charoensuthipan

physically assaulted – attacked by someone violently  ถูกทำร้ายร่างกาย
foe – an enemy or opponent ศัตรู
sock – to hit somebody hard ตีอย่างแรง
act – to take action; to do something for a particular purpose or in order to deal with a situation  จัดการ, ดำเนินการ, ปฏิบัติ
controversy – a disagreement, especially about a public policy or a moral issue that a lot of people have strong feelings about ความขัดแย้ง
press conference – an official meeting where someone makes a formal statement about a particular issue or event to journalists and answers their questions about it การแถลงข่าว
campaigner – a person who takes part in organized activities which are intended to change something in society ผู้ต่อสู้, ผู้รณรงค์, ผู้โฆษณาเผยแพร่
punch – to hit someone/something hard with a fist (= closed hand) ชก, ต่อย
weapon – an object such as a knife, gun, bomb, etc. that is used for fighting or attacking somebody อาวุธ
personal guard – body guard; someone whose job is to protect someone องครักษ์, คนคุ้มกัน
intervene – to become involved in a situation in order to try to stop or change it  แทรกแซง
recognise – to know who a person is  จำได้ รู้จัก
inquire – to ask someone for information about something ถามถึง, สอบถาม
incident – something that happens, usually something bad เหตุการณ์
witness – a person who sees something happen  ผู้ที่เห็นเหตุการณ์
intention – a plan in your mind to do something ความตั้งใจ เจตนา
file a complaint – to make an official statement that someone has done something wrong ยื่นคำร้อง
burden – to give somebody a duty, responsibility, etc. that causes worry, difficulty or hard work เป็นภาระ
authorities – people who have the power to make decisions or enforce the law เจ้าหน้าที่ผู้มีอำนาจ
curious – having a strong desire to know about something อยากรู้อยากเห็น
venue – the place where an activity or event happens  สถานที่
accuse – to say that someone has done something wrong or committed a crime กล่าวหา
security personnel – people who provide protection; safety from attack, harm, or damage ผู้อารักขา, องครักษ์
urge – to advise someone very strongly about what action or attitude they should take ผลักดัน, กระตุ้น
deputy – a person whose rank is immediately below that of the leader of an organisation รอง
in charge of – to be in control of an activity and to check that everything is being done correctly  ดูแล ควบคุม
promptly – in an immediate or quick way ทันที
arrested – caught by the police and taken to a police station ถูกจับกุม
unnerve – to make somebody feel nervous or frightened or lose confidence  ทำให้ตกใจ, ทำให้เสียขวัญ
decline – to say politely that you will not accept something or do something ปฏิเสธ
matter – something that you are discussing, considering or dealing with  สิ่งที่พูดถึง ประเด็นที่พูดถึง
set-up – a situation in which someone cheats or tricks you, especially by making something appear to be true when it is not
monitor – to regularly check something or watch someone in order to find out what is happening  ตรวจสอบ ตรวจตรา

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