Bangkok Post : Bomb thrown at former home of NACC member

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Bomb thrown at former home of NACC member

Published: 11/09/2009 at 12:38 PM
Online news: Local News

A grenade was thrown at the former home of a member of the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC), Vicha Mahakun, in Bangkok's Bang Plad area about 2am on Friday, Bang Plad police said.

The explosion damaged the garage roof and some parts of the house, but no one was injured as nobody is living there.

Police said they found fragments of an M-213 grenade at the scene.

Mr Vicha told police he the attack was politically motivated.

He headed the NACC’s inquiry into the Oct 7, 2008 bloodshed outside the parliament, when police used force to end an anti-government demonstration, and also handled the Alpine land case.

Mr Vicha said he sold the property to a university lecturer in July this year, but she had not yet moved into the house.

Police believed the attackers intended to intimidate Mr Vicha rather than kill anyone, because the grenade was not lobbed inside the house.

NACC member Somluck Chadkrabuanpol said commission chairman Panthep Khlanarongran had earlier warned all members to be careful about their safety after the agency ruled against out-going police chief Pol Gen Patcharawat Wongsuwon and former metropolitan police commander Pol Lt-Gen Suchart Muankaew.

Both men how face criminal and disciplinary charges.

The Alpine land case has also suddenly re-emerged and become very political.

NACC spokesman Klanarong Chantik said after the incident that the NACC members are not intimidated by the attack.

Mr Klanarong said explosion would not influence the NACC, which ruled against police chief Patcharawat Wongsuwon, former prime minister Somchai Wongsawat, ex-deputy prime minister Chavalit Yongchaiyudh and former Region 4 commander Suchart Muenkaew for their actions during the harsh crackdown on the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) on October last year.

"The incident will not affect our work," Mr Klanarong said. "Everyone works transparently. Whatever happens does not discourage us."

He also said NACC chief Panthep Klanarongran would decide whether the issue of increased security at members' homes should be discussed.

It would also depend on whether the government thought it necessary, he added.

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charlie

Discussion 6 : 12/09/2009 at 01:09 AM6
What a cowardly act from a corrupt waste of life .The sooner Thailand stamps out this kind of person the better .Seems like retaliation for a ruling against a police officer .Keep going NACC you have a long list ahead of you .
RicefieldRadio

Discussion 5 : 11/09/2009 at 11:06 PM5
Piya - you respect him, that's your perogative but it's statements like this one that make me wonder.

"We all know elections are evil, but [why do] many people still want to see history repeated? People, especially academics, who want to see the constitution lead to genuine democracy, are naive. Electing senators is a problem, as seen in the past, so why don't people want judges to help select senators?"
D lighted

Discussion 4 : 11/09/2009 at 09:04 PM4
IF Khun Klarong (NACC) suggests a relationship between NACC rulings against senior police officers and a presumed a threat to the safety of NACC-members, that would likely result in yet more defamation cases...
boonisback

Discussion 3 : 11/09/2009 at 05:50 PM3
Khun Piya

Did you not know that some of them work freelance illegally and were involved in the activities of PAD?
Oliver Smith

Discussion 2 : 11/09/2009 at 04:47 PM2
should be a good example for Thailand from the neighbor country Taiwan:

"Former Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian and his wife were convicted Friday on corruption and money laundering charges and sentenced to life in prison"

http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/asiapcf/09/11/taiwan.chen/index.html
Piya

Discussion 1 : 11/09/2009 at 01:16 PM1
I have heard of Mr Klanarong's reputation. He is actually quite a legend. He was put there, because he fears nothing, and does not give in to money or violence. He once mentioned that his family has got used to the death threats, and they understand his work. I respect him and his family. I believe most of the other NACC members are quite hardcore too!

charlie

Discussion 6 : 12/09/2009 at 01:09 AM6

What a cowardly act from a corrupt waste of life .The sooner Thailand stamps out this kind of person the better .Seems like retaliation for a ruling against a police officer .Keep going NACC you have a long list ahead of you .

RicefieldRadio

Discussion 5 : 11/09/2009 at 11:06 PM5

Piya - you respect him, that's your perogative but it's statements like this one that make me wonder.

"We all know elections are evil, but [why do] many people still want to see history repeated? People, especially academics, who want to see the constitution lead to genuine democracy, are naive. Electing senators is a problem, as seen in the past, so why don't people want judges to help select senators?"

D lighted

Discussion 4 : 11/09/2009 at 09:04 PM4

IF Khun Klarong (NACC) suggests a relationship between NACC rulings against senior police officers and a presumed a threat to the safety of NACC-members, that would likely result in yet more defamation cases...

boonisback

Discussion 3 : 11/09/2009 at 05:50 PM3

Khun Piya

Did you not know that some of them work freelance illegally and were involved in the activities of PAD?

Oliver Smith

Discussion 2 : 11/09/2009 at 04:47 PM2

should be a good example for Thailand from the neighbor country Taiwan:

"Former Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian and his wife were convicted Friday on corruption and money laundering charges and sentenced to life in prison"

http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/asiapcf/09/11/taiwan.chen/index.html

Piya

Discussion 1 : 11/09/2009 at 01:16 PM1

I have heard of Mr Klanarong's reputation. He is actually quite a legend. He was put there, because he fears nothing, and does not give in to money or violence. He once mentioned that his family has got used to the death threats, and they understand his work. I respect him and his family. I believe most of the other NACC members are quite hardcore too!