ID :
55975
Fri, 04/17/2009 - 15:43
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http://m.oananews.org//node/55975
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Anti-Thaksin leader survives assassination bid
BANGKOK, April 17 (TNA) – A surgical team at Bangkok’s Vajira Hospital removed a bullet from the skull of Sondhi Limthongkul,a staunch opponent of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra and leader of the anti-Thaksin People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD) movement, who barely survived an assassination attempt early Friday morning when at least three gunmen fired a hail of bullets into his car as he was being chauffeured to work.
Announcing the operation as successful, Vajira Hospital Director Chaiwan Charoenchoketavee, MD, said the key PAD leader and fiery orator remains conscious and is still able to talk, but requires continued intensive care for about a week.
The bullet lodged in his skull but failed to hit Mr. Sondhi’s brain, according to Dr. Chaiwan.
Police recovered 97 shell casings from at least three semi-automatic weapons -- an AK47, an M16 and an SK.
Mr. Sondhi was on his way to his daily morning talkshow programme at ASTV station when the gunmen in a pick-up truck fired at his vehicles tires to stop it at Bangkok's Bangkhunprom intersection.
According to witnesses, the attackers then fired about hundred rounds with an M-16 and an AK-47.
Mr. Sondhi and his secretary were wounded and were sent to Vajira Hospital amid tight security, while his driver was seriously injured and was sent to Mission Hospital.
The attackers escaped from the scene when another car belonging to Mr. Sondhi's followers shot them back.
Mr. Sondhi is a founder of the anti-Thaksin Shinawatra movement which toppled the then premier from power in 2006. Last year his 'Yellow Shirt' protesters staged protests against, what they called, the Thaksin proxy governments by besieging Government House and seizing the country's two main airports.
Metropolitan Police Chief Pol.Lt-Gen. Worapong Chewpreecha said that 64 casings of AK-47 cartridges, 16 from an M-16 and 17 SK shell casings were found at the crime scene.
Gen. Worapong said that an investigation was under way to determine the assassination motive. Police initially aimed at Mr. Sondhi's political movement and his personal conflicts. (TNA)
Announcing the operation as successful, Vajira Hospital Director Chaiwan Charoenchoketavee, MD, said the key PAD leader and fiery orator remains conscious and is still able to talk, but requires continued intensive care for about a week.
The bullet lodged in his skull but failed to hit Mr. Sondhi’s brain, according to Dr. Chaiwan.
Police recovered 97 shell casings from at least three semi-automatic weapons -- an AK47, an M16 and an SK.
Mr. Sondhi was on his way to his daily morning talkshow programme at ASTV station when the gunmen in a pick-up truck fired at his vehicles tires to stop it at Bangkok's Bangkhunprom intersection.
According to witnesses, the attackers then fired about hundred rounds with an M-16 and an AK-47.
Mr. Sondhi and his secretary were wounded and were sent to Vajira Hospital amid tight security, while his driver was seriously injured and was sent to Mission Hospital.
The attackers escaped from the scene when another car belonging to Mr. Sondhi's followers shot them back.
Mr. Sondhi is a founder of the anti-Thaksin Shinawatra movement which toppled the then premier from power in 2006. Last year his 'Yellow Shirt' protesters staged protests against, what they called, the Thaksin proxy governments by besieging Government House and seizing the country's two main airports.
Metropolitan Police Chief Pol.Lt-Gen. Worapong Chewpreecha said that 64 casings of AK-47 cartridges, 16 from an M-16 and 17 SK shell casings were found at the crime scene.
Gen. Worapong said that an investigation was under way to determine the assassination motive. Police initially aimed at Mr. Sondhi's political movement and his personal conflicts. (TNA)
