Sondhi blames soldiers for the attack
Sondhi Limthongkul – The leader of People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD) today blamed certain military soldiers for the assassination attempt on him last month. He was attacked on April 17th when a pick up truck with gun men with assault rifles sprayed bullets on his car. The driver was seriously injured and the leader himself narrowly escaped death when a bullet lodged in his skull.
The cartridges found at the shooting scene indicated that the rifles used were the M-16 assault rifle; such bullets are widely used by the army.
This was Sondhi’s first conference since he was released from the hospital after his recovery. He said that he was chosen for the assassination because of two reasons. One to intimidate the media as he himself is a media professional and two to undermine the mass movement since he is a PAD leader.
When asked about the suspected masterminds behind the assassination attempt, Sodhi said that he did not he did not suspect Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwan, Army chief General Anupong Paochinda and philanthropist Thanphuying Viraya Javakul.
Army’s role in the assassination attempt has come to the fore with the use of military weapons in the attack. The prime minister was forced to come out and deny any role of military in the attack.
Sodhi said that he would be going to USA for recuperation and expects the Police to arrest the gunmen involved in the attack soon.