Bombs suspect a 'former red-shirt guard'

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Bombs suspect a 'former red-shirt guard'

The lone suspect allegedly behind the six bombs planted at three sites in Bangkok on Thursday, Jeerawat Janpeng, is a former security guard of the pro-Thaksin Shinawatra red-shirt movement, Thai-language daily Khao Sod reported yesterday quoting an unnamed source.

The Sakhon Nakhon native, 45, reportedly became disgruntled after repeated requests to core red-shirt leaders, seeking their help for compensation and speedy investigation into the deaths of his relatives during the crackdown on protesters at the Ratchaprasong intersection last May by troops, came to nought, according to Khao Sod. Jeerawat reportedly travelled to Cambodia seeking a meeting with Thaksin, the de-facto leader of government coalition leader Pheu Thai Party, during a recent trip, but his request for a direct meeting with the former PM was denied, the Thai-language daily reported.

A day after the bombs were disposed of on Thursday, another bomb scare occurred yesterday when a fake bomb was found at a train station in Bangkok's Bang Khen area.

On being alerted by a vendor, a team of police ordnance officials inspected a 40cm black plastic pipe with two lids on both ends and tied with an electric wire. An onsite X-ray found nothing inside.

Police said later the pipe was deliberately placed near a bathroom to cause a disturbance, because the location was highly visible. The officers said they were collecting other evidence and fingerprints possibly left on the pipe, while an initial review of security camera footage showed no signs of who had planted the bomb.

Jeerawat was in court custody yesterday after the judges agreed with the police recommendation against releasing him on bail. The suspect pleaded not guilty after he was initially charged with possession of explosives without permission. He told reporters that he was not hired by anyone.

"The suspect has political ideals and ambitions, and possibly set up three bombs to create disturbances," Khao Sod quoted Bangkok police chief Pol Lt-General Winai Thongsong as saying.

Aree Krainara, an aide to the interior minister and then chief of the red-shirt guards, denied that Jeerawat was a red shirt guard, saying he remembered all those who worked under him. He added that even if Jeerawat was once a red guard, he was supposed to act in support of the Pheu Thai-led government, not to undermine it.

"Reports about Jeerawat being a former red-shirt guard are certainly a smear campaign to discredit the government," he added.

The Nation on Sunday December 18, 2011