Friday, April 17, 2009

Thai yellow shirts' leader shot-up near tourist district

Updated
One of the most prominent men in Thailand narrowly escaped assassination this morning.

About 5:00am a vehicle carrying a leader of the movement that shut down Bangkok's airports in November, Sondhi Limthongkul, was massively shot-up while the newspaper mogul was on his way to work in the historic tourist area of Bangkok, near Khao San Road.

The Nation reported that the incident occurred when "a group of men riding on a pickup opened fire on his vehicle." According to police, there were "one hundred" cartridges found at the crime scene. Sondhi was rushed to the hospital with bullet wounds to his arm and his driver was also injured.

Given the description of the attack, it's amazing Sondhi survived.

Sondhi, a graduate of UCLA and Utah State, was an old business partner and supporter of former Thai PM Thaksin until 2005 when their relationship soured. Sonthi then became a vocal opponent of Thaksin.

Update:
This is looking much worse than first reported. Nation (h/t Shark):
Sondhi Limthongkul is in serious condition after being shot as a bullet hit his left skull. The bullet is still in his skull, causing bleeding inside his brain, Vajira Hospital Director Dr Chaiwun Charoenchoktavee said Friday

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