Red-shirt leader Wuthipong Kachathamkul has denied any involvement in a gun attack on a convoy of anti-government protesters on Tuesday in which a protester guard was killed.
Mr Wuthipong, alias Ko Tee, yesterday said it was impossible that he carried out the attack on Network of Students and People for Reform of Thailand (NSPRT) supporters in the Chaeng Watthana area as he was in Chiang Rai at the time.
Several groups of people hated the NSPRT and one of them might have carried out the attack, said the red-shirt United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship Pathum Thani leader. Calling for justice, he said he is routinely blamed for such attacks, even when he was not involved.
If he had been the gunman, he would not have missed his target, particularly if People’s Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) secretary-general Suthep Thaugsuban had been about that day. He would have aimed directly at his head, he said.
The NSPRT supporters were attacked as they were returning from a protest with the PDRC at the government complex on Chaeng Watthana Road. The NSPRT convoy came under attack about six kilometres from the Chaeng Watthana expressway toll booth. A security guard was killed and four others injured.
Meanwhile, Preuk Preuksunand, who posted a warning message on his Facebook page of an expressway shooting, has also denied any link to the attack.
He said the premonition was a figment of his imagination, but just happened to come true.
Mr Preuk, who uses the name Lung Yim Tasawang on his Facebook page, warned people on Wednesday to stay clear of a rally led by Mr Suthep as they might be in danger.
In his Facebook message, he warned that close aides of Ko Tee might create chaos as they did not want anti-government demonstrators to use the expressway.
He posted the message while he was in northern Lamphun province. He mentioned Mr Wuthipong’s name because he wanted to make his message more credible.
He confirmed he was a red-shirt supporter and knew the Pathum Thani red-shirt leader, but denied any involvement in the attack.
He said he sensed danger whenever the NSPRT went on marches, which is why his warnings of attacks in Bangkok had often turned out to have substance.
He said some Democrat members were fond of violence, particularly Issara Somchai.
He claimed he learned that Mr Issara had argued with security guards from the anti-government group and the protest leader had expelled some guards.
He said a third party was trying to create unrest in Bangkok to persuade the military to launch a coup.
He said Mr Wuthipong was being controlled by the Pheu Thai Party. Nobody in the ruling party could order the Pathum Thani red-shirt leader around.
The only person who Mr Wuthipong would obey was Metropolitan Police Bureau chief Pol Lt Gen Khamronwit Thoopkrachang, he added.
The army earlier decided to take legal action against red-shirt demonstrators, including Mr Wuthipong, who are seen as advocating separatism.