Soontree target of grenade scare
An unexploded grenade was found at the home of singer Soontree Vechanon in Chiang Mai early yesterday morning. The popular singer of northern dialect songs said the threat or failed attack was prompted by her participation in an anti-Thaksin rally in Bangkok.
Police were alerted after the explosive was found in front of her house, part of which is used as a restaurant. Santi Kamya, 29, who was staying at the restaurant, was alerted when he heard a noise and suspected something had been thrown at the restaurant. But he ignored it. "Later, at about 6.30am, I was cleaning the front porch and found the grenade," he said. Police said the grenade's pin had been removed. A bomb squad spokesman said although the grenade was new, he suspected the high level of humidity had caused it to malfunction. They destroyed the device. Soontree said she was certain the attack was prompted by her involvement with People's Alliance for Democracy rallies in Bangkok. "I have been running the restaurant for almost 12 years and have never had this kind of trouble. Earlier I received threatening telephone calls telling me to stop attending anti-Thaksin protests," she said. Her involvement in the protests has angered some people in Chiang Mai, who burnt her effigy recently, she said. The city is a Thaksin stronghold.
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