Explosives find is a set-up, claims PAD
Police yesterday arrested three men found in possession of 1,700 power-gel sticks, 101 detonators and 24 bags of ammonium nitrate after a raid on a stone mill belonging to a cement firm in Saraburi. Police are now checking the origins of the seized items.
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The discovery of explosives at an apartment belonging to a man with ties to the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) is a set-up, a core member of the group - who is also an uncle of the fugitive apartment-owner - alleged yesterday.
Phian Yongnoo said he believed that "some people were not happy" after he - as chairman of the labour union of the Metropolitan Electricity Authority - and other union members recently lodged a complaint with Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont asking him to review his working style.
Phian also dismissed police claims that Hathaichanok Praphasukdee, a former girlfriend of his nephew Somphong In-ngarm, had testified to seeing a cache of explosives at the former's Sri Bamrung Mueng apartment some months ago, when she and Somphong were living together.
Phian said an aunt of Hathaichanok told him yesterday that her niece had never made such a statement to the police.
"I don't know how the police could say publicly that the explosives had been in the room for months," he said.
Phian had earlier submitted a request to Paisal Phuetmongkhol, a member of the National Legislative Assembly's committee on justice, policing and human rights, asking for state protection for Somphong.
Phian said he had not been in contact with his nephew since Tuesday, when the cache was found in Somphong's room and he disappeared.
Paisal said the whole matter seemed suspicious and he wondered why the building's maids decided to clean the apartment after a woman who rented it from Somphong failed to pay the rent for five months and then abandoned it.
Paisal said his panel would summon Hathaichanok for an interview next Tuesday.
Prasong Soonsri, chairman of the Constitution Drafing Committee, said it was suspicious that the matter had come to light after Phian submitted the complaint to the PM.
"I am not sure if it's a deliberate act to discredit the PAD politically," he said.
Prasong said he personally viewed the PAD as a non-violent movement that had never become involved with criminal activities.
Lt-General Adisorn Nonsee, the Bangkok police chief, said the court's refusal to approve an arrest warrant for Somphong was a lesson to police and all parties that investigations must be carried out carefully. He said police were looking into the possibility that the explosives were put in Somphong's room while he was away.
Adisorn said Somphong was welcome to talk to investigators and he would likely be released on bail if he surrendered now.
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