Slain protester's sister files complaint against six PAD leaders

His sister Chaba Singhaklangpol, 70, insisted that Narongsak Kobthaisong, 55, a Democratic Alliance Against Dictatorship (DAAD) supporter who died of head injuries sustained during the street riots, was not a homeless person hired to protest but a man with a political ideology.

Chaba was accompanied to Nang Lerng police station yesterday afternoon by leading DAAD members, including Viputhalaeng Pattanaphumthai. She urged police to arrest Somsak Kosaisuk, Somkiat Pongpaiboon Piphob Dhongchai, Chamlong Srimuang, Sondhi Limthongkul and Suriyasai Katasila for holding a protest resulting in death and injury.

They also presented evidence, including CDs and photos, of the rioting.

"My brother died because PAD protesters fatally attacked him. I want police to bring the culprits to justice," she said. "I don't want my brother to have died for nothing. I want everyone to know who is responsible for his death. I want the PAD to stop what they're doing," she added.

Pol Lt-Colonel Noppakhun Prathumpetch said police had not yet charged anyone over Tuesday's morning's violence and were gathering evidence and interviewing the injured as they tried to identify the culprits.

He said that, even though no complaint had been filed, police would investigate the matter as a criminal case involving premeditated murder.

Chaba earlier told reporters at Vajira Hospital that Narongsak had visited her in Kanchanaburi and asked for money to join in the DAAD protest at Sanam Luang because he was concerned for the country and disagreed with the PAD demonstrators surrounding Government House with no respect for the law.

She said she urged him not to go and gave him no money, but later learned he had gone to Bangkok by pawning his ring to a friend for Bt200.

"Narongsak was like our elder brother Thiangtham na Muangphut, who joined protests against dictatorship during the regimes of Field Marshal Prapas Charusathien and Field Marshal Thanom Kittikachorn until he was arrested. Thiangtham was later the first person to be released by a royal pardon," she said.

Chaba said she would have Narongsak's body kept in Bangkok for a merit-making ritual as requested by DAAD supporters, before bringing him home for cremation in Kanchanaburi's Sai Yok district.

Leading DAAD member Somyos Pruksakasemsuk said the group would assist Narongsak's family with funeral expenses and money raised through donations, which currently amounts to Bt100,000.

Somyos said the merit-making ritual would be held at Bangkok's Wat Samian Naree for 21 days.

He said the relatives wanted to meet with Samak Sundaravej to hear the prime minister's assurance that Narongsak had not died for nothing.

The DAAD is trying to establish exactly where Narongsak was attacked, with a view to possibly building a monument for him, he added.