The arrest of fugitive red guard Surachai "Rang" Thewarat is praiseworthy but it is far from unmasking the masterminds behind the unrest.
The Department of Special Investigation should not be complacent with just a trophy suspect. It still has a lot more work to do before it can reel in the big fish and ensure a conviction for a charge of terrorism.
Based on the statement released by DSI director general Tharit Pengdit, Surachai is linked to eight major incidents from the start of the red-shirt rally on March 14 to its end on May 19.
His involvement in violence allegedly includes an M-79 attack at the First Infantry Regiment on Vibhavadi-Rangsit Road, which injured four soldiers.
In the next incident, he was allegedly one of the 'men in black' ambushing security forces at Kok Wua intersection on Rajdamnoen Avenue on April 10. The bloodshed caused 24 deaths, including Colonel Romklao Tuwatham of the 2nd Infantry Division from Prachin Buri.
He was also allegedly involved in the RPG attack at a jet fuel depot at Pathum Thani, before firing M-79 grenades at the BTS train station at Sala Daeng and attacking crowds at Silom Road. Two civilians were killed in these attacks.
Surachai was also reportedly responsible for a series of RPG attacks on the Dusit Thani Hotel and Lumpini police station. He allegedly admitted his link to the firing of an M-16 assault rifle to kill a policeman at Krung Thai Bank's Sala Daeng branch. In a separate but nearby incident, another policeman was killed following the firing of three RPGs at a checkpoint near Lumpini Park.
By his own admission, Surachai looks to be a key suspect in the eruption of violence. The DSI has yet to verify his remarks.
At this juncture, Surachai has pointed an accusing finger at Maj General Khattiya "Seh Daeng" Sawasdiphol as his controller who ordered him to carry out the violent incidents. The problem is Khattiya died after lying in a coma for several days following a gun attack on May 13. The unanswered question is whether Surachai is trying to pin everything on the dead general in order to help the surviving masterminds elude the law.
Although Khattiya was a popular leader among the red guards, he did not dominate or wield decisive influence over security decisions at the red-shirt rally. He was seen as the de facto leader but it was common knowledge the leadership structure of the guards was complex. Several active and retired generals were linked to running security measures at the rally.
After the 'men in black' made their appearance, leading to the bloodshed on April 10, Khattiya seemed to be as surprised as anyone else. He dismissed speculation about links between the 'men in black' and armed units known as "King Taksin warriors", which he formed and led to counter the yellow-shirt movement.
It is noteworthy that Khattiaya did not have any grudges for Romklao or the Second Infantry Division, hence there was no reason to suspect his involvement in targeting the soldiers from this division for attack on April 10. In fact Khattiya used to have close ties with the Prachin Buri soldiers when he was a young calvary officer on combat assignment near the Thai-Cambodian border.
Regardless of the hype surrounding the so-called confession from Surachai, the DSI and relevant agencies are obligated to re-enact how the 'men in black' came into existence and how violence was instigated. Failure to explain violence involving the 'men in black' could yield dire consequences. Without proof to link the reds to the bloodshed, this could imply foul play to frame and crackdown on the peaceful protesters.