An Army corporal identified as an associate of terror suspect Surachai Thewarat has been arrested, the Department of Special Investi-gation (DSI) said yesterday.
Corporal Rachata Wongyod has reportedly been questioned by the DSI, which apprehended him on Thursday at an Army barracks in Prachuap Khiri Khan. He has not been charged with any offence.
Rachata, serving with the 15th Infantry Division, said he was an admirer of late Army specialist Khattiya Sawasdiphol, but denied taking part in M79 grenade attacks during the red-shirt protests.
DSI sources said Rachata admitted to joining the protests and being present during meetings of "men in black" to plan the launch of "retaliatory responses".
The corporal said he had been with his Army unit all during the protests and had a record to prove his claim. He said he had been in sight of his superiors.
Khattiya, of whom Surachai was also a close aide, was in charge of security measures for the red-shirt movement and allegedly behind several grenade and gunfire attacks.
Rachata issued an open letter complaining about an order from his superiors barring him from wearing a military uniform while being flown from Phetchaburi to Bangkok yesterday morning.
In a press interview, he said the DSI-enabled warrant identified a suspect as a civilian and the alias or nickname stated was Kob, while his nickname was Pod. "I thought it was a mistaken identify, but later saw a photo of me attached with the arrest. This scares me," he said.
In his letter complaining about not being allowed to wear his uniform, Rachata said he had "never been down this low before" when ordered to wear civilian clothes.
"I asked my superiors about their order against me wearing uniform, and they said, 'When paraded before the press, the uniform you wear will disgrace the military'," he said. Rachata said he was worried about the welfare of his 80-year-old mother and his ill brother.