Soldier tells court of 'men in black'

In his testimony to the Criminal Court yesterday, an Army lieutenant said that he saw two "men in black" hiding behind a Skytrain pillar near the Ratchaprasong intersection when six people were killed inside Wat Pathum Wanaram on May 19, 2010.

Lieutenant Pisanu Thadkaew, an officer from Company 31 of the Second Infantry Battalion, was testifying at the South Bangkok Criminal Court as part of an inquiry into the six deaths. The victims were Suwan Sriraksa, 30; Atthachai Chumjan, 28; Mongkol Khemthong, 36; Rop Suksathit, 66; Kamolkade Akkahad, 25; and Akkhedet Khankaew.

They were killed when troops were deployed to secure the area around Ratchaprasong intersection on May 19, 2010.

Pisanu explained that two teams of soldiers were deployed to provide protection to firefighters and fire engines following reports that firefighters had been shot while trying to contain the blaze at CentralWorld.

He said the troops assembled at National Stadium before moving to the Ratchaprasong intersection and the area in front of the temple, adding that one 20-soldier team secured the area along Siam Square, while his team, comprising 28 soldiers, moved across the road to Siam Paragon.

He went on to say that another set of troops joined to provide protection in the centre, from the BTS track.

Pisanu said that when his team moved into the area under the Siam BTS station, he saw two armed men in black hiding behind a pillar about 200 or 300 metres from troops. He said that one of these men in black fled the scene upon seeing the soldiers, but the other fired at troops using an M16 assault rifle.

Pisanu said he returned fire and the man ran in the direction of the Chalerm Pao intersection.