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Thai protest leader shot
Danny Brierley17 Apr 2009
THE founder of Thailand's "yellow-shirt" protest that shut down Bangkok airports last year survived a drive-by shooting today that saw his vehicle riddled with more than 100 bullets.
Sondhi Limthongkul's, a supporter of the Thai government, was being driven to work before dawn when at least two men in a pick-up truck ambushed his car at a petrol station.
The assassination attempt in the Thai capital by men wielding AK-47 assault rifles came days after troops cracked down on rioting protesters from the rival anti-government "red shirt" group.
Mr Sondhi, a 61-year-old media tycoon who owns pro-government TV channel ASTV, was said to be in a stable condition after a bullet was removed from his skull. His bodyguard and driver were also injured.
The attack raised fears of a new explosion of violence that has dogged Thailand for more than three years.
The government has strengthened security around Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, whose vehicle was attacked twice by red-shirted protesters in the run-up to this week's riots.
The People's Alliance for Democracy, founded by Mr Sondhi said the attack was politically motivated.
The United Front of Democracy against Dictatorship red-shirt faction, allied to former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, the billionaire businessman and former owner of Manchester City football club, are thought to be behind the shooting.
The red shirts expressed anger that their leaders were arrested after recent anti-government protests, while Mr Sondhi and allies were not prosecuted over the airport blockades that brought the country to a standstill.
Last year the People's Alliance for Democracy staged protests to demand that allies of ousted Shinawatra resign from government.
The demonstration paved the way for Mr Abhisit to take control in December.
The red shirts, largely from rural areas, rioted in Bangkok earlier this week but called off the protests after a major military crackdown.
PAD supporter and retired government official Suwan Kansanoh said: "During the red-shirt violence, we were asked to stay at home. We didn't get involved.
"Everyone knows who did it, it's bloody Thaksin. He will do anything, even burn his own country down."
Police are looking into Mr Sondhi's political enemies and business associates who could be linked to the attack.
The rival factions battling for the country's heart
Yellow shirts
Yellow is the colour of the the Thai king, Bhumibol Adulyadej. The shirts are worn by supporters of the People's Alliance for Democracy, founded by Sondhi Limthongkul, who was shot today. They staged major protests last year to demand that allies of ousted prime minister, billionaire Thaksin Shinawatra, a former friend of Mr Sondhi's, resign from government. Mr Thaksin was overthrown in 2006 and has since lived mainly in exile. The Yellow Shirts occupied government house for several months and closed Bangkok's airports in December. They agreed to end their protests when a court order disqualified allies of Mr Thaksin from running for public office again. Yellow Shirts come mainly from the middle class and include royalists, academics and retired army officers.
Red shirts
Supporters of the United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship, which is allied to Mr Thaksin. Copying the Yellow Shirts' tactics, they brought Bangkok to a halt last weekend and forced the cancellation of a regional summit, embarrassing prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva. They are calling for the government to resign and for new elections. They want an end to what they see as interference in politics by the military, courts and the king's privy council and an amnesty for Mr Thaksin. Members are largely from rural areas and the lower classes.
Blue Shirts
The Blue Shirts emerged when the Red Shirts began to mount a serious challenge to the government. First, the Blue Shirts said they only wanted to protect utilities, like the airport. But the Red Shirts soon accused them of being thugs hired by the government.
