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Thai army bullets used in assassination attempt on Sondhi Limthongkul
Agence France Presse - April 24, 2009
Bangkok – Thailand's army chief has admitted that three bullets used in an assassination attempt on an activist came from a military unit.
Investigators found 20 bullet casings at the site of last Friday's attack on media mogul Sondhi Limthongkul, founder of the Yellow Shirt movement, General Anupong Paojinda said yesterday. "Three of them were M16 bullets, which were distributed in the First Army region to the Ninth Infantry," he said, referring to the widely used M16 assault rifle.
"As far as I know, the bullets were distributed for drill practice. However, there are many units in this infantry and at this moment it is still under investigation how the bullets were leaked."
General Anupong said the army would prosecute those involved in leaking the bullets.
Mr Sondhi, his driver and aide were wounded when up to seven gunmen sprayed his car with automatic gunfire in Bangkok. His movement, the People's Alliance for Democracy, said last week that "men in uniform" were to blame. In recent weeks, the group has called for a shake-up within army ranks.
Mr Sondhi also has enemies in Thailand's business community and among the rival Red Shirt movement loyal to ousted former premier Thaksin Shinawatra. Protests by the PAD led to the coup that toppled Thaksin in September 2006.
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