absolutelyBangkok archive · News & Media
Originally published May 13, 2010
For the latest on the highly fluid situation in Bangkok follow Bangkok Pundit’s coverage and trust the excellent Twitter resources @tulsathit, @terryfrd, @Tan_Network, @georgebkk, @RichardBarrow, @aleithead and @bangkokpundit. The events now may well mark a turning point in Thai history.
Here’s a line of thought though. Yes some say the red movement has reached its ideological & moral bankruptcy. The leadership is split. Veera according to, yes, Seh Daeng, who was shot soon after making the claim, has fled to the safe English exile with other red leaders reportedly resigning.
And now the Seh Daeng incident. And not much condolences from the red stage. Not to scare off the reds? Shot in front of journalists. A bullet from the left to the right temple. See here the CNN report. And not much solidarity from the red stage. Speeches just went on, as if no shooting took place. The assassination attempt could be as much as anything a payback for the officers killed/injured on April 10? But what if… what if (sent in by a reader):
Seh Deang’s charisma and general persona have made him a folk hero with many reds. If it’s true that he is a front for someone much bigger he could be expendable. That the reds had been alienating themselves from him could be evidence. Being shot by a red (black) sniper… The hope is to make this the catalyst for the glorious, long-awaited uprising! Fanciful perhaps, but this being played out more and more as a B-grade movie script, how can you ever conclusively know?
Nah, am not an apologizt. This is a too dire situation to be sarcastic.
Government and army are fully aware of the risk of such an operation. A signature Seh Daeng operation actually. Lived like a soldier, died like a soldier. Well not yet, in a coma, but his daughter reportedly told doctors if her father’s condition is beyond help, they should let him go.
Again, neither government nor army get benefit from such an action. And all possible weapons are freely available on the market, even high velocity guns. You just need the money. Army and government had many chances to get rid of Seh Daeng. And didn’t. Something just doesn’t make sense.
BTW, here’s The Nation’s take on who might have shot him.
Here the Bangkok Post’s analysis.
My thoughts are with the general and his family. And all the other victims.
( top image credit)
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