Gunfire at Home of Former Yellowshirt Activist

SA KAEO — A dozen rounds were fired at the house of a former Yellowshirt activist in Sa Kaeo province yesterday morning.

Ammarin Yeeheng, 30, said the unidentified gunman shot as his home, which also doubles as an eatery, at around 7 am on 24 May. Police told reporters at least twelve bullet holes were found at the house, but no injuries have been reported. 

Police inspect Ammarin's home in Sa Kaeo province, where 12 bullets were fired  on 24 May 2015.

Ammarin is one of 85 people currently on trial for breaking into the headquarters of the state-owned Channel 11 at 5am in August 2008 in an attempt to shut down the station's broadcasts. The siege was part of the Yellowshirt movement's campaign to oust the Redshirt-backed government at the time. 

The group of 85 was charged with intrusion of a state agency, damaging state property, and illegal possession of firearms. The case is currently before the Supreme Court, which accepted an appeal from the activists after they were found guilty by lower courts.

Ammarin said a mysterious gunman also shot inside his home in December 2008, injuring his wife. Police never tracked down the perpetrator, he said, adding that he has ceased all political activities since the military coup in May 2014, but remains active on Facebook. 

"I believe both attacks on my house were motivated by politics," Ammarin told reporters. 

Yellowshirt protesters occupy headquarters of state-owned Channel 11 in Bangkok after the group of 85 was arrested on 26 August 2008.

Pol.Cpt. Nikom Srithong, an officer at Aranya Prathet Police Station, said witnesses who live close to Ammarin did not notice or hear anything suspicious that morning, leading police to believe the perpetrator may have used a sound suppressor for the firearm, or shot from inside a car.

"We are investigating the details of the incident, including collecting witnesses' testimonies and forensic evidence, in order to find and prosecute the perpetrator," Pol.Cpt. Nikom said.