BANGKOK — Police say they have not established a clear motive behind yesterday’s murder of a pro-government activist and poet, although his fellow activists insist it was a political assassination.

"We haven't reached a conclusion about the motive," said Pol.Col. Thanawat Wattanakul, after meeting with investigation officers at Chokechai Police Station in Bangkok. "We suspect all motives, political and private matters."

Kamol Duangphasuk, aka Mai Nueng Gor Gunthee, was shot dead at point blank in a restaurant parking lot in Bangkok yesterday by two masked perpetrators who later sped away on a motorcycle, police said. Mr. Kamol was 45 years old. 

A 28-year-old witness, who lives in a building opposite the crime scene, said he heard "4 to 5" shots from the parking lot and saw two suspects wearing balaclavas, each of them approximately 170 centimetres tall, speed away on a silver-coloured Honda Sonic motorcycle. 

The witness said he could not make out the license plate number.

Pol.Col. Thanawat said police will study video footage of Mr. Kamol's recent appearances on rally stages and TV shows to see if he had possibly defamed or offended anyone, which could lead to a potential suspects.  

However, Pol.Maj. Sangiam Samrarnrat, a Redshirt supporter and Mr. Kamol's co-host at the Redshirt-allied DNN channel, claimed that the murder was certainly driven by political reasons.

Pol.Maj. Sangiam blamed armed elements of the anti-government protesters and rogue military officers for engineering the assassination.

He nevertheless insisted that Mr. Kamol had refrained from provoking anyone throughout his career. 

"Mai Neung liked to talk about history, sometimes going deep into national security issues, but he never identified anyone by name," Pol.Maj. Sangiam said. "His style is not aggressive. He is an artist, a poet. He talks deep and uses parables."

The pro-government police officer also urged his fellow Redshirts to protect themselves by whatever means possible. 

"They can't hope to rely on the laws to protect their lives anymore," Pol.Maj. Sangiam said. 

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BANGKOK — Prominent Redshirt activists are expressing their resolve to carry on the legacy of the activist poet who was murdered yesterday in a suspected political assassination.

Kamol Duangphasuk, 45, was in a restaurant parking lot in Bangkok when two masked gunmen shot him dead on the spot before speeding away on a motorcycle, police said.

Reports say a number of other Redshirt activists were also present at the restaurant when the murder took place.

Mr. Kamol, who is commonly known by his pen name, Mai Nueng Gor Gunthee, became invovled in many anti-establishment campaigns after the military coup in 2006, well before the formation of the Redshirt movement, which he later joined. 

Although police have not established a motive behind the murder, many Redshirts are calling Mr. Kamol's death a political assassination, citing his frequent criticism of the establishment and strong opposition to lese majeste (insult of the monarchy) laws.

"No matter who did this, the incident is a great crime," said Darunee Kritbunyalai, a core leader of the United Front of Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD). "We merely want to fight for true democracy, and Mai Nueng was a mere cultural fighter. He posed no threat that deserved a violent reprisal."

Another UDD leader, Nattawut Saikua, said in a press conference at Imperial Latphrao shopping mall that the UDD is deeply saddened by the death of Mr. Kamol, who was a strong ally of the Redshirts for many years.

"The violence should not happen to any side, to people who have only expressed their political stance according to the principle they believe in," Mr. Nattawut said. "As far as I know, Mai Nueng was not a man who supported violence or armed struggle. All he had was a pen and his poems."

Mr. Nattawut added, "I believe his poems, essays, words, actions, character, soul, and firm beliefs will help encourage those who still have their lives to carry on the fight. At least he will never be forgotten by us thorough our journey of struggle, and if one day the people have won their victories, he will certainly be among those we remember."

UDD supporters at the press conference paid homage to Mr. Kamol by observing a minute of silence.  

Suda Rangkupan, the Redshirt activist who had been working closely with Mr. Kamol in his political activism, criticised the police for failing to provide adequate protection to Redshirt leaders, especially compared to the security measures they have deployed for anti-government protesters.

"These days I feel that we Redshirts live under grave risk," Ms. Suda said. "The police commander has been providing protection to the side of [anti-government leader] Suthep Thaugsuban, but we Redshirts have to face threats and intimidation. I want the police to turn some attention to Redshirts, too."

Ms. Suda also told reporters that Mr. Kamol was a victim of an anti-democracy movement that wanted to stamp out his calls for freedom and liberty. Nevertheless, she urged the Redshirts to retain their determination and carry on the legacy of Mr. Kamol's struggles. 

"Let us salute Mai Nueang as a 'defender of Thai democracy.' Mai Nueng liked to use this phrase to refer to martyrs who had laid down their lives for democracy, but today let us use it to refer to Mai Nueng in return," Ms. Suda said. 

As he arrived at Police Hospital where Mr. Kamol's body, Mr. Suphon Attawong, aka "Rambo Isaan," said that the murder has undoubtedly brought sadness to many Redshirts, but it also brings resolve to the Redshirts and has strengthened their political convictions.

"I believe Mr. Kamol's death will in fact help strengthen our fights," Mr. Suphon said, adding that the UDD will soon organise a fundraiser for Mr. Kamol's family.

Furthermore, Mr. Suphon expressed his belief that the government should compensate the dead poet's family because the case is "clearly" a political assassination.   

The UDD activist also claimed that former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra is closely following the case and has warned his Redshirt supporters to take all necessary steps to protect themselves. 

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BANGKOK — The Chairman of the Democrat Party was forced to skip the forum on Thailand's future election because of an assassination threat from a pro-government activist, said the Democrat Party’s spokesperson.

Abhisit Vejjajiva had previously agreed to meet with representatives of more than 60 political parties, including the ruling Pheu Thai Party, in a forum organised by the Election Commission (EC) at the Miracle Grand Hotel in northern Bangkok today.

However, Mr. Abhisit declined to attend the meeting at the last minute, citing unspecified security concerns.

Democrat Party spokesperson Mr. Chavanond Intarakomalyasut later elaborated in a press conference at the party's headquarters that he had received intelligence about a plot by Redshirt supporters to assassinate Mr. Abhisit during the EC meeting.

Mr. Chavanond also cited a Facebook post by a Redshirt activist called Uncle Yim Tasawang who wrote that he planned to fire "several rounds of shot" inside the meeting room and cause chaos among forum participants.

In another Facebook post, Uncle Yim wrote that he wished the meeting would be broadcast live so his group could cause embarrassment to Mr. Abhisit in front of a national audience.

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BANGKOK — Anti-government protest guards engaged in a brief gun battle with unidentified assailants near a Redshirt rally on Chaeng Wattana Road in a Bangkok suburb today.

The clash erupted after approximately 150 members of the pro-government People's Radio for Democracy (PRD) marched from their headquarters in Nonthaburi province to the Constitutional Court's office on Chaeng Wattana Road to protest the court's alleged bias against the government of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra.

Scores of anti-government protesters led by the People's Committee for Absolute Democracy With the King As Head of State (PCAD) were also staging their own rally in front of the Government Complex near the Constitutional Court. 

Police officers quickly formed lines to separate the two groups. The Redshirts later announced an end to their rally and began heading back to Nonthaburi province.

However, as the Redshirts were marching out of the area, gunshots rang out near the office of TOT Public Company, sending PRD activists and soldiers stationed in the vicinity to scramble for shelter. Several shots were later fired in reply by unidentified individuals.

Police officers said they found one bullet hole penetrating the window of a coffee shop opposite the TOT office. No injury has been reported, and no arrest has been made.  

Pol.Col. Pipob Sukkam, a deputy commander of Thoong Song Hong Police Station, said the first shots were fired from the direction of PCAD guards who were watching the Redshirts.

Pol.Col. Pipob believes the guards may have felt threatened by the presence of rival Redshirt activists and a group of undercover police officers who were gathering intelligence reports in the area. The PCAD guards may have fired their weapons in order to drive the groups away, Pol.Col. Pipob said. 

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BANGKOK — Hundreds of anti-government protesters are demonstrating outside the hotel where representatives of various political parties are meeting for a talk on Thailand's future election.

The meeting was organised by the Election Commission (EC) to discuss details of the country’s next election, following the Constitutional Court's invalidation of the previous general election on 2 February. 

More than 60 political parties were invited to the forum, held at Miracle Grand Hotel in Laksi district, including the ruling Pheu Thai Party and the opposition Democrat Party, which boycotted the previous election. 

Democrat Party chairman Abhisit Vejjajiva declined to attend the meeting at the last minute, citing security concerns. 

Despite orders from the Centre for Administration of Peace and Order (CAPO), the EC did not  broadcast the meeting live on state-owned television channels 9, 11, and Thai PBS.

Secretary-general of the EC Mr. Puchong Nutrawong explained that the EC has never allowed the media to broadcast  EC-held public meeting that concern elections.

Mr. Puchong said a live broadcast of the event may inflame the already delicate situation, as the meeting will certainly involve heated exchanges between party representatives.

"I think it will be more negative than positive," the EC sec-gen told reporters, adding that the EC has already eased its regulation by allowing journalists to be present at the meeting.

When asked whether the decision not to broadcast the meeting can be seen as a "slap" to CAPO, Mr. Puchong replied that all EC activities must be decided solely by the EC, and denied that the gesture is hostile towards the government in any way.

Mr. Puchong also asked the party representatives not to bring any firearms into the forum.

"Pen and notebook are enough," Mr. Puchong said.

Shortly after the meeting began, a large motorised convoy of protesters led by the People's Committee for Absolute Democracy With the King As Head of State (PCAD) arrived at the hotel and proceeded to block some sections of Kampaengpetch Road to voice their opposition to the plan for another election.

PCAD has insisted that an unelected "People's Council" be established to implement series of reforms before any election is held. 

The PCAD protesters were led by the Buddhist activist monk, Buddha Issara.

At the hotel, Mr. Puchong allowed PCAD activists to enter the meeting hall and hang banners bearing anti-election slogans. 

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BANGKOK — A Redshirt group based in Nonthaburi province has vowed to "symbolically" petition His Majesty the King to air their grievance against the Constitutional Court.

According to Sornsak Malaithong, spokesman of the People's Radio for Democracy (PRD), the group will present a petition to a portrait of His Majesty the King in front of the Constitutional Court office today. Mr. Sornsak said the gesture is meant to humbly ask the king to ensure that the judges perform their duties with impartiality and fairness. 

"We want to express our demands in a symbolic way," Mr. Sornsak explained.

The Constitutional Court is scheduled to rule in the coming weeks on whether Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra illegally removed the former head of the National Security Council; a guilty verdict will strip Ms. Yingluck of her position as a caretaker PM.

Pro-government activists have accused the Constitutional Court of collaborating with anti-government protesters in a bid to oust Ms. Yingluck, and they have threatened to hold mass rallies if the judges hand down a guilty verdict. 

When asked whether the group's rally in front of the Constitutional Court office will lead to violent clashes with anti-government protesters who are also rallying near the court office, Mr. Sornsak said the risk of a clash is low because the rival protest groups have no "dispute" against each other.

"We have not prepared anything, and we have already contacted the police," Mr. Sornsak said, "It's the duty of the police to protect us."

Pol.Col. Athip Pongsiwapai, commander of Thoong Song Hong Police Station, said police officers have been deployed to contain the protests, and expressed his confidence that no violence will occur.

The police also asked motorists to avoid Laksi intersection due to the ongoing protests, and to use Soi Chaeng Wattana 5 instead. 

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