BANGKOK — The ruling Pheu Thai Party has expressed disappointment over the court's decision to release an arrested anti-government protest leader on bail.

Sakoltee Phattiyakul, a core leader of the People's Committee for Absolute Democracy With the King As Head of State (PCAD), was arrested yesterday at an immigration checkpoint in Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport on charges of insurrection and unlawful intrusion into public buildings.

The charges against Mr. Sakoltee were pressed by the Centre for Administration of Peace and Order (CAPO).

The court has granted Mr. Sakoltee a temporary release to fight his charges, placing his bail at 600,000 baht. However, Mr. Sakoltee is prohibited from participating in future PCAD rallies or attempting to leave the country under the conditions of his bail release.

Anusorn Iamsa-ard, deputy spokesperson of the Pheu Thai Party, said in a press conference yesterday that his party is deeply disappointed to see Mr. Sakoltee on a temporary release given that he has been charged for a number of severe offences, including insurrection against the administration.

Mr. Anusorn also claimed that Mr. Sakoltee's release will allow him to participate in the next mass PCAD rally.

"We have received intelligence that PCAD will relocate its rally from Lumpini Park to Ratchadamnoen Avenue, or maybe even escalate it into a massive rally to 'shutdown' Bangkok on 30 April," Mr. Anusorn said. "Mr. Sakoltee might join these campaigns."

He added, "People do not wish to see such prominent wrongdoers have the privilege of bail release."

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BANGKOK — The alleged shooting and beating of an army colonel by anti-government protest guards has been condemned in mysterious leaflets currently being circulated around the armed force headquarters.

Col. Witthawat Wattanakul, a staff officer of the Royal Thai Armed Force Headquarters, was allegedly attacked in northern Bangkok early morning on 25 April.

Pol.Col. Thanawat Wattanakul, a commander at Chokechai Police Station and the elder brother of Col. Witthawat, said the army officer was driving home on 24 April when he encountered traffic cones blocking Chaeng Wattana Road near a campsite maintained by the anti-government protest group, the People's Committee for Absolute Democracy With the King As Head of State (PCAD). 

Col. Witthawat reportedly got out of his car and began to remove the traffic cones. A group of PCAD guards then opened fire on the officer and rushed forward to beat him violently, despite Col. Witthawat's pleas for mercy, said Pol.Col. Thanawat.

Pol.Col. Thanawat claimed that the guards only stopped assaulting Col. Witthawat after they found his military ID card while searching his car.

Medical workers at Mongkutwattana Hospital said Col. Witthawat was admitted to the emergency room in a severe condition, with bloody bruises all over his body and small gunshot wounds on his feet. Since then his condition has gradually improved, hospital workers said. 

Col. Witthawat was later moved to Mongkut Klao Hospital, the officials added. 

Pol.Col. Thanawat said his brother remembers the faces of the perpetrators and intends to press charges against them. 

The incident appears to have caused outrage among a number of military personnel. Shortly after news of the alleged attack surfaced, mysterious leaflets condemning the incident began circulating around the Royal Thai Armed Force Headquarters, our correspondent says.

The leaflets harshly criticise high-ranking army officers for their perceived failure to protect army personnel from the brutal "thuggery" of the PCAD guards. The fliers also urge army commanders to "restore the dignity" of the Royal Thai Army by taking concrete actions against the anti-government militants. 

It is not clear who is responsible for the publication of the documents.

A spokesperson of the Royal Thai Police said the police will increase patrols around Chaeng Wattana Road to prevent further cases of violence. 

Correction: The original version of this article incorrectly implied that the leaflets were distributed around the Royal Thai Army headquarters, whereas the documents in fact appeared at the Royal Thai Armed Force Headquarters. We apologise for any confusion the error may have caused.

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BANGKOK —The motive behind the fatal shooting of a pro-government poet and activist remains a mystery, as police refuse to rule the case as a political assassination.

Kamol Duangphasuk, 45, was starting his car in a restaurant parking lot in Bangkok when two masked gunmen shot him dead on the spot before speeding away on a motorcycle on 23 April, witnesses told police.

Mr. Kamol, commonly known by his pen name Mai Nueng Gor Gunthee, was an active member of the Redshirt movement who frequently critcised the establishement in speeches and poems.

The activist regularly spoke out against Thailand’s draconian lese majeste (insult of monarchy) laws, which many Redshirt supporters believe was the reason behind his assassination. 

Yet Wad Rawee, a writer and longtime friend of Mr. Kamol, told Khaosod that he does not believe the poet was killed because of his involvement in anti- lese majeste campaigns. 

"The police should work harder to establish the motives," Mr. Wad said, "because the political situation these days is so confusing."

A number of Redshirt activists who knew Mr. Kamol also privately speculated that Mr. Kamol might have been targeted in revenge for his alleged role in engineering violent attacks on anti-government protesters in recent months.

However, Pol.Lt.Col. Nampetch Sap-udom, a senior investigation officer at Chokechai Police Station, stressed that non-political motives behind the murder have not been ruled out either.

According to Pol.Lt.Col. Nampetch, other suspected motives include business conflicts, personal disputes, and a vendetta concerning Mr. Kamol's alleged adultery; Mr. Kamol was known to be a womaniser, Pol.Lt.Col Nampetch claimed.

Tharit Pengdit, chief of the Division of Special Investigation (CAPO) and adviser to the Centre for Administration of Peace and Order (CAPO), also said in a press conference that it is too early to determine the link between Mr. Kamol's death and his political activities.

Meanwhile, Thida Thawornseth, chief advisor to the United Front of Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD), urged Redshirts to remain calm and exercise restraint in the wake of Mr. Kamol's murder.

"This action will not dissuade the Redshirts from their struggles, but it will only add more anger and prolong the struggles," Ms. Thida said. "We must learn from this. His death will not be in vain."

Ms. Thida added that the military needs to prove to the public that its members were not involved in the murder.

In Februrary, four army officers were arrested for allegedly attempting to assassin UDD leader Kwanchai Praipana in Udon Thani.

"The military must clarify itself … before people suspect that it had a hand in Mai Nueng case," Ms. Thida said.

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