(28 March) Daughter of the elderly man paralysed by the pre-election violence last month has publicly called on the national human rights body to assist their family.

According to Ms. Euangfah Saelew, only one official from the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has visited her 71-year old father, Mr. Arkaew Saelew, in hospital.

During that visit, Ms. Euangfah said, the official did not make any meaningful inquiry about the incident which left Mr. Arkaew in severe condition.

The incident was the gun battle on February 1^st in the Laksi district in northern Bangkok, in which armed militants allied to anti-government protesters skirmished with the outgunned pro-government demonstrators, a day before the general election. Mr. Arkaew was hit in his neck area and paralysed by the bullet.

After the official's visit, Ms. Euangfah said, no one from the NHRC ever contacted her. "It's so different to other rights agencies, who always visit us in groups," Ms. Euangfah complained.

She also contrasted the NHRC's attitude toward her father with the its enthusiasm in other cases related to anti-government protesters, such as the NHRC's recent announcement that they will investigate the claims that one of the alleged gunmen who participated in the gun battle which wounded her father had been tortured by the police.

"I feel slighted to know that the NHRC pays more attention to the perpetrators than the victims," Ms. Euangfah told our correspondent, adding that she wants the NHRC to assist her family and investigate the attack on her father in the same enthusiastic manner. 

"Please defend human dignity equally, instead of doing it for the sake of any particular side," Ms. Euangfah said.

(28 March) The police say they have arrested a member of local Redshirts group in Nonthaburi province and confiscated a number of military-grade weapons possessed by the group.

The arrest followed an explosion at the office of the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) on Sanambin Nam Road at around 23.30 last night. Upon inspecting the scene, police found damage to windows and walls of Building 1 inside the compound, but no injuries were reported. 

The police suspect that the explosion was caused by an M79 grenade launcher fired by perpetrators who wished to intimidate NACC officials.

Hours later, the police raided a flyover bridge at Soi Nonthaburi 46, close to the NACC headquarters, where members of a local Redshirts group called People's Radio for Democracy (PRD) had been camping. 

Upon spotting the police force, the activists promptly fled from the bridge into wooded area nearby, but the officers gave chase and managed to arrest one suspect, identified as Mr. Rattanapong Intararangsi.

Police said Mr. Rattanapong was carrying a bag which contained one AK-47 rifle, 4 fully loaded magazines, and two grenades. Mr. Rattanapong denied ownership of the weapons, claiming that an unknown individual placed the weapons with him shortly before the arrest.

When the police searched the car of another PRD activist which was parked close to the flyover bridge, the officers also found one shotgun and 38 shotgun rounds.

Furthermore, the search in the wooded area yielded one M79 grenade launcher with 6 rounds of ammunition, one handgun, three grenades, and 36 rounds of M-16 rifle. 

A high-ranking police officer said the police have been investigating the recent grenade attacks on NACC compound and searching many areas for possible weapon cache. They eventually decided to raid the PRD camp on flyover bridge after "suspicious activities" were reported, the officer added.

Mr. Surapong Tovichakchaikul, Deputy Prime Minister and chief adviser to the Centre for Administration of Peace and Order (CAPO), said in a press conference today that the authorities will not provide any privileges to the Redshirts suspects, and insisted that the police will investigate any crimes committed by all political sides equally without prejudice.

He refused to comment on the link between the confiscated weapons and the PRD group, stating that he is waiting further details from the police.

"But whoever commits a crime must be punished," Mr. Surapong said, "No exceptions". 

(27 March) The Saudi Arabian government's decision of whether to renew its relationship with Thailand depends on the verdict in the decades-long case of the missing Saudi businessman, which is due next Monday, its top diplomat said.

The case dated back to the shadowy "Blue Diamond" in the late 1980s, when several Thai citizens were allegedly involved in stealing numerous jewels from a Saudi Arabian palace, including a blue diamond reputed to belong to the Faisal Royal Family. 

The diamonds were never fully recovered, and many Thais whispered the rumour that some of the jewels – including the prestigious Blue Diamond –  are currently in the possession of highly influential figures. 

The theft was also accompanied by a spate of murders and abduction of individuals thought to be connected to the incident. In 1989, three Saudi diplomats were shot dead in Bangkok, and three months earlier Mr. Mohammad Al-Ruwaili, a Saudi businessman with connection to the Faisal Royal Family went missing. 

The government of Saudi Arabia retaliated by freezing diplomatic ties with Thailand and imposing many penalties, such as severe travel and work quota restrictions. 

Neither the murders of the diplomats nor the disappearance of Mr. Al-Ruwaili were ever solved, though, following a retrial in 2010, a group of police officers are facing charges of abducting and murdering Mr. Al-Ruwaili. The defendants deny the allegation. 

The court ruling is scheduled on 31 March, 24 years after Mr. Al-Ruwaili was last seen in Bangkok, and Mr. Abdulelah Alsheaiby, Charge d'Affaires of Saudi Arabia to Thailand, told Khaosod in an exclusive interview at the Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia yesterday that the verdict might help the two nations resume a normal relationship after the long thaw lasting for two decades. 

"[The verdict] is very important," Mr. Alsheaiby said, "The effort to restore the relationship between the two countries depends on this case," 

The head of the Saudi mission stressed that the government and the family of Mr. Al-Ruwaili are not looking for any particular result, whether guilty or not-guilty, as they are only seeking "justice" from the Thai authorities, after decades of silence over the case.

"We have told the Thai officials many times that our relationship will go back to normal if justice is done," Mr. Alsheaiby went on, adding that he is hopeful that such justice will be shown next Monday in front of relatives of Mr. Al-Ruwaili, who will be flying in from Saudi Arabia to attend the ruling. 

However, Mr. Alsheaiby's optimism has been somewhat marred by reports that a judge who had presided over the case for three years was abruptly replaced weeks ago. The head of the Saudi mission claimed that the Thai authorities gave no explanation, and that he discovered the alleged judge replacement from the lawyer representing Mr. Al-Ruwaili's family

Asked about the reports of judge change, officials at the Criminal Court refused to comment on the news, stating that they were not informed about the matter. 

"We trust them, but now we want to know why," Mr. Alsheaiby said, "There's no explanation at all". 

Once the verdict has been read, Mr. Alsheaiby told our correspondent, the Saudi government, including a special commission appointed by the King of Saudi Arabia himself, will deliberate on the next action.

A "positive" result would spur a move to normalise the diplomatic ties between the two kingdoms, Mr. Alsheaiby promised, while a "negative" one might be met with further legal appeal either from the Saudi government or the family of Mr. Al-Ruwaili, although the diplomat insisted it is too early to specify. 

He also asked the Thai public to understand that the clarity of Mr. Al-Ruwaili's case is very important to the Saudis, as all previous incidents – such as the jewelry theft and murders of the Saudi diplomats – already ended in mystery in which no one was held accountable. "This is our last hope to see justice," Mr. Alsheaiby said.

He added, "It's been 24 years. We want to know who killed our people. Saudi blood is not cheap. It's unacceptable that no one has been held responsible for so long".

When asked about the connection between the disappearance of Mr. Al-Ruwaili and the elusive diamonds, Mr. Alsheaiby acknowledged that he has been asked by so many Thais about the matter, but he insisted that their focus has been misplaced.

"Everyone always asked about the diamonds, but life is more important," Mr. Alsheaiby explained, "We don't want the diamonds back. We just want to see justice. We just want to know what happened to Mr. Al-Ruwaili".

"That life is a diamond to us," Mr. Alsheaiby said. 

Related Story:

Interview with Ateeq and Matrouk Al-Ruwaili

Al-Ruwaili Saga: Relatives Of Abducted Man In Court For First Time

Trial Centres On Authenticity Of 'Al-Ruwaili Ring'

(27 March) Pheu Thai Party leaders have denied rumours that Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has been ordered by her influential brother to step down from her caretaker position.

According to a number of media reports, former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, the de facto helmsman of the ruling party, will remove Ms. Yingluck and replace her with a more "acceptable" figure from one of the coalition parties in order to defuse the ongoing political crisis.

Anti-government protesters led by People's Committee for Absolute Democracy With the King As Head of State (PCAD) have been calling for Ms. Yinglick's resignation for months through prolonged campaigns of street demonstration and occupation of major landmarks in Bangkok.

Ms. Yingluck has repeatedly refused to step down, citing the Constitutional requirement that a caretaker cannot resign until the new Parliament is formed.

However, when reporters asked Ms. Yingluck, as she arrived at the Office of Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Defence – where her temporary office is housed and whether she will step down from politics in some way, the Prime Minister refused to provide any reply and excused herself from the journalist crowd.

Her refusal to address the rumours fueled the speculation that a deal has been reached among Mr. Thaksin's inner circle to appease the anti-government protesters by sacrificing Ms. Yingluck's caretaker position. 

But other top leaders of Pheu Thai Party adamantly dismissed the allegation. Mr. Noppadol Pattama, legal adviser and a close aide to Mr. Thaksin, said he talked to the former leader earlier this morning on phone, and he was assured that Mr. Thaksin had no intention to remove his sister from the position.

"It is completely untrue," Mr. Noppadol told reporters, "What's more important is that the Prime Minister has done nothing wrong at all. She came to power via an election. She was elected with the majority of the votes … She has already declared her intention to fight on the path of democracy and the Constitution to the last second".

Nevertheless, Mr. Noppadol refused to say whether Ms. Yingluck will be registered as the leading candidate for Pheu Thai Party in the next general election, stating that it is too early to determine the matter now, but insisted that Pheu Thai executive committee has every right to decide who gets to run in its Party List.

Mr. Noppadol also claimed that the rumours might have beeen fabricated to discredit Pheu Thai Party.

According to Mr. Noppadol, Mr. Thaksin has personally expressed his concern over these "false information". "For example, this morning there was rumour that Mr. Thaksin had a fatal accident, which is not true, as he is alive and well in Dubai," Mr. Noppadol said, "This is part of the attempt to sow seeds of confusion and chaos. I urge all Thais to carefully consider the news each day".

Mr. Samart Kaewmeechai, Pheu Thai's executive of the northern region, echoed Mr. Noppadol's remarks, insisting that no leading official in Pheu Thai Party ever contemplates forcing Ms. Yingluck to step down. 

"The rumours have been deliberately fabricated, and I don't know what they want by doing this," Mr. Samart said. 

(26 March) The police have arrested a group of Redshirts activists for assaulting a monk at a rally on Tuesday, a top official announced.

Mr. Tharit Pengdith, secretary of the Centre for Administration of Peace and Order (CAPO), said 4 suspects have been detained by Nonthaburi police and charged with physical assaults.

The confrontation erupted when the Buddhist monk impolitely berated a group of Redshirts activists under the name People's Radio for Democracy (PRD) as they rallied in front of the National Anti-Corruption Commission headquarters in Nonthaburi province. 

All suspects confessed to their crime, Mr. Tharit said, but they claimed that the monk provoked the fights by throwing a bottle of water and prodded at them with his walking cane. 

The CAPO secretary, who also serves as chief of the Division of Special Investigation (DSI), then told reporters that the confrontation should be reminder that rival protest groups could clash and the violence could escalate into a full-blown civil war.

"Therefore, CAPO would like to urge the leaders of all political groups to refrain from any act of provocation and confrontation," Mr. Tharit said, "The leaders should be aware that their actions will severely affect the country". 

He added, "Furthermore, if they encourage their supporters to break the laws, they must be held responsible, and they will be harshly condemned by the society".