(21 March) Two explosive devices appeared to have narrowly missed the residence of a Constitutional Court judge hours before the court is scheduled to deliver a key verdict.

Police in Bangkok's Klong Tan area received reports about the blasts at around 23.20 last night and proceeded to inspect the crime scene at Soi Ekkamai 30, where two houses were damaged by the explosions.

The residence of Mr. Jaran Pukdithanakul, a member of the Constitutional Court judges, locates only 200 metres away from the blast sites.

The first explosion is said to have injured a 43-years old resident who was reportedly sleeping in his house when the unidentified explosive device hit the residence's roof. Another device fell on a nearby house, but no injury was reported.

Mr. Panomprai Panyasai, the owner of the house, said he dismissed the sound of the first explosion as firework, but shortly afterwards he heard a loud explosion on the roof of his residence. Mr. Panomprai insisted that he has no history of personal conflicts with anyone, and that he never joined any political demonstration.

Police suspect that the devices might have been intended to target the resident of Mr. Jaran, but stressed that further investigation is needed. Nevertheless, additional police officers have been dispatched to guard the vicinity of Mr. Jaran's residence.

The suspected attack came prior to a much anticipated ruling by the Constitutional Court, which might nullify the general election of 2 February. 

(20 March) A summons warrant has been issued for on an outspoken student activist who has been accused of insulting the Thai monarchy.

The complaint was filed under Article 112 of the Thai Criminal Codes by Ms. Ponnipa Supatnukul, 41, the host of a talk show on a satelite TV station in September last year.

In the complaint, she accused a transgender student activist at Thammasat University, who is famously known as Aum Neko, of insutling the Royal Family during a TV interview hosted by Ms. Pontipa in June that year. 

Lese majeste, or defamation of the monarchy, is punishable by up to 15 years in prison per offence under the Thai law.

Ms. Aum, whose real name is Ms. Saran Chuichai, is well-known for her campaigns for a more liberal atmosphere in the campus and for her provocative tactics; she once attempted to remove a Thai national flag hoisted over administrative building of Thammasat University and replace it with a black one, in order to protest about the alleged political bias of the university dean. 

Pol.Cpt. Witthawat Sai-Ong said Ms. Aum has been summoned to face charges on 24 March after the police studied the evidence provided by Ms. Pontipa and decided to proceed with the prosecution. 

He said the police would be forced to apply for arrest warrant if Ms. Aum refuses to show up on the appointed date.

Speaking to our correspondent, Ms. Aum said she is willing to report to the police on 24 March, but she is still waiting for the police to choose a venue for the meeting. 

She added that she will not provide any testimony – and the police are not expected to interrogate her – as she has not appointed a lawyer yet. 

The student activist also told Khaosod that she is very distraught by the summons warrant today, since she was also facing an exhaustive investigation conducted by Thammasat University administration yesterday. The inquiry, she said, was meant to determine whether the university will expel Ms. Aum for her past actions, such as the "black flag incident", which has been deemed offensive by a number of staff.

Ms. Aum said the university has not yet informed her of their decision. 

Related Story: Lese Majeste Complaint Against Reformist Student

(20 March) The suspect identified by the police as a gunman who engaged in the pre-election gun battle last month claimed he was a member of the anti-government "guards" unit.

Mr. Wiwat Yordprasit was arrested by the police in Surat Thani province yesterday. Police allege that Mr. Wiwat was the man behind the masked militant seen firing his weapon concealed in a popcorn bag at pro-government protesters during the clashes in northern Bangkok on 1 February, a day before the 2 February general election.

While much of the media referred to the masked man as "popcorn gunman", many anti-government protesters praised him as "popcorn hero" who helped "protect" the protesters from their political rivals. 

The violence left one elderly gentleman paralysed after being hit by a bullet.

In a police press conference today, Mr. Wiwat said he was an ordinary day-to-day employee before he joined the security unit of the People's Committee for Absolute Democracy With the King As Head of State (PCAD) when the anti-government protests took off months ago. 

Mr. Wiwat told reporters he took up the job voluntarily, and he received a daily payment of 500 baht in return. According to the suspect, his squad consisted of himself and three other guards, who operated under the command of a guard leader called Men. 

On the day of the gun battle in Laksi district, Mr. Wiwat said, he was handed an M-16 rifle concealed in a large popcorn bag by his squad leader Men, which he used to fire at least 20 rounds in the direction of pro-election demonstrators.

Mr. Wiwat said he returned the weapon to his handler after the fighting subsided and fled to lay low at the residence of Men's wife in Surat Thani before he was eventually arrested. 

The suspect said he had not received any combat training prior to the incident. He also claimed he did not know how PCAD guards had acquired the weapon. Police said they still have not located the firearm reportedly used by Mr. Wiwat.

According to a high-ranking police officer, Mr. Wiwat has been a longtime supporter of anti-government causes, having joined rallies since the "White Mask" movements last year. 

Police records show that Mr. Wiwat had also been arrested once in Pitsanulok province years ago on narcotics-related charges. 

(20 March) A prominent Redshirts activist has pressed charge against an anti-government news network for distributing a doctored photo of his group.

Mr. Suphon Attawong, who also serves as Deputy Secretary of the Prime Minister, was accompanied by his lawyer when he met with the police at Crime Suppression Division in Bangkok today.

The Redshirts leader complained that a group of anti-government critics a social network has altered a photo of him and his fellow Redshirts activists during a ceremony to inaugurate their newly formed group called National Volunteers for Defense of Democracy (NVDD). The photo was reportedly taken on 8 March this year.

In the doctored version of the photo the text on their banner had been changed to read "Red Separatist Force". The picture was later published on the social network sites of T-News, the TV station allied to anti-government protesters.

Mr. Suphon claimed that the altered photo has been mischievously designed to land him and his group under unwanted scrutiny from various military intelligence agencies, since anti-government protesters and high-ranking military officers had previously accused the Redshirts of attempting to secede northern and northeastern parts of Thailand.

To protect his group's reputation from the alleged smearing, Mr. Suphon has pressed charge against the TV station under Computer Crime Act, which criminalises the dissemination of false information on the internet. 

According to Mr. Suphon, the NVDD was established by Redshirts activists in 20 northeastern provinces to defend the Nation, the Religion, the Monarchy, and democracy.

"Let me stress that the NVDD does not organise any armed group as it has been alleged," Mr. Suphon told reporters, "We only arm our members with intellectual weapons". 

He also explained that the NVDD seeks to oppose, by non-violent means, any military coup against Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra or any attempt to overthrow the government by undemocratic means. 

Mr. Suphon said his group has been recruiting new members since 8 March, and he expects that at least 200,000 Redshirts across the country will join the NVDD.

However, he insisted that the membership approval process will be strictly conducted by provincial committees of the NVDD to ensure that only applicants with desirable traits would be allowed to join the group.