M16 'snipers' claim they only fired blanks
Two army snipers admit to DSI investigators they were deployed above the red-shirt protestors near Lumpini Boxing stadium in 2010, but say they only fired blanks.
Two army snipers admit to DSI investigators they were deployed above the red-shirt protestors near Lumpini Boxing stadium in 2010, but say they only fired blanks.
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Sgt Kacharat Niamrod (wearing white shirt) and Sgt Saringkhan Thaweecheep (walking behind) on their way to yesterday's lengthy session with DSI investigators. SURAPOL PROMSAKA NA SAKOLNAKORN
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M16 'snipers' claim they only fired blanks
King-Oua Laohong
Wassana Nanuam
The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) will ask the army to produce for examination firearms used by two soldiers believed to be snipers during the 2010 crackdown on the red-shirt rallies, DSI deputy chief Prawet Moolpramuk said yesterday.
Pol Col Prawet made the statement after Sgt Kacharat Niamrod and Sgt Saringkhan Thaweecheep appeared at the DSI yesterday to testify about their assignments during the crackdown.
Pol Col Prawet, who oversees the case, said the two soldiers were deployed near Lumpini Boxing Stadium and Soi Ngamduplee in the Bon Kai area on Rama IV Road on May 15, 2010, when the protests were at their worst.
Pol Col Prawet said the pair were photographed in a video clip during the protest in the area on that day.
He said the pair told DSI investigators that they only fired blanks from their M16 rifles to deter the protesters.
The two soldiers said they were assigned by their commanders to maintain order in the area and that they fired only a few warning shots, he said.
He said the pair told investigators they did not know if any people were killed during the clashes between security officers and protesters in Bon Kai because they used only blanks. He said the two soldiers had testified as witnesses.
He said the DSI still needed to question more witnesses before concluding its probe into the deaths of 91 protesters and soldiers in April and May of 2010.
Pol Col Prawet said he now has a list of people who will be questioned by the DSI, and it will be up to investigators whether to summon former army chief Anupong Paojinda for questioning.
At the time of the protests, Gen Anupong was army chief and deputy director of the now-dissolved Centre for the Resolution of the Emergency Situation, which handled the unrest.
Army chief Prayuth Chan-ocha said yesterday he had permitted the two soldiers to give statements to the DSI.
Gen Prayuth reiterated that the two soldiers, accused by the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) of being snipers during the red-shirt protests, were only assigned a "role of vigilance".
session – a formal meeting ประชุม
(DSI) Department of Special Investigation – a police department investigating serious crimes involving influential people, organised crime, or crimes using highly sophisticated technology กรมสอบสวนคดีพิเศษ
investigator – someone whose job is to officially find out the facts about something – ผู้สอบสวน, ผู้สำรวจ, ผู้ตรวจสอบ
sniper – someone who shoots at people from a hidden place ผู้ลอบยิง
claim – to say that something is true although it has not been proved and other people may not believe it อ้าง
blank – a gun cartridge that explodes when the gun is fired, but contains no bullet กระสุนเปล่า,กระสุนหลอก, กระสุนซ้อม
firearms – guns อาวุธปืน
crackdown – strong action that someone in authority takes to stop a particular activity การใช้กำลังเข้าปราบปรามของเจ้าหน้าที่
rally – a large public gathering of people to support someone or to protest against something การชุมนุม
deputy – a person whose rank is immediately below that of the leader of an organisation รอง
appear – to go somewhere officially because you are involved in something, such as a trial or inquiry ปรากฏตัวอย่างเป็นทางการ
testify – to make a statement about something that you saw, know, or experienced, usually in a court of law or an official investigation ให้การเป็นพยาน
assignment – a task or piece of work that somebody is given to do, usually as part of their job or studies งานที่ได้รับมอบหมาย
oversee – to watch or organise a job or an activity to make certain that it is being done correctly คุมงาน,ควบคุม
deploy – (of police, soldiers or equipment) to put in place ready for action ส่ง ประจำการ
protest – a meeting or rally, sometimes forceful or violent, of people who strongly disagree with something ชุมนุมประท้วง
pair – two people who are doing something together คู่
rifle – a large gun with a long barrel that you hold against your shoulder to fire ปืนยาว, ปืนไรเฟิล
deter – to make someone decide not to do something ขัดขวาง, ยับยั้ง, ป้องกัน
commander – the head of an army or army unit ผู้บังคับบัญชา
maintain – to keep รักษา
order – a situation in which everything is well organized or arranged ความเป็นระเบียบเรียบร้อย
warning – an action or statement telling someone of a possible problem or danger คำเตือน
clash – a fight between groups of people การปะทะกันสองฝ่าย
witness – someone who tells a court or investigators what they know about a crime พยาน
conclude – to finish; to complete an official agreement or task, or arrange a business deal จบ
probe – an attempt to find out the truth about an issue, problem or accident, made by an official group (or by the media); an investigation การตรวจสอบ การสอบสวน
summon – to officially order someone to come to a place เรียกตัว
dissolved – (of a group) ended ยุบ
resolution – solving a problem, or to finding a satisfactory way of dealing with it การแก้ไขปัญหา
emergency – an unexpected situation involving danger in which immediate action is necessary เหตุฉุกเฉิน
handle – to deal with a situation, a person, an area of work or a strong emotion ควบคุม, ปฏิบัติ,จัดการ
unrest – angry or violent behaviour by people who are protesting or fighting against something สถานการณ์ที่ไม่สงบ
permit – to allow someone to do something อนุญาต, อนุมัติ, ยินยอม
reiterate – to repeat something in order to emphasise it พูดซ้ำ ย้ำ
United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD) – the group originally formed to demonstrate against the 2006 coup and which supported the Somchai Wongsawat government against the PAD and which led the fight against the Abhisit government. They are known for wearing red shirts แนวร่วมประชาธิปไตยต่อต้านเผด็จการแห่งชาต
role – the purpose or influence of someone or something in a particular situation บทบาท
vigilance – being very careful to notice any signs of danger or trouble การเฝ้าระแวด
