Thai police say they averted armed attack

BANGKOK, Thailand - Police said Thursday they have uncovered a plot by opponents of the military government involving an armed attack during forthcoming events commemorating the country's monarchy.

Police made the allegation at a news conference after showing two arrested suspects who were guarded by heavily armed commandos. Nine people in total are being sought.

Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan said separately that the initial police investigation found the plot included planned attacks on important government figures. However, the charges announced against them involve defaming the monarchy and posting inappropriate material rather than violence.

Executives of the Red Shirt political movement to which the suspects have been linked deny any connection and allege that publicity over the plot is meant to distract the public from a financial scandal involving the military.

The allegations come as the ruling junta is facing the most extensive public criticism since it seized power in May 2014, mostly in connection with allegations of corruption by senior officers in connection with construction of a park honoring past Thai kings. Human-rights concerns have also sharpened after two high-profile prisoners accused of insulting the monarchy died in suspicious circumstances while in army custody.

Police declined to give many specifics about the alleged plot, but indicated the plotters were part of the Red Shirt movement loyal to former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted by a military coup in 2006. The Red Shirts occupied parts of central Bangkok in 2010 to protest the then-government, but a violent crackdown by the army ended the protests.

Police appeared to suggest that the alleged attacks were timed to coincide with the 88th birthday of King Bhumibol Adulayadej on Dec. 5, which is being celebrated by a mass bicycling event, "Bike for Dad," organized by the military for Dec. 11.

Police said the plotters were linked to what he called the "Khon Kaen Model," which recruited people, collected weapons and sought to take over military and police camps. More than two dozen alleged members were arrested last year on similar accusations, including a 60-year-old former border patrol policeman who had been free on bail when arrested in the new case. Khon Kaen is a city in Thailand's northeast, where Red Shirt support is strongest.

Police and other officials sought to ward off criticism that the case was a government fabrication to deflect attention from the scandal.

"I want to assure you that this group is real," said National Police Chief Chakthip Chaijinda. "I want to tell people nationwide that this group exists. It is not a made-up group. We have had information about them, we actually arrested them and there are weapons."