Hunt for the 'men in black'
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April, 10, 2010: Colonel Romklao Thuvatham, deputy chief-of-staff of the 2nd Infantry Division, King's Guard, is hit by grenades lobbed in his direction by "men in black". He was at a command post near Khok Wua Intersection as part of the military oper
July, 16, 2010: Tarit Pengdith, Department of Special Investigation (DSI) chief, announces the arrest of suspects involved in attacks during the red-shirt protests. These attacks included the one on Romklao and other soldiers.
January 20, 2011: DSI concludes its investigation into 89 deaths, dividing them into three categories:
l 12 deaths in incidents allegedly stemming from acts of red-shirt United Front of Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD), including the killing of Romklao and people killed when CentralWorld was set ablaze;
l 13 deaths in eight incidents allegedly stemming from acts of government officials, which are under normal police investigation, including the death of a Japanese photojournalist and the three people killed in Wat Pathum Wanaram;
l 64 deaths in 18 incidents where the identities of suspects are unknown, including the assassination of Maj-General Khattiya Sawasdiphol, nurse Kamolked Akkahad and an Italian photojournalist.
February 28, 2011: Eight suspects allegedly involved in the murder of Romklao are released on bail.
January 13, 2012: Romklao’s widow Nicha Thuvatham is given a facsimile from then-justice minister Pracha Promnok about a DSI investigation into Romklao’s murder. It does not implicate anybody.
June 25: The Saraburi military court issues arrest warrants for four people suspected of planning and supporting attacks carried out by “men in black”. The four are Manas Paorik, Jakkarin Ruengsakwichit, Pheeraphong Sinthusonthichart and Somsak Kosinanont.
September 10: Arrest warrants are approved for seven “men in black” over Romklao’s killing, following a joint investigation by the police and Army.
September 11: Deputy police chief Pol-General Somyot Poompanmuang announces the arrest of five people, including one woman. Two others are allegedly on the run.
