Sondhi Limthongkul, the Manager media mogul and founder of the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD), survived an attempt on his life early on Friday, as gunmen attacked his car with automatic rifle fire. Chaiwan Charoenchoketavee, director of Vajira Hospital, said an operation to remove bullet shrapnel from Mr Sondhi's head was successful.
Mr Sondhi would have to remain in the hospital's intensive care unit for about a week while he recovers.
"The operation is completed. It took about two hours and Mr Sondhi is now safe, in a good condition and able to talk," Dr Chaiwan told a news conference.
"The bullet shrapnel penetrated the outer skull and caused the broken skull to crush the outer membrane of the brain, but it did not penetrate into the brain itself," he said.
The wound was more serious because of his age.
Police said the gunmen, riding in a pickup, fired about 100 rounds from assault rifles through the windows of Mr Sondhi's car as he was on the way to moderate his regular programme at the studios of the satellite TV station, ASTV, about 5am on Friday.
"At least two attackers followed Mr Sondhi's car, overtook it and sprayed it with about 100 rounds of gunfire from AK-47 and M-16s,'' Pol Col King Kwaengwisatchaicharn said.
法新社引述一名警官指，最少有2名枪手，用AK-47冲锋枪和M-16自动步枪，狂轰超过100轮。该名警官指，林明达肩膊中枪，现时已经脱险。
美联社指，林明达肩膊中枪，眼眉亦遭子弹擦伤，幸运地保住性命。
路透社引述人民民主联盟发言人称，林明达是在当地时间凌晨5时许，在中央银行附近一个油站遇袭的，同车的司机和保镳亦受伤。枪手先射穿了其车胎，然后向林明达的座驾扫射。
林明达所带领的“黄衫军”，曾在去年11月发起暴力抗争行动，占据曼谷国际机场，逼使当时的首相颂猜下台。其后阿披实接任首相一职。
近日在芭堤雅和曼谷示威、并爆发冲突的示威者，是亲塔辛的“红衫军”。目前，曼谷与周边地区，仍处于紧急状态。
林明达（Sondhi Limthongkul）是泰国第三代华裔，也是传媒大亨。他在塔辛尚任首相时，发起“倒塔辛”运动，并创立“人民民主联盟”，亦即所谓的“黄衫军”，进行大规模街头示威，要求塔辛下台。
后来，塔辛在2006年9月在军事政变中被推翻下台。
塔辛下台后，亲塔辛阵营的沙马和颂猜先后接任首相，“黄衫军”继续发动街头抗争，最后沙马和颂猜都下台。而林明达一直扮演“黄衫军”灵魂人物的角色。
泰国新闻报道
Jatukam phayant B.E 2530
B.E 2530 Jatukam 布符
** 据小道消息说林明达当时所配戴的是Suriyan Chantra B.E2530 跟 B.E 2530 Jatukam 布符. 是不是林明达的佛牌显灵...助他逃过一劫？？这就由你自己判断吧。
