BANGKOK
A Thai nurse held by the military on suspicion of helping to plan a series of blasts across Bangkok has denied involvement, but said she warned her alleged co-conspirators against the campaign.
Speaking to the Bangkok Post on Sunday, Nattathida Meewangpla's lawyer said that she had admitted to being a member of the Thai Pakee (Thai Assembly) group along with several of her co-accused.
He said that she had claimed that that a fellow suspect had told her that the group wanted to launch the attacks as a "Valentine's Day present" for former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.
Shinawatra is a deeply divisive figure who led the country between 2001 and 2006, before being deposed in a coup.
Meewangpla is currently being held at Klong Prem Central Prison in Bangkok in connection with a blast at Siam Paragon department store Feb 1 and a March 7 grenade attack on Bangkok Criminal Court.
At least 13 people have been arrested so far on suspicion of involvement.
Meewangpla's lawyer told the Post that she had opposed the bombings, and tried to persuade the alleged organiser to abandon them.
"Mr. Thaksin wouldn't appreciate it since he is not a violent person," Winyat Chatmontree claimed Meewangpla had told him.
He added that Meewangpla had, however, confessed to knowing people "who were [allegedly] involved with the attacks, but she had nothing to do with the planning."
The Post reported Sunday that she has been charged with terrorism, conspiracy to commit crime, possession of illegal war weapons, violating orders from the junta’s National Council for Peace and Order and lese majeste in connection with the blasts.
She faces the prospect of the death penalty or life in prison.
Meewangpla was a volunteer medic at Pathumwanaram temple, Bangkok, on May 19, 2010 when soldiers launched a crackdown on thousands of Red Shirt supporters of former prime minister Thaksin.
Six people were killed, including two other volunteer nurses and an Italian photographer.
In August 2013, a Bangkok court - to which Meewangpla gave key testimony - concluded that soldiers posted on elevated train tracks overlooking the temple had shot the victims.
