December 27, 2004

About-turn at Najmuddin trial

A state witness in the trial of Narathiwat MP Najmuddin Umar yesterday

changed his story during cross examination in the Criminal Court in

Bangkok.

Anupong Panthachayangkoon, former kamnan of tambon Todeng in

Narathiwat's Sungai Padi district, said he had met Mr Najmuddin at the

house of Areepen Uttarasin, another Narathiwat MP, in 2000 but they had

not discussed separatism.

He said he had been assaulted after being arrested in March and some

police officers had threatened his family to make him testify in the way

they wanted.

Mr Anupong was spared as a state witness in the case in which Mr

Najmuddin is charged with treason. The witness had previously implicated

the MP in the Jan 4 army camp raid and other violence.

Mr Anupong yesterday denied involvement in the raid, school arson or

any other violence in the South.

Mr Najmuddin and Mr Areepen are members of Thai Rak Thai.