Two Explosions In Northern Bangkok

[farangsay]

Two explosions in northern Bangkok

Two explosions occurred early on Tuesday morning along the main road in northern Bangkok. There were no casualties reported.

The blasts are suspected to be grenades, probably fired from a military-type grenade launcher from the Don Muang Tollway, which runs above the Viphavadee Rangsit road, where the explosions occurred.

Continued here Bangkok Post

[John K]

We have come a long way from letting air out of tires as pranks.

[Scott]

Oh, no, and now there is a wall with a crack in it. I hope they don't have to close the hotel to fix the cracks!

[Krungthepian]

Big drama in Nong Khai. Thais allowing the Lao government to forcibly deport 136 Hmong from the IDC there - despite warnings from international community and UNHCR that this is against international rules and will harm Thailand's reputation.

Sorry to be writing off topic. There are buses lined up now to return the Hmong who are refusing to leave their cells - 8.30am tues morn.

Makes me sick, this sort of thing.

These are largely jungle Hmong - genuine refugees - and most are already registered with UNHCR as people of concern. It includes two jungle leaders who activists in the US believe the Lao gvoernment wants to permanently silence because of the info they have about govt massacres, etc.

People are needed to get to Nong Khai to get photos of this crisis to shame the Thais and let the world know what is going on.

[bingobongo]

only reason this was done in the middle of the night is becasue traffic was nonexistent, they couldn't do this during the day casue they would be stuck in gridlock and couldnt get away.......dry run for something bigger?

Edited January 30, 2007 by bingobongo

[londonthai]

Thai military and elite police forces have thousands of grenade launchers in their inventory

now we roughly know who did it - within a few days the names should be named (if there is no cover up by the government)

[PhilHarries]

Suppose it's too much to expect them to have CCTV's at the toll booths.

Doesn't make sense launching off the tollway though. Although there's not much traffic that time of the morning there is still some and if spotted there is limited options for fleeing the scene. The grenades could just as easily been lobbed in from somewhere at ground level as the targets appear pretty random.

A "foot wide crack in a wall" is a bit on the large size to be calling a crack, assuming they mean a foot = 12 inches = 30 cm, more like a hole. If 12 inches width constitues a "crack" in Thailand then maybe we should be a bit more concerned regarding those other "cracks".

[John K]

Thai military and elite police forces have thousands of grenade launchers in their inventory

now we roughly know who did it - within a few days the names should be named (if there is no cover up by the government)

Perhaps it’s a way of saying “See, our bombs are different!”

[Aujuba]

All I know is that the tollway runs right by DM. Think about it. Thailand needs to get with it and start cleaning up this country. Like they say in the west this place is a fire hazard. The government needs to get rid of the sloppy way its doen things for years and get the police to enforce laws to stop crime. They need to stop the illegal industries here or legalize them. They need to use a big stick policy against those in Thai society who are holding back progress. This country should have better government institutions without corruption, a cleaner enviroment, less crime, and less corrupt mafia types running around it.

[graesta]

Big drama in Nong Khai. Thais allowing the Lao government to forcibly deport 136 Hmong from the IDC there - despite warnings from international community and UNHCR that this is against international rules and will harm Thailand's reputation.

Sorry to be writing off topic. There are buses lined up now to return the Hmong who are refusing to leave their cells - 8.30am tues morn.

Makes me sick, this sort of thing.

These are largely jungle Hmong - genuine refugees - and most are already registered with UNHCR as people of concern. It includes two jungle leaders who activists in the US believe the Lao gvoernment wants to permanently silence because of the info they have about govt massacres, etc.

People are needed to get to Nong Khai to get photos of this crisis to shame the Thais and let the world know what is going on.

are they political or economic refugees, as far as I know the thai government does not encourage these people to come to thailand because of economic difficulties.

[graesta]

All I know is that the tollway runs right by DM. Think about it. Thailand needs to get with it and start cleaning up this country. Like they say in the west this place is a fire hazard. The government needs to get rid of the sloppy way its doen things for years and get the police to enforce laws to stop crime. They need to stop the illegal industries here or legalize them. They need to use a big stick policy against those in Thai society who are holding back progress. This country should have better government institutions without corruption, a cleaner enviroment, less crime, and less corrupt mafia types running around it.

I think the whole world needs to do what you want Thialnd to do

[ding]

Big drama in Nong Khai. Thais allowing the Lao government to forcibly deport 136 Hmong from the IDC there - despite warnings from international community and UNHCR that this is against international rules and will harm Thailand's reputation.

Sorry to be writing off topic. There are buses lined up now to return the Hmong who are refusing to leave their cells - 8.30am tues morn.

Makes me sick, this sort of thing.

These are largely jungle Hmong - genuine refugees - and most are already registered with UNHCR as people of concern. It includes two jungle leaders who activists in the US believe the Lao gvoernment wants to permanently silence because of the info they have about govt massacres, etc.

People are needed to get to Nong Khai to get photos of this crisis to shame the Thais and let the world know what is going on.

Will some be killed and by whom? Must fear for their lives if they're refusing to leave their cells. Refusing to leave their CELLS!

These people have very few who care, few to witness. What is their crime?

[Krungthepian]

The 153 Hmong in Nong Khai are widely recognised as genuine refugees fearing serious threat of persecution. While there are many in the camp at Huay Nam Khao - perhaps two thirds or three quarters of the 8300 there are thought to be economic refugees fleeing mainly poverty - the 153 are believed to be in a different category. They include jungle leaders whose children were victims of the April 6 massacre near Vang Vieng, and others who have been locked up in stocks for periods of over 12 months.

This has become a major drama today; the Thai and Lao police have reportedly been dragging the women and children out one by one to waiting buses. But the men were barricaded inside Nong Khai Immigration Detention Centre. There has been a flurry of reports from Hmong contacts in the US saying the men have been gassed and half of them have passed out unconscious. Sounds like tear gas or riot gas of some kind is being used to subdue them and get them out.

At least one of the English dailies is looking into this, along with some of the wire agencies, so I expect some stories on news websites in the next hour or two.

UNHCR has been trying to stop the deportation of these people, which it has said would be contrary to international regulations, as most of these people are already registered as 'people of concern'.

January 30 is set to become Thailand's Day of Shame.

If you know people in Nong Khai tell them to go to the IDC to witness this ugly spectacle and report back. We need witness reports for the media.

[Jai Dee]

Off topic Krungthepian... please start a new thread if you wish to discuss the Hmong situation.

[Krungthepian]

Apologies, Jai Dee, I wasn't sure that we were able to start new topics ourselves.

If you care to copy my two comments and put them on a separate topic entry - i'd be more than happy. I think it's a very serious matter, as you may appreciate.

I've had the same sick feeling in my gut as when I heard Duangchalerm got off for shooting the police officer in the Twenty Pub.

[Jai Dee]

Blasts attack newspaper office and a hotel's car park

Two explosions rattled Bangkok early Tuesday morning, causing damages outside the offices of Daily News and a nearby hotel but no casualties, police said.

The first blast went off around 1.30am outside the offices of Thai-language newspaper, the Daily News, while the second exploded at a parking lot of the Rama Garden hotel next door.

The explosions caused minor damage to buildings and the road, but no one was injured. Police are investigating the type of explosive and how it happened.

Police were investigating whether the culprits fired a grenade launcher at the building.

Meanwhile Police chief Pol Gen Kowit Wattana said he was briefed about the attack and was informed that the explosive was M-79 grenade launcher.

Source: The Nation - 30 January 2007

[Jai Dee]

A staff of Rama Garden Hotel in Bangkok shows a crack at the hotel’s wall that was caused by a bomb explosion attack early Tuesday morning.

Source: The Nation - 30 January 2007

[jdinasia]

Thai military and elite police forces have thousands of grenade launchers in their inventory

now we roughly know who did it - within a few days the names should be named (if there is no cover up by the government)

We do? Was it actually a grenade launcher? If so was it one that belonged to the Thai's? If so was it currently in the arsenal or had it gone missing? Was it a leftover from some other group from 30 years ago? etc etc etc?

So, roughly ... who did it?

[asd]

The offices of Daily News

The Rama Garden hotel

A crack at the hotel's wall

The explosions caused minor damage to buildings.

The second exploded at a parking lot of the Rama Garden hotel.

The explosive was M-79 grenade launcher.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

M79 grenade launcher

The M79 is a 40 x 46 mm grenade launcher that first appeared during the Vietnam war. Commonly known as the "Thump-Gun", "Thumper", or "Blooper" in US service, it is also known to some Australian units as the "Wombat Gun".

It closely resembles a large bore, break-action, sawn-off shotgun, and can fire a wide variety of 40 mm rounds, including explosive, anti-personnel, smoke, buckshot, flechette, and incendiary.

During the 1960s and 70s, the US experimented with many types of grenade launchers attached to rifles, which allowed the grenadier to also function as a rifleman.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Specifications

Weight -- 3 kg loaded (6.5 lbs)

Length -- 737 mm (29 in)

Barrel length -- 355 mm

Cartridge -- 40 mm grenade

Action -- Single shot, breech loaded

Rate of fire -- Single shot

Effective range -- 375 m

Feed system -- Single shot, breech loaded

Sights -- Iron sight

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Design

The M79 is a single-shot, shoulder fired, break-action weapon which fired a spherical 40 mm diameter breech-loaded grenade. It also has a rubber pad affixed to the shoulder stock to absorb some of the recoil generated when firing. The M79 is 29 inches (74cm) in length and approximately 6.6 pounds (3 kg) when loaded.

Situated half-way up the barrel is a large flip up (ladder-type) sight that works in combination with a basic leaf-type foresight affixed to the end of the barrel. The rear sight was capable of ranging up to 410 yards (375 meters) in 27 yard (25 meter) intervals.

Additionally, Appendix A of U.S. Army field manual for the M203 includes instructions for attaching the M15 rifle grenade sight to the M79's stock and marking the sling for indirect fire at elevations greater than 40°. In the hands of an experienced grenadier, the M79 can put out a steady stream of effective fire up to 200 meters.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M79_Grenade_launcher

[Jai Dee]

Gen. Sonthi instructs Thai Police to nab bomb suspects

Gen. Sonthi Boonyaratglin (สนธิ บุญรัตกลิน), the Chairman of the Council for National Security (CNS), has urged officials to arrest perpetrators of bomb blasts near the Daily News newspaper and Rama Gardens Hotel Bangkok.

Royal Thai Police Commissioner General Pol Gen Kowit Watana (โกวิท วัฒนะ) referred to the last night’s blasts near the Daily News newspaper and Rama Gardens Hotel Bangkok. He said that Gen. Sonthi has instructed the Police force to nab the bomb suspects as soon as possible.

As for further details, Gen. Kowit refused to elaborate on whether last night's explosion was an attempt to defame his reputation.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 30 January 2007

[joe1912]

Gen. Sonthi instructs Thai Police to nab bomb suspects

Gen. Sonthi Boonyaratglin (สนธิ บุญรัตกลิน), the Chairman of the Council for National Security (CNS), has urged officials to arrest perpetrators of bomb blasts near the Daily News newspaper and Rama Gardens Hotel Bangkok.

Royal Thai Police Commissioner General Pol Gen Kowit Watana (โกวิท วัฒนะ) referred to the last night’s blasts near the Daily News newspaper and Rama Gardens Hotel Bangkok. He said that Gen. Sonthi has instructed the Police force to nab the bomb suspects as soon as possible.

As for further details, Gen. Kowit refused to elaborate on whether last night's explosion was an attempt to defame his reputation.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 30 January 2007

Perhaps Gen. Sonthi should issue a standing instruction than anyone causing bomb blasts should be nabbed as soon as possible. He could make it a law. Or does he need to know who caused it first then decide if he wants the police to catch them...

[pampal]

The damage in this picture is not caused by an M79 Grenade Launcher

Military munitions cause much greater damage, an rpg is supposed to penetrate armor. It's tipped by a high explosive charge.

The damage caused by an m79 would be a hole in the wall that would be much deeper and larger. The very low amount of debris laying around also don't point to an m79.

Really it's more consistent with homemade explosive, certainly not 

military munitions. 

There are certain homemade bombs that detonate on impact, if you look at the black stain on the wall, it points to homemade impact detonated device that couldn't really cause any harm.

[slimdog]

You could well be right Pampal..

Training bombs fired into Bangkok hotel and Daily News' compounds

Two training bombs were fired into the car park of Rama Garden Hotel and Daily News head office early Tuesday morning, causing slight damages, police said.

Police said the bombs were apparently fired from the Vibhavadi-Rangsit road and landed on the B1 floor or the car park building and the ground floor of Daily News, which is next to the hotel, at about 1:30 am.

Pol Lt Col Manit Kasemsiri, an inspector of Thung Song Hong police station, said bomb experts had yet to determine the type of the bombs.

The bombs caused only two small holes in the wall of the car park and the wall of Daily News newspaper's head office, which is located next to the car park.

No one was injured.

Suchart Wonglamai, a security officer of the hotel said he heard two explosions about ten seconds apart.

The Nation

source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingne...newsid=30025484

[Mid]

Gen. Sonthi instructs Thai Police to nab bomb suspects

Gen. Sonthi Boonyaratglin (สนธิ บุญรัตกลิน), the Chairman of the Council for National Security (CNS), has urged officials to arrest perpetrators of bomb blasts near the Daily News newspaper and Rama Gardens Hotel Bangkok.

Royal Thai Police Commissioner General Pol Gen Kowit Watana (โกวิท วัฒนะ) referred to the last night’s blasts near the Daily News newspaper and Rama Gardens Hotel Bangkok. He said that Gen. Sonthi has instructed the Police force to nab the bomb suspects as soon as possible.

As for further details, Gen. Kowit refused to elaborate on whether last night's explosion was an attempt to defame his reputation.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 30 January 2007

am I the only one ??

how long is he going to keep ' urgeing '

if he can't do the job , get the f out .....................

[Jai Dee]

PM says martial law would not be declared in response to Daily News bombing

The Prime Minister said that martial law did not need to be declared in respsonse to the bombing at the Daily News Newspaper headquarters.

Prime Minister Surayud Chulanong conducted a press conference after a Cabinet meeting that the Commander of the Metropolitan Police, Pol Lt Gen Wirote Janthrangsri (วิโรจน์ จันทรังสี ), has reported to him on the bombing incident at the Daily News Newspaper headquarters. Pol Lt Gen Wirote said the incident occured at 12:43 yesterday, and the bomb used was an M-79 fired from a grenade launcher. Investigators are unable to determine the motive behind the bombing and require more time to gather information, including how the perpetrators obtained an assault weapon.

Prime Minister Surayud affirms that the incident did not necessitate the declaration of martial law or the implementation of the Emergency Management Decree. Gen Surayud admitted that locating the people behind the crime would be a difficult task.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 31 January 2007

[Jai Dee]

RTP Commissioner General urges Metropol to increase security precautions in city

The Royal Thai Police Commissioner General has urged metropolitan police to increase security precautions in high risk areas, including media headquarters.

Royal Thai Police Commissioner General Pol Gen Kowit Watana (โกวิท วัฒนะ) conducted an inspection of the Daily News Newspaper headquarters which suffered a bombing attack yesterday. Pol Gen Kowit said a special task force did not need to be established to handle the incident as the Metropolitan Police were already putting their full effort into the investigation.

Pol Gen Kowit also revealed that in his meeting with the National Security Council Chairman Gen Sonthi Boonyaratkrin today Gen Sonthi had expressed his concern over the incident and has instructed police to increase security measures in high risk areas and media headquarters. Pol Gen Kowit said he had passed on the order to the Metropolitan Police.

The Commissioner General has also asked investigators to follow legal procedures in their work and to consider all motives.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 31 January 2007

[wpcoe]

RTP Commissioner General urges Metropol to increase security precautions in city

Is "Metropol" a common way to refer to the Metropolitan Police? I've never seen/heard that term used before.

[Jai Dee]

ISOC instructs all agencies to prepare for any situations

The Internal Security Operations Command has instructed all agencies under its command to prepare contingency plans for any situations that may occur in the nation.

The Army Chief of Staff Gen Montri Sanghasup (มนตรี สังขทรัพย์), in his capacity as secretary general of the Internal Security Operations Command, said in an ISOC meeting yesterday (January 31) that no discussions involving the Bangkok and Nonthaburi bombings, or the bombing of the Daily News headquarters occured. Gen Montri said personnel working on the cases had already been instructed in how to perform their investigation. The Army Chief of Staff added that all agencies under the ISOC had been instructed to prepare contingency plans for handling all situations.

Meanwhile the Chairman of the National Security Council, Gen Sonthi Boonyaratkrin will be inviting the director general of the Department of Special Investigations in to give a progress report on the Bangkok and Nonthaburi bombing investigation. Gen Montri said that police have done their utmost in investigating the bombing, while the Internal Security Operations Command would serve as the center of investigation efforts.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 01 February 2007

[Scott]

The Daily News?--wasn't that the name of the newspaper where Superman worked!

As far as arresting people, the police are supposed to arrest people, but they can't arrest people who are connected to important people because that will upset the balance of things in Thailand!

[Payboy]

The Daily News?--wasn't that the name of the newspaper where Superman worked!

nah - that was the daily planet - i think. he couldnt get the requisite work permit at the daily news.