Bombing In Bangkok

[Jai Dee]

Blast near Army HQ injures two

A bomb exploded near Army headquarters off Rajdamnoen Avenue last night injuring two ordnance-disposal officers.

The nature of the device was unknown late last night but had been detected about 6pm in a black cardboard box placed at the mouth of a small soi between Army headquarters and the Army Survey Department.

It was spotted by passers-by attending the Rajdamnoen Boxing Stadium across the road from the headquarters.

There was no indication from police at press time as to the motive of the explosion.

One bomb-disposal officer lost a thumb and the other received minor injuries.

The site was barricaded and sniffer dogs deployed to check for more explosives. None were found.

Source: The Nation - 01 October 2007

[Jai Dee]

CNS steps up security following bombing last night

The Council for National Security (CNS) steps up security measures at risky areas in Bangkok with roadblocks to prevent ill-intentioned people from traveling to the capital.

CNS increases security in Bangkok due to bombing last night near the Army Headquarters, injuring two police officers.

In addition, the army dispatches more officials to safeguard the residence of the army chief at Sethasiri (เศรษฐศิริ) Road. A roadblock has been set up since last night in front of the Military Circle 11 to inspect cars and motorcycles.

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

[cclub75]

The classic little dirty thai political game.

"I'm not happy, therefore I send a message, I put a bomb".

When they'll grown up ?

It's a shame.

[Jai Dee]

Police chief says explosive materials used in bomb blast last night are similar to recent bombing

The Royal Thai Police Commissioner-General, Pol. Gen. Seripisuth Temiyavej (เสรีพิศุทธ์ เตมียาเวส), says the explosive materials used in the bombing near the Royal Thai Army Headquarters last night are similar to the ones used in another bombing incident in Bangkok.

Pol. Gen. Seripisuth says the police will have to wait for clear evidences and witnesses before determining whether the blast was triggered by the same group. However, he admits that some police officials are still working carelessly following the bombing, but he believes the explosion is unrelated to politics or the southern insurgency.

Pol. Gen. Seripisuth has reminded Pol. Lt. Gen. Assawin Kwanmuang, the Metropolitan Police Commander, to investigate the case comprehensively.

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

[Jai Dee]

First Army Area Commander says bomb blast not related to new army chief

In reaction to Sunday evening's bomb blast outside the Royal Thai Survey Department near the Army Headquarter, 1st Regional Army Commander Lt.Gen.Prayuth Chan-ocha (ประยุทธ์ จันทร์โอชา) dismissed rumours that the bomb blast was in retaliation to the appointment of the new Army Commander.

Lt.Gen.Prayuth Chan-ocha (ประยุทธ์ จันทร์โอชา) said that initial report indicated that the explosion was made from gun powder and light batteries ignited by heat. He further added that the bomb blast was created by people with attemtpts to stir up unrests and chaos. At the same development, a military bomb disposal officer and his police counterpart were injured when a bomb they tried to defuse the bomb. Local TV 7 reported that the two bomb disposal officers were injured when checking a bomb-like object spotted at the fence of the Royal Survey Department near the army headquarters. The explosion occurred at 9 pm.

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

[hammered]

No politcal bombing in Thailand has ever been solved. I guess this one will be the same, and as with all the others those the message is aimed at will know who sent it and why.

[John K]

The eve of Sonthi’s retirement..... one guess who reached out to slap him in the face.

[younghusband]

The eve of Sonthi’s retirement..... one guess who reached out to slap him in the face.

I expect that you mean Thaksin.You were also confident that Thaksin/proxies were responsible for the new years eve incidents last year.Nobody seriously believes that now so I was wondering whether you now accept you were completely wrong, and if so whether you accept your latest "theory" (in many ways even more ludicrous) might be equally misplaced?

[blaze]

No politcal bombing in Thailand has ever been solved. I guess this one will be the same, and as with all the others those the message is aimed at will know who sent it and why.

While no fan of Saprang, (or his allies- Sondhi L et al) I felt that the Post particularly overstepped the line in its reporting of the incident. In their story, the reporter mentions that this occurred just as Anupong is about to become new army chief. (One could almost hear the reporter's subtext: "Coincidence? Methinks not!").

Surely any rumors at this stage about who was responsible deserve to be taken with a grain of salt: not slyly repeated by the Nation- or created (innuendo) by the Post. My theory is that someone is as pissed off as I am about the venue of the coming World Film Festival- which at this stage of the game- is as valid a theory as any other.

[younghusband]

No politcal bombing in Thailand has ever been solved. I guess this one will be the same, and as with all the others those the message is aimed at will know who sent it and why.

I'm not sure this is entirely correct, but I understand you to mean no case has ever been cleanly proven, certainly true.On this subject, some of the more imaginative juntophiles on this forum were claiming at the time of the New Years Eve bombings that our late PM had teamed up with southern Islamic terrorists to wreak vengeance on Sonthi and other self proclaimed saviours of the nation.We now know this to be paranoid fantasy but I seem to have missed the subsequent apologies.Regular forum members will know I am very far from being a fan of Thaksin but newcomers should be aware that for some no lie is too outrageous, no vulgarity too excessive (Pojaman's girth for example),no manipulation of truth too excessive if somehow Goebbels-like Thaksin can be tarnished.

Quite what they think the audience might be is hard to understand, but even now they drone on and on even as Sonthi provides moral encouragement to his fellow junta scummies in Rangoon.

[John K]

Just weigh in the time and physical location of the bomb, to me that is obvious as body language.

[hammered]

No politcal bombing in Thailand has ever been solved. I guess this one will be the same, and as with all the others those the message is aimed at will know who sent it and why.

While no fan of Saprang, (or his allies- Sondhi L et al) I felt that the Post particularly overstepped the line in its reporting of the incident. In their story, the reporter mentions that this occurred just as Anupong is about to become new army chief. (One could almost hear the reporter's subtext: "Coincidence? Methinks not!").

Surely any rumors at this stage about who was responsible deserve to be taken with a grain of salt: not slyly repeated by the Nation- or created (innuendo) by the Post. My theory is that someone is as pissed off as I am about the venue of the coming World Film Festival- which at this stage of the game- is as valid a theory as any other.

And will probably remain as valid as any other theory as the sands of time pass us by. Sadly. Mind you rabid speculation will continue and does sell newspapers, and we shouldnt forget that newspapers have politcal agendas or are run by and for certain groups. I also cant wait to see the heated debates start up on here without any evidence. And as I said the person(s) who it was aimed at will know exactly why it was done, and for what reason and who did it, but few will be made aware of this information, whiohc is frustrating to us unitiated.

[FarangNoi21]

Just weigh in the time and physical location of the bomb, to me that is obvious as body language.

mr.karr if it is so obvious why don't you just tell us who it is???

[Plus]

Younghusband, you speak as we all know who was behind NY bombings. I don't.

Maybe it was islamists, maybe not. It is not that difficult for a capable person to pass it off as a "muslim bomb".

AFAIK the investigation reached a dead end, as usual. Why do you rule out pro-Thaksin elements altogether.

[Tony Clifton]

No politcal bombing in Thailand has ever been solved. I guess this one will be the same, and as with all the others those the message is aimed at will know who sent it and why.

I'm not sure this is entirely correct, but I understand you to mean no case has ever been cleanly proven, certainly true.On this subject, some of the more imaginative juntophiles on this forum were claiming at the time of the New Years Eve bombings that our late PM had teamed up with southern Islamic terrorists to wreak vengeance on Sonthi and other self proclaimed saviours of the nation.We now know this to be paranoid fantasy but I seem to have missed the subsequent apologies.Regular forum members will know I am very far from being a fan of Thaksin but newcomers should be aware that for some no lie is too outrageous, no vulgarity too excessive (Pojaman's girth for example),no manipulation of truth too excessive if somehow Goebbels-like Thaksin can be tarnished.

Quite what they think the audience might be is hard to understand, but even now they drone on and on even as Sonthi provides moral encouragement to his fellow junta scummies in Rangoon.

Strange... I remember Thaksin himself pointing a finger towards the South hours after the New Year bombings, while he sat in London.

[John K]

Just weigh in the time and physical location of the bomb, to me that is obvious as body language.

mr.karr if it is so obvious why don't you just tell us who it is???

Although I can’t tell you who delivered it, but you already know who sent it. Just compare it to the subtle little flip off the Thais do.

[jumnien]

The bombing comes one day after the Bangkok Post ran its article about the military involvement in the new airport transportation mafia. Related?

[chao]

Everybody knows Saprang is a tough guy.

[Jai Dee]

Gen Sonthi links new and old bombings

Investigators have yet to find out who was responsible for placing a bomb outside the Army Survey Department’s fences off Rajdamnoen Avenue on Sunday night, but Council for National Security chairman Gen Sonthi Boonyaratkalin said it was likely by the same group responsible for bombing a phone booth in Soi Rachawithi Soi 24 last May.

More from the Bangkok Post here.

[sriracha john]

It is reassuring that the authorities appear to be moving towards a conclusion on those responsible for the New Year's Eve bombings.Hopefully apprehension of the culprits will follow shortly.For my own part though I had my suspicions (security force elements that had lost out in post coup placements), it seemed impossible to identify with any certainty any one of a number of groups that might have been involved.I am and remain genuinely stumped.

Seems you are un-stumped now. Could you please provide an update to this post? Thank you.

Edited October 1, 2007 by sriracha john

[Jai Dee]

BMA tightening security following bombing

Bangkok Governor Apirak Kosayodhin (อภิรักษ์ โกษะโยธิน) reinstructs chiefs of 50 Bangkok districts to inspect their areas rigorously to ensure public safety, following the bombing incident near the Royal Thai Army Headquarters last night (September 30th). The blast resulted in two serious injuries.

Mr. Apirak reminds the directors of 50 districts in the capital to follow the security measures of the Internal Security Operations Command (ISOC) by comprehensively examining residential and internal areas under their responsibilities. They are assigned to assess department stores, community areas and transport stations and to coordinate with the police and the army in monitoring the movements of ill-intentioned people.

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

[younghusband]

Younghusband, you speak as we all know who was behind NY bombings. I don't.

Maybe it was islamists, maybe not. It is not that difficult for a capable person to pass it off as a "muslim bomb".

AFAIK the investigation reached a dead end, as usual. Why do you rule out pro-Thaksin elements altogether.

Plus,you deserve as honest response as I can muster.I have no more specialised knowledge than anybody else but, like you I'm sure, follow all reports with care and interest.You are right to imply that there is no unqualified proof that the bombs were the work of a particular group, and one rather suspects the CNS has buried the investigation following various contradictory acounts from within the junta and its puppet government.Overall the probabability seems to be that southern interests were involved with disgruntled military/police elements the next in line of suspects.What seems extremely unlikely now is the direct involvement of Thaksin although the participation of his supporters cannot be entirely ruled out.The suggestion that someone might have feigned a "muslim bomb" not only seems fanciful but in terms of motivation just doesn't make any sense, at least from Thaksin's vantage point.Finally if the junta truly believed Thaksin had anything to do with the incident, don't you think it would have sought to nail him rather than rely on the rather marginal AEC case?

[younghusband]

It is reassuring that the authorities appear to be moving towards a conclusion on those responsible for the New Year's Eve bombings.Hopefully apprehension of the culprits will follow shortly.For my own part though I had my suspicions (security force elements that had lost out in post coup placements), it seemed impossible to identify with any certainty any one of a number of groups that might have been involved.I am and remain genuinely stumped.

Seems you are un-stumped now. Could you please provide an update to this post? Thank you.

If someone is stumped, it means they have an open mind - apparently a rather difficult concept for some to grasp.Since you are not interested in any kind of serious dialogue, I don't usually bother with your posts I'm afraid.However as a courtesy I refer you to my response to Plus immediately above.

[sriracha john]

On this subject, some of the more imaginative juntophiles on this forum were claiming at the time of the New Years Eve bombings that our late PM....

We now know this to be paranoid fantasy

the direct involvement of Thaksin although the participation of his supporters cannot be entirely ruled out.

thank you for clarifying...

[younghusband]

On this subject, some of the more imaginative juntophiles on this forum were claiming at the time of the New Years Eve bombings that our late PM....

We now know this to be paranoid fantasy

the direct involvement of Thaksin although the participation of his supporters cannot be entirely ruled out.

thank you for clarifying...

By snipping quotes misleadingly and always harping on the same anti-Thaksin theme, you rather reinforce my point about you being unwilling (or perhaps unable) to take part in a serious debate.Quod erat demonstrandum.That's why I don't bother with you:it's not because you have a different view than mine.

[Plus]

Look at the targets in this string of bombings - Chamlong's monks, Prem, Defence Ministry.

The pattern is clear, though some bombs were probably just try runs, like the one targeting a hotel car park.

And don't forget the fake bomb that was supposed to kill Thaksin.

These guys appear to have a steady employment, don't you think?

NY bombs were very damaging to the junta and the government, perhaps it WAS a work of sourthern insurgents, but if they were meant to achieve some political goal, it was clearly in the same anti-junta pattern, islamists didn't get any mileage out of it.

I'm 100% confident that it wasn't Chaturon or Samak sneaking around with suspicious packages, but there are lots of mlitary/police officers who got shafted just before and after the coup. At least for the moment they are aligned with return of Thaksin.

[ColPyat]

but there are lots of mlitary/police officers who got shafted just before and after the coup. At least for the moment they are aligned with return of Thaksin.

As well as there are many military officers who would prefer that the government would take a harder stand against Thaksin and supporters, and would even prefer to do away with elections altogether.

And then there are the ones who are involved in personal and business conflicts with other factions, etc.

The list is endless, and only one thing can be stated with relative certainty - the government and the Junta is not appearing to be very interested in either solving the cases, or communicating much of their findings to the public.

[blaze]

Look at the targets in this string of bombings - Chamlong's monks, Prem, Defence Ministry.

The pattern is clear, though some bombs were probably just try runs, like the one targeting a hotel car park.

And don't forget the fake bomb that was supposed to kill Thaksin.

These guys appear to have a steady employment, don't you think?

NY bombs were very damaging to the junta and the government, perhaps it WAS a work of sourthern insurgents, but if they were meant to achieve some political goal, it was clearly in the same anti-junta pattern, islamists didn't get any mileage out of it.

I'm 100% confident that it wasn't Chaturon or Samak sneaking around with suspicious packages, but there are lots of mlitary/police officers who got shafted just before and after the coup. At least for the moment they are aligned with return of Thaksin.

It's kind of odd that both the Nation and the Post hinted that suspicions are falling on disgruntled military- specifically those denied the Army chief job- yet some on this board continue to point to Thaksin. This appears to be a scenario that nobody with an ear to Thai power games takes remotely seriously. If there was any rational reason to point the finger at Thaksin don't you think the Nation -or some of the more outspoken people in the junta- would be doing just that?

In the upper halls of high power, the identity of the perpetrators of this, and all preceeding bombs and bomb attempts of the last two years- may well be known. All these bombings might be a private language reserved for only those at the top- and the rest of us -without recourse to the byzantine intrigues- the shifting alliances and conflicts- that mark power politics here- will continue to flounder around playing detective.

[Flatouthruthefog]

but there are lots of mlitary/police officers who got shafted just before and after the coup. At least for the moment they are aligned with return of Thaksin.

As well as there are many military officers who would prefer that the government would take a harder stand against Thaksin and supporters, and would even prefer to do away with elections altogether.

And then there are the ones who are involved in personal and business conflicts with other factions, etc.

The list is endless, and only one thing can be stated with relative certainty - the government and the Junta is not appearing to be very interested in either solving the cases, or communicating much of their findings to the public.

With respect, and I mean that most sincerely folks, there IS one other thing that is certain. If we look at the bigger picture we must realise that yet again, Thailand is hit with a most negative image right in the face of the tourist "high season" the nation needs so badly!

Bird flu, 9/11, flooding, tanks on the street, you name it, there is ALWAYS something to deter tourists - and uncannily it always seems to be at "late booking/late decision" time.

Whatever powers there may be, wishing to bring this economy down, certainly have a nifty knack of timing. Deeply sad.

[Plus]

It's kind of odd that both the Nation and the Post hinted that suspicions are falling on disgruntled military- specifically those denied the Army chief job- yet some on this board continue to point to Thaksin.

If the latest bombing is not related to previous ones, then it's ok to suspect Saprang, I guess.

It is also possible that people at the top know who is doing this and they have cut some deals. This makes the junta and the government look like a hostage to some very very powerful enemies. I don't think they'd bend over so easily.