Bangkok Bombings The Work Of Jemaah Islamiah

[Arkady]

interesting, but not surprising that it's an Aussie news service that is (or appears to be) breaking the story. Similarly, whenever an internationally wanted criminal is apprehended in Thailand, it always seems to be overseas sleuthing that's the main force behind the apprehension. Let's hope Thai 'intelligence services' and police forces (equivelent of the FBI?) get better at their jobs - and take the wheel, rather than so often taking the back seat and relying on foreign intelligence services to connect the dots.

A case in point is the man who murdered several yound people in India and in Thailand (can't recall his name, something like Sorej?) - Even when BKK police were given intruiging evidence by a Belgian embassy worker, and actually arrested the guy in Bangkok, the Thai authorities LET HIM GO, because it was a weekend and they couldn't verify whether his American passport was valid. It turned out his passport was bogus - and the scumbag went off and murdered several other people before he was apprehended much later - in India.

...so it goes.

Way off thread but name is Charles Sobhraj, currently serving a life sentence in Nepal. This excerpt from Wikipedia provides the motive for Thai police letting him go in spite of his several murders in Thailand. "Sobhraj then went to Calcutta, where he murdered Israeli scholar Avoni Jacob for his passport, and used it to move to Singapore with Leclerc and Chowdhury, then to India and - rather boldly - back to Bangkok in March 1976. There they were interrogated by Thai policemen in connection with the murders, but easily let off the hook because authorities feared that the negative publicity accompanying a murder trial would harm the country's tourist trade." Does this sound familiar? Sobhraj managed to extend his sentence in India by an extra 10 years, so that he would be released after the statute of limitations on his murders here expired. He went back to Paris and made a lot of money from interviews and film rights. Then the cocky sod went to Nepal which sensibly doesn't have a statute of limitations on murder and got put away. I don't really understand why there should be a statute of limitations on murder or other serious crimes.

[cclub75]

This is really confusing. If it was really JI, how did they find their way around BKK? They must have had maps to prevent getting lost.

SeanBangkok, now we know your real identity : you must be General Sonthi !

[Arkady]

From The Nation re the people just arrested by the police: "The source said military officers with bomb-making knowledge, who run murder-for-hire rackets and contract killings - some of whom had been involved in bomb attacks in the deep South - had been monitored as potential suspects behind the December 31 bombings."

If this is true, I am not sure why these military officers who are known to run murder-for-hire rackets have not been arrested before.

[Tony Clifton]

From The Nation re the people just arrested by the police: "The source said military officers with bomb-making knowledge, who run murder-for-hire rackets and contract killings - some of whom had been involved in bomb attacks in the deep South - had been monitored as potential suspects behind the December 31 bombings."

If this is true, I am not sure why these military officers who are known to run murder-for-hire rackets have not been arrested before.

Boys in brown + kickbacks =

[sweedey]

"Intelligence sources" is very vague. Nobody knows if this is disgruntled police, pro-Thaksin army officers or who knows. Until some official comment comes out, this has as much weight as "somebody in the pub said...."

I hope your further posts are more lucid than your first.

[beammeup]

From The Nation re the people just arrested by the police: "The source said military officers with bomb-making knowledge, who run murder-for-hire rackets and contract killings - some of whom had been involved in bomb attacks in the deep South - had been monitored as potential suspects behind the December 31 bombings."

If this is true, I am not sure why these military officers who are known to run murder-for-hire rackets have not been arrested before.

This gives a good insight to the multi headed monster in the deep south. The killings and bombings could be anybody. They still havent figured out who is doing it down there, after how many years?. What makes you think they will figure out (or tell us) who is behind it in BKK.

[drenoi]

interesting, but not surprising that it's an Aussie news service that is (or appears to be) breaking the story. Similarly, whenever an internationally wanted criminal is apprehended in Thailand, it always seems to be overseas sleuthing that's the main force behind the apprehension. Let's hope Thai 'intelligence services' and police forces (equivelent of the FBI?) get better at their jobs - and take the wheel, rather than so often taking the back seat and relying on foreign intelligence services to connect the dots.

A case in point is the man who murdered several yound people in India and in Thailand (can't recall his name, something like Sorej?) - Even when BKK police were given intruiging evidence by a Belgian embassy worker, and actually arrested the guy in Bangkok, the Thai authorities LET HIM GO, because it was a weekend and they couldn't verify whether his American passport was valid. It turned out his passport was bogus - and the scumbag went off and murdered several other people before he was apprehended much later - in India.

...so it goes.

That is a very interesting story, his name is Charles Sobhraj, he sounds like an asian Ted Bundy, more info on Google. Best info is on Wiki, wasn't just the Thais that let him go.

Edit: Opps someone beat me to it

Edited January 23, 2007 by drenoi

[Payboy]

with so much cobra gold training, all those soldiers could muster were a few damp squibs! ji could do better than that for sure!

[blaze]

From The Nation re the people just arrested by the police: "The source said military officers with bomb-making knowledge, who run murder-for-hire rackets and contract killings - some of whom had been involved in bomb attacks in the deep South - had been monitored as potential suspects behind the December 31 bombings."

And this is the organization, (the military) that is and has been trusted with plotting the course of the nation's history.

One of the peculiar things about military coups is that a certain occupation- specifically, soldiers, assumes the right to know what is best for the nation. The only reason that soldiers can make this claim and the National Association of Optometrists can't, is that soldiers have the means to convince the skeptics.

I doubt that the Optometrists would have murder for hire 'cells' within their ranks. And call me a week kneed liberal, but I'd be pretty ok with that.

[Jai Dee]

DSI to investigate New Year Eve bombings

The Caretaker Director-General of the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) said that DSI will begin investigating into the bomb attacks on New Year’s Eve once the prime minister officially stamps the approval.

Kraisorn Baramee-auaychai (ไกรสร บารมีอวยชัย), the DSI caretaker director-general, informed that DSI has yet received written assignment from the premier to investigate the case. However, Mr Kraisorn expresses DSI's readiness to work on the task.

Mr Kraisorn said that he will call a meeting between the three DSI’s deputy director-generals immediately after he has received the written assignment to discuss investigation plans and set up investigation teams.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 23 January 2007

[thai_narak]

If they were JI there will be more casualties.

[TimTang]

Jemaah Islamiah would never claim responsibility because they choose to profess that they don't even exist. Even they're leader Abu Bakar Bashir, when asked if he is the leader, says no such group exists. Even the name Jemaah Islamiah, translates rather innocuously as "Islamic Group"; very non-descript.

Don't forget the most influential leader of this non-existent group, Riduan Ismuddin or more affectionately known as Hambali, was captured in Bangkok.

Note that no-one claims responsibility for any of the terrorist attacks in the south. This technique has served them well because each attack can appear to be an isolated event with no real enemy to focus on. Attacks are horrible heinous events one day, then forgotten the next. If there were headlines reading "JI or PULO kill 5 more", people would pay more attention and demand that this group be dealt with. The way it stands it would be politically incorrect to say "Islamists or Muslims kill 5".

Also note that the recent spate of coordinated bombings, in market places, Tea Houses, and 22-banks-in-one-day all resemble the recent Bangkok bombings; relatively small explosions, few deaths, and no claim of responsibility.

I don't think it would be a stretch to assume these bombing originated in the South.

[brazil]

Jemaah Islamiah would never claim responsibility because they choose to profess that they don't even exist. Even they're leader Abu Bakar Bashir, when asked if he is the leader, says no such group exists. Even the name Jemaah Islamiah, translates rather innocuously as "Islamic Group"; very non-descript.

Don't forget the most influential leader of this non-existent group, Riduan Ismuddin or more affectionately known as Hambali, was captured in Bangkok.

Note that no-one claims responsibility for any of the terrorist attacks in the south. This technique has served them well because each attack can appear to be an isolated event with no real enemy to focus on. Attacks are horrible heinous events one day, then forgotten the next. If there were headlines reading "JI or PULO kill 5 more", people would pay more attention and demand that this group be dealt with. The way it stands it would be politically incorrect to say "Islamists or Muslims kill 5".

Also note that the recent spate of coordinated bombings, in market places, Tea Houses, and 22-banks-in-one-day all resemble the recent Bangkok bombings; relatively small explosions, few deaths, and no claim of responsibility.

I don't think it would be a stretch to assume these bombing originated in the South.

The israeli institute for national studies on islamic groups(jinsa) states a report in 2005 that JI is very much involved in the south of thailand.

it states that PULO has a splinter group named GMIP for which is a member of Rabibat-ul-Mujahidin, an umbrella organization of regional Islamic groups. Rabibat-ul-Mujahidin was formed by Jemaah Islamiyah

and that 2005 december saw a plot uncovered to use bombs in bangkok by southern groups

now not one forum member can ever know more research knowledge than this group on global terror. This groups traces bank accounts, trails of groups to their leaders and affiliates.

and very funny indeed to see PULO state that they have no affiliations to JI

i wonder what else PULO are Lying about?

Edited January 23, 2007 by brazil

[TimTang]

Brazil

PULO tries to maintain a moderate political appearance to present the kinder-gentler side. They would never admit to the bombing because it's not part of their agenda. But like all terrorist organizations they have a militant side which may very well be JI or their own equivalent which they distance themselves from politically, but plot and scheme together in the same local mosque.

This is all part of the Islamist MO. How many groups was Arafat a member of before PLO? All you do is make up a new name, kill a bunch of people, then the MSM eats it up and announces a previously unknown terrorist organization named "The Brothers and Uncles of Mohammed's Holy Blah Blah Blah claimed responsibility for the explosion." The real perpetrators get carte blanche while Joe six-pack swallows it whole and everything starts all over again tomorrow.

It's called low intensity war fare, or nickle-and-dime them to death, then hit them big time when they're weak and their moral is low.

We only have our selves to blame unless we wake up!

[brazil]

Brazil

PULO tries to maintain a moderate political appearance to present the kinder-gentler side. They would never admit to the bombing because it's not part of their agenda. But like all terrorist organizations they have a militant side which may very well be JI or their own equivalent which they distance themselves from politically, but plot and scheme together in the same local mosque.

This is all part of the Islamist MO. How many groups was Arafat a member of before PLO? All you do is make up a new name, kill a bunch of people, then the MSM eats it up and announces a previously unknown terrorist organization named "The Brothers and Uncles of Mohammed's Holy Blah Blah Blah claimed responsibility for the explosion." The real perpetrators get carte blanche while Joe six-pack swallows it whole and everything starts all over again tomorrow.

It's called low intensity war fare, or nickle-and-dime them to death, then hit them big time when they're weak and their moral is low.

We only have our selves to blame unless we wake up!

your statement rings a bell in my brain for sure.

they certainly hit when morale was low

whats so amazing is how this has slipped through the population hardly un-noticed. wow what a brainwashing job the media and thai authorities have done!

[Plus]

PULO has a splinter group named GMIP

[brazil]

PULO has a splinter group named GMIP

yes jinsa's report that GMIP was formed as a splinter group of PULO

The Movement of Islamic Mujahidin of Pattani (GMIP)

Edited January 23, 2007 by brazil

[Plus]

Splinter group by definition is not part of PULO.

[brazil]

Splinter group by definition is not part of PULO.

In 1995, Nasoree Saesaeng, an Afghan war veteran, formed a splinter group of the PULO, the Movement of Islamic Mujahidin of Pattani (GMIP).

indeed PLUS will you follow the advice of TIMTANG and wake the @@## UP

The Thai Islamic groups have extensive links with Kumpulan Mujahidin Malaysia (KMM), a group that also belongs to Rabibat-ul-Mujahidin. KMM operates just across the border in Malaysia and carries out joint training with the Thai groups

In June 2003, Thai security forces arrested three Jemaah Islamiyah members in Narathiwat province who were planning a bombing campaign against the embassies of Australia, Britain, Israel, Singapore and the United States. The Thai Islamic religious teacher, his son and a doctor were working with a Singaporean member of Jemaah Islamiyah, Arifin bin Ali, and were also planning to attack the tourist areas in Bangkok, Pattaya and Phuket

SO PLUS YOU THINK JI ARE NOT CONNECTED IN ANY SUCH WAY TO THE SOUTHERN UNREST BY HELPING AND TRAINING SUCH GROUPS!!!!!

MAYBE THE AUSSIE NEWS REPORT DETAILING THE NAMES OF THOSE INVLOVED AND THAT PULO ARE DENYING IS SPOT ON THE MARK

OR MAYBE YOU ENJOY BEING BRAINWASHED LIKE ALL THE OTHER MUPPETS WHO CANNOT SEE CLEARLY A NEW BEGINNING OF URBAN WARFARE BY THE SOUTHERN PARTIES

LIKE TIMTANG HAS STATED THEY HIT WHEN MORALE WAS LOW USING NEW TACTICS FOR WHICH HAVE STARTED TO BE USED RECENTLY IN THE SOUTH AND ARE DIFFERENT IN THEIR PREVIOUS TACTICS OF BOMBINGS AND KILLINGS.

[jdinasia]

A bunch of absolute silliness to be pointing at groups from the South .. or Muslims in this evening of bombings in question (NYE). There are always an unfortunate number of poorly informed people that jump to the Islam threat these days ... 40 years ago it would have been the Red Threat etc etc ...

[Siripon]

Splinter group by definition is not part of PULO.

In 1995, Nasoree Saesaeng, an Afghan war veteran, formed a splinter group of the PULO, the Movement of Islamic Mujahidin of Pattani (GMIP).

indeed PLUS will you follow the advice of TIMTANG and wake the @@## UP

The Thai Islamic groups have extensive links with Kumpulan Mujahidin Malaysia (KMM), a group that also belongs to Rabibat-ul-Mujahidin. KMM operates just across the border in Malaysia and carries out joint training with the Thai groups

In June 2003, Thai security forces arrested three Jemaah Islamiyah members in Narathiwat province who were planning a bombing campaign against the embassies of Australia, Britain, Israel, Singapore and the United States. The Thai Islamic religious teacher, his son and a doctor were working with a Singaporean member of Jemaah Islamiyah, Arifin bin Ali, and were also planning to attack the tourist areas in Bangkok, Pattaya and Phuket

SO PLUS YOU THINK JI ARE NOT CONNECTED IN ANY SUCH WAY TO THE SOUTHERN UNREST BY HELPING AND TRAINING SUCH GROUPS!!!!!

MAYBE THE AUSSIE NEWS REPORT DETAILING THE NAMES OF THOSE INVLOVED AND THAT PULO ARE DENYING IS SPOT ON THE MARK

OR MAYBE YOU ENJOY BEING BRAINWASHED LIKE ALL THE OTHER MUPPETS WHO CANNOT SEE CLEARLY A NEW BEGINNING OF URBAN WARFARE BY THE SOUTHERN PARTIES

LIKE TIMTANG HAS STATED THEY HIT WHEN MORALE WAS LOW USING NEW TACTICS FOR WHICH HAVE STARTED TO BE USED RECENTLY IN THE SOUTH AND ARE DIFFERENT IN THEIR PREVIOUS TACTICS OF BOMBINGS AND KILLINGS.

So why don't they claim responsibility?

[brazil]

Splinter group by definition is not part of PULO.

In 1995, Nasoree Saesaeng, an Afghan war veteran, formed a splinter group of the PULO, the Movement of Islamic Mujahidin of Pattani (GMIP).

indeed PLUS will you follow the advice of TIMTANG and wake the @@## UP

The Thai Islamic groups have extensive links with Kumpulan Mujahidin Malaysia (KMM), a group that also belongs to Rabibat-ul-Mujahidin. KMM operates just across the border in Malaysia and carries out joint training with the Thai groups

In June 2003, Thai security forces arrested three Jemaah Islamiyah members in Narathiwat province who were planning a bombing campaign against the embassies of Australia, Britain, Israel, Singapore and the United States. The Thai Islamic religious teacher, his son and a doctor were working with a Singaporean member of Jemaah Islamiyah, Arifin bin Ali, and were also planning to attack the tourist areas in Bangkok, Pattaya and Phuket

SO PLUS YOU THINK JI ARE NOT CONNECTED IN ANY SUCH WAY TO THE SOUTHERN UNREST BY HELPING AND TRAINING SUCH GROUPS!!!!!

MAYBE THE AUSSIE NEWS REPORT DETAILING THE NAMES OF THOSE INVLOVED AND THAT PULO ARE DENYING IS SPOT ON THE MARK

OR MAYBE YOU ENJOY BEING BRAINWASHED LIKE ALL THE OTHER MUPPETS WHO CANNOT SEE CLEARLY A NEW BEGINNING OF URBAN WARFARE BY THE SOUTHERN PARTIES

LIKE TIMTANG HAS STATED THEY HIT WHEN MORALE WAS LOW USING NEW TACTICS FOR WHICH HAVE STARTED TO BE USED RECENTLY IN THE SOUTH AND ARE DIFFERENT IN THEIR PREVIOUS TACTICS OF BOMBINGS AND KILLINGS.

So why don't they claim responsibility?

why do they deny having any such links to JI?

ISNT THAT THE REAL QUESTION!!!!

if so many international security organisations have shown details of their affiliations with JI, so why PULO and others alike deny any such links!!!!!!!!!

maybe PULO have a history of denial in their campaigns!!

if people believe that PULO is some local organisation with guys with pitchforks fighting for freedom then maybe we should rename this site www.villageidiots.com

Edited January 23, 2007 by brazil

[TimTang]

PULO has a splinter group named GMIP

I apologize for the clip-and-paste but this is the quick-and-dirty on GMIP:

Gerakan Mujahideen Islami Pattani (GMIP)

The GMIP was founded in 1986 by Wae-Hama Wae-Yuso, but broke up by 1993 as a result of internal squabbling. In 1995, Nasori Saesaeng (Awae Kaelae), Jehku Mae Kuteh (Doromae Kuteh), Nasae Saning and a handful of other Afghan veterans consolidated power. For most of the 1990s, the GMIP was more of a criminal gang than a group of freedom fighters. It was thought to have run guns for other Muslim insurgent groups, in particular the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (<deleted>) and the Free Aceh Movement (GAM). The GMIP was engaged in kidnapping, extortion, contract killings and "enforcement." As one senior Thai Intelligence official said, "The Gerakan mujahideen had a poor record in the past. It was really a criminal gang. But they purged their leadership" (author interview, Bangkok, March 16, 2005). Thai authorities seemed to take the GMIP more seriously beginning in August 2003, when security forces gunned down two senior members in Pattani—its Afghan-trained operations chief Nasae Saning and Mahma Maeroh.

These people can hit then run back to Malaysia with total impunity because...well...unless you didn't notice Malaysia is an Islamic State.

[Mai Krap]

Brazil

PULO tries to maintain a moderate political appearance to present the kinder-gentler side. They would never admit to the bombing because it's not part of their agenda. But like all terrorist organizations they have a militant side which may very well be JI or their own equivalent which they distance themselves from politically, but plot and scheme together in the same local mosque.

This is all part of the Islamist MO. How many groups was Arafat a member of before PLO? All you do is make up a new name, kill a bunch of people, then the MSM eats it up and announces a previously unknown terrorist organization named "The Brothers and Uncles of Mohammed's Holy Blah Blah Blah claimed responsibility for the explosion." The real perpetrators get carte blanche while Joe six-pack swallows it whole and everything starts all over again tomorrow.

It's called low intensity war fare, or nickle-and-dime them to death, then hit them big time when they're weak and their moral is low.

We only have our selves to blame unless we wake up!

your statement rings a bell in my brain for sure.

they certainly hit when morale was low

whats so amazing is how this has slipped through the population hardly un-noticed. wow what a brainwashing job the media and thai authorities have done!

Maybe you guys can get together and pass some laws forcing all the Muslims in Thailand to wear yellow crescents sewn to their clothes (Including all the terrorist evil Saudis at MBK eating at Mcdonalds with their kids) so they are more easily indentifiable?

While your at it you can read George Bush bedtime stories to your kids with his chicken little "The sky is falling, blame it on Muslims" mentality and busy yourselves with distant big bad wolf hunting while the cute little foxes raid the hen houses in broad daylight.

This was a very telling week for the war on terror as 30 Americans died in one day after four years of driving around in circles in the desert chasing guys armed with small arms and IED's while back in the real world the Chinese shot down a sattelite for all the world to see.

US military power seen at risk by China's satellite-busting ability

by P. Parameswaran 1 hour, 19 minutes ago

WASHINGTON (AFP) - China's new satellite-killing capability threatens US military supremacy in Asia, especially Washington's ability to swiftly come to Taiwan's defense, American experts say.

The United States is Taiwan's security guarantor against any possible Chinese invasion. But the recent successful test of a Chinese satellite destruction missile raises the prospect of Beijing scuttling America's critical satellite network in a possible war.

"The prospect of losing a good chunk of our satellite coverage, our satellite network in space in a Taiwan combat scenario really does change the equation for American planners on how we approach the defense of Taiwan should it need it," John Tkacik, a former State Department expert on China, told AFP.

Taiwan has several satellites up in orbit now, including two imaging ones used for intelligence and surveillance purposes.

If the Chinese pursued the satellites during hostilities, it could cause Washington to have second thoughts about getting involved.

"If especially the United States felt that its satellites were equally vulnerable, it's a disturbing new development," said Tkacik, the former chief of China analysis in the State Department's bureau of intelligence and research.

US officials revealed last week that China had destroyed one of its own orbiting weather satellites earlier this month using a ballistic missile, making it the third country after the former Soviet Union and the United States to shoot down an object in space.

In Beijing, foreign ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao confirmed the test on Tuesday and said it had already notified Washington.

He insisted however that China never has, "and will never, participate in any form of space arms race."

The successful test -- the first such intercept in more than 20 years -- means China can theoretically shoot down spy satellites or other orbiters operated by other nations, sparking fears of a space-based arms race.

"There has been long a desire on China's part to try to have weapons to shoot down or at least interfere with American satellites which America depends upon in order to meet its defense commitment in Asia," said former senior

Pentagon official Dan Blumenthal.

"So it very much puts in the minds of American planners, policy makers how to overcome this now more costly commitment," he said.

Blumenthal said Taiwan will be a "central" issue of the China's satellite-killing capability because the most likely flashpoint between Washington and Beijing is over Taiwan, which China considers a renegade province.

Amid the active competition in space, "the United States is going to be taking countermeasures to protect its satellite constellations," he said.

Stratfor, an American security and intelligence think-tank, said Beijing's first attempts to control space would not be an effort to match US capabilities but "rather to become master of its own domain above East Asia.

"Facing the major competitor in all of space, China will tailor its offensive space capability specifically toward countering US dominance -- at least in part," it said.

Japan and other challengers to Beijing's regional hegemony, however, will not be far behind, Stratfor added.

The United States has a military alliance with Japan, which harbors US troops mostly in Okinawa, strategically close to the Taiwan Strait.

Since the Persian

Gulf War about 20 years ago, Washington has been saying that the strategic center of American military and naval power is its space networks.

"The way that the United States communicates, transmits data, gets a picture of the battle space, gathers 90 percent of its intelligence, is through its space networks. And without that we are blinded, we are made deaf and dumb, and you simply couldn't function," Tkacik said.

He said space networks were particularly crucial to defending Taiwan and Japan.

"If it was just a local conflict and we are suddenly blinded, I think we could handle that. But in a large area like Okinawa, Taiwan, Taiwan Strait, I think it would be very difficult to communicate between ships and (from) aircraft to ships to find out where the enemy is," he said.

The US Defense Department says China is spending two to three times more on its military than the 35 billion dollars a year it has acknowledged.

A department report last year concluded that while Taiwan appears to be the near-term focus of China's military spending, the build-up poses a potential threat to the United States over the longer term.

China has consistently maintained that its military build-up is for defensive purposes only, while claiming that it has no history of invading other countries.

[brazil]

Evidence pointing to JI links is limited, but there are still at least five reasons to be suspicious. First and foremost, JI approached both the GMIP and Jemaah Salafi in 1999-2000 and invited them to a series of three meetings known as the Rabitatul Mujahideen, but it is unknown how deep or strong a relationship was forged. Hambali, JI's operational chief and a senior member of al-Qaeda, was of course captured in Thailand, along with his two lieutenants, Zubair Mohamad and Bashir bin Lap (Lillie) who were charged with perpetrating a major terrorist attack in Bangkok. Lillie was arrested along with a local Thai mujahid, Awang Ibrahim. Secondly, a Singaporean JI member, Arifin bin Ali, was captured in Thailand where he was allegedly plotting to hijack an Aeroflot jetliner to crash it into Singapore. Thirdly, several southern Thai militants were arrested in conjunction with a JI cell in Cambodia that was implicated in laundering money for al-Qaeda through the Om Al Qura Foundation. Fourthly, one of JI's leaders and a key planner of the October 2002 Bali bombing, Ali Ghufron (Mukhlas) was given refuge by Thailand's leading Wahhabi cleric, Ismail Lutfi. Moreover other JI members have sought refuge in southern Thailand. Fifthly, two Indonesians were killed in the April 2004 siege at the Krue Se mosque and an Indonesian employee of the charity Medical Emergency Relief Charity (MER-C), which was implicated in JI and support of JI-linked paramilitaries in the Malukus and Poso, Indonesia, was arrested and deported.

Edited January 23, 2007 by brazil

[Mai Krap]

Evidence pointing to JI links is limited, but there are still at least five reasons to be suspicious. First and foremost, JI approached both the GMIP and Jemaah Salafi in 1999-2000 and invited them to a series of three meetings known as the Rabitatul Mujahideen, but it is unknown how deep or strong a relationship was forged. Hambali, JI's operational chief and a senior member of al-Qaeda, was of course captured in Thailand, along with his two lieutenants, Zubair Mohamad and Bashir bin Lap (Lillie) who were charged with perpetrating a major terrorist attack in Bangkok. Lillie was arrested along with a local Thai mujahid, Awang Ibrahim. Secondly, a Singaporean JI member, Arifin bin Ali, was captured in Thailand where he was allegedly plotting to hijack an Aeroflot jetliner to crash it into Singapore. Thirdly, several southern Thai militants were arrested in conjunction with a JI cell in Cambodia that was implicated in laundering money for al-Qaeda through the Om Al Qura Foundation. Fourthly, one of JI's leaders and a key planner of the October 2002 Bali bombing, Ali Ghufron (Mukhlas) was given refuge by Thailand's leading Wahhabi cleric, Ismail Lutfi. Moreover other JI members have sought refuge in southern Thailand. Fifthly, two Indonesians were killed in the April 2004 siege at the Krue Se mosque and an Indonesian employee of the charity Medical Emergency Relief Charity (MER-C), which was implicated in JI and support of JI-linked paramilitaries in the Malukus and Poso, Indonesia, was arrested and deported. Likewise, a Syrian is now wanted by the Thai authorities in connection with the Hat Yai bombings. There is also greater concern that Bangladesh's HuJI and the Rohinga Solidarity Organization are actively supporting the militants.

I believe we have met before? Were you not the guy giving the sales pitch at the Amway convention?

[TimTang]

A bunch of absolute silliness to be pointing at groups from the South .. or Muslims in this evening of bombings in question (NYE). There are always an unfortunate number of poorly informed people that jump to the Islam threat these days ... 40 years ago it would have been the Red Threat etc etc ...

I've lived here for about 13 years. I used to go for visa trips to Penang and narrowly missed 2 train track bombings between Hat Yai and Padang Basr and 2 bombs at the Hat Yai train station; and I won't even mention the indiscriminate gun fire at trains as they passed by (oops I already did).

Needless to say I don't make visa trips to that region any more (by train) but I'm sure you do.

You might want to enlighten me on your opinion of the situation in the south because you obviously are much more intelligent and informed than I am.

Over 2 thousand innocent people have been brutally murdered in the last 2 years, schools have been burned, so many teachers have been killed that they now carry guns, tradesmen risk death if they open on Fridays (the muslim holy day), and Buddhists are leaving in hordes for fear of their life, yet this is all silliness to you.

Would you care to clarify?

[brazil]

Evidence pointing to JI links is limited, but there are still at least five reasons to be suspicious. First and foremost, JI approached both the GMIP and Jemaah Salafi in 1999-2000 and invited them to a series of three meetings known as the Rabitatul Mujahideen, but it is unknown how deep or strong a relationship was forged. Hambali, JI's operational chief and a senior member of al-Qaeda, was of course captured in Thailand, along with his two lieutenants, Zubair Mohamad and Bashir bin Lap (Lillie) who were charged with perpetrating a major terrorist attack in Bangkok. Lillie was arrested along with a local Thai mujahid, Awang Ibrahim. Secondly, a Singaporean JI member, Arifin bin Ali, was captured in Thailand where he was allegedly plotting to hijack an Aeroflot jetliner to crash it into Singapore. Thirdly, several southern Thai militants were arrested in conjunction with a JI cell in Cambodia that was implicated in laundering money for al-Qaeda through the Om Al Qura Foundation. Fourthly, one of JI's leaders and a key planner of the October 2002 Bali bombing, Ali Ghufron (Mukhlas) was given refuge by Thailand's leading Wahhabi cleric, Ismail Lutfi. Moreover other JI members have sought refuge in southern Thailand. Fifthly, two Indonesians were killed in the April 2004 siege at the Krue Se mosque and an Indonesian employee of the charity Medical Emergency Relief Charity (MER-C), which was implicated in JI and support of JI-linked paramilitaries in the Malukus and Poso, Indonesia, was arrested and deported. Likewise, a Syrian is now wanted by the Thai authorities in connection with the Hat Yai bombings. There is also greater concern that Bangladesh's HuJI and the Rohinga Solidarity Organization are actively supporting the militants.

I believe we have met before? Were you not the guy giving the sales pitch at the Amway convention?

like your comment

it goes well with my bottle of wine

sour but fruity

[Mai Krap]

Evidence pointing to JI links is limited, but there are still at least five reasons to be suspicious. First and foremost, JI approached both the GMIP and Jemaah Salafi in 1999-2000 and invited them to a series of three meetings known as the Rabitatul Mujahideen, but it is unknown how deep or strong a relationship was forged. Hambali, JI's operational chief and a senior member of al-Qaeda, was of course captured in Thailand, along with his two lieutenants, Zubair Mohamad and Bashir bin Lap (Lillie) who were charged with perpetrating a major terrorist attack in Bangkok. Lillie was arrested along with a local Thai mujahid, Awang Ibrahim. Secondly, a Singaporean JI member, Arifin bin Ali, was captured in Thailand where he was allegedly plotting to hijack an Aeroflot jetliner to crash it into Singapore. Thirdly, several southern Thai militants were arrested in conjunction with a JI cell in Cambodia that was implicated in laundering money for al-Qaeda through the Om Al Qura Foundation. Fourthly, one of JI's leaders and a key planner of the October 2002 Bali bombing, Ali Ghufron (Mukhlas) was given refuge by Thailand's leading Wahhabi cleric, Ismail Lutfi. Moreover other JI members have sought refuge in southern Thailand. Fifthly, two Indonesians were killed in the April 2004 siege at the Krue Se mosque and an Indonesian employee of the charity Medical Emergency Relief Charity (MER-C), which was implicated in JI and support of JI-linked paramilitaries in the Malukus and Poso, Indonesia, was arrested and deported. Likewise, a Syrian is now wanted by the Thai authorities in connection with the Hat Yai bombings. There is also greater concern that Bangladesh's HuJI and the Rohinga Solidarity Organization are actively supporting the militants.

I believe we have met before? Were you not the guy giving the sales pitch at the Amway convention?

like your comment

it goes well with my bottle of wine

sour but fruity

What are you drinking? The Thai version of Boones Farm or MD 2020?

[brazil]

Evidence pointing to JI links is limited, but there are still at least five reasons to be suspicious. First and foremost, JI approached both the GMIP and Jemaah Salafi in 1999-2000 and invited them to a series of three meetings known as the Rabitatul Mujahideen, but it is unknown how deep or strong a relationship was forged. Hambali, JI's operational chief and a senior member of al-Qaeda, was of course captured in Thailand, along with his two lieutenants, Zubair Mohamad and Bashir bin Lap (Lillie) who were charged with perpetrating a major terrorist attack in Bangkok. Lillie was arrested along with a local Thai mujahid, Awang Ibrahim. Secondly, a Singaporean JI member, Arifin bin Ali, was captured in Thailand where he was allegedly plotting to hijack an Aeroflot jetliner to crash it into Singapore. Thirdly, several southern Thai militants were arrested in conjunction with a JI cell in Cambodia that was implicated in laundering money for al-Qaeda through the Om Al Qura Foundation. Fourthly, one of JI's leaders and a key planner of the October 2002 Bali bombing, Ali Ghufron (Mukhlas) was given refuge by Thailand's leading Wahhabi cleric, Ismail Lutfi. Moreover other JI members have sought refuge in southern Thailand. Fifthly, two Indonesians were killed in the April 2004 siege at the Krue Se mosque and an Indonesian employee of the charity Medical Emergency Relief Charity (MER-C), which was implicated in JI and support of JI-linked paramilitaries in the Malukus and Poso, Indonesia, was arrested and deported. Likewise, a Syrian is now wanted by the Thai authorities in connection with the Hat Yai bombings. There is also greater concern that Bangladesh's HuJI and the Rohinga Solidarity Organization are actively supporting the militants.

I believe we have met before? Were you not the guy giving the sales pitch at the Amway convention?

like your comment

it goes well with my bottle of wine

sour but fruity

What are you drinking? The Thai version of Boones Farm or MD 2020?

1989 bordeaux grand cru

my grandmother always bought the boones for me. wow, are YOU really that OLD!!!!!!!!!!!

Edited January 23, 2007 by brazil