Some 15 Military Officers, Civilians Detained For Questioning Over Bangkok Bombings

[george]

Some 15 military officers, civilians detained for questioning over Bangkok bombings

BANGKOK: -- About 100 commando police raided 18 areas in Bangkok and other central provinces and detained some 15 military officers and civilians for questioning regarding the Bangkok bomb attacks on New Year's Eve.

Police sources the 15 persons were not charged yet but were detained under the martial law.

The raids in Bangkok, Nonthaburi, Lop Buri, Nakhon Pathom, and Suphan Buri took place at about 6 am.

The sources said the detained persons included Lt Col Suchart Khadsungnone, an officer of the Special Warfare Command from Lop Buri and Pipop Juengluang-on, 50, the organiser of a van passenger service in Bang Bon district as well as Col Surapol Supradit.

-- The Nation 2007-01-20

[Mid]

BURNING ISSUE Wed, September 6, 2006 : Last updated 20:10 pm (Thai local time)

It's more than a charade; it's an utter mess

Every trick in the book is being used to gain an advantage; how much more is there to come?

All four Army officers summoned by police on Monday in connection with the alleged attempted assassination of caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra may be attached to the Internal Security Operations Command (Isoc), but they are originally from the Special Warfare Command in Lop Buri.

Former armed forces supreme commander General Surayud Chulanond, who is a member of the Privy Council, also rose through the rank and file from the Special Warfare Command (SWC) during his active military career. So did General Sonthi Boonyaratglin, the current army chief.

[londonthai]

quite expected

as said before:

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/index.php?ac...amp;pid=1059011

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/index.php?ac...amp;pid=1070055

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/index.php?ac...amp;pid=1056493

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/index.php?ac...amp;pid=1056329

Edited January 20, 2007 by londonthai

[LivinLOS]

Hold on.. A couple of threads above this is a news flash claiming its the work of JI..

Now its arrest some army.. Clueless ??

[londonthai]

this is a newer news

[ChiangMaiAmerican]

Some 15 military officers, civilians detained for questioning over Bangkok bombings

BANGKOK: -- About 100 commando police raided 18 areas in Bangkok and other central provinces and detained some 15 military officers and civilians for questioning regarding the Bangkok bomb attacks on New Year's Eve.

Police sources the 15 persons were not charged yet but were detained under the martial law.

The raids in Bangkok, Nonthaburi, Lop Buri, Nakhon Pathom, and Suphan Buri took place at about 6 am.

The sources said the detained persons included Lt Col Suchart Khadsungnone, an officer of the Special Warfare Command from Lop Buri and Pipop Juengluang-on, 50, the organiser of a van passenger service in Bang Bon district as well as Col Surapol Supradit.

-- The Nation 2007-01-20

A familiar name from the past or just coincidence?

From The Nation Septermber 30, 2006:

Car-bomb suspects get bail

Three Army suspects in the alleged plot to assassinate caretaker prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra with a car bomb were released on bail yesterday.

Sgt-Major Chakhrit Janthana, the only suspect police said had been cooperative in their investigation, was freed from military custody in Nakhon Pathom but was still under the protection of Crime Suppression Division (CSD) police at Chokechai Soi 4.National Police chief General Kowit Wattana had reportedly given investigators permission to drop Chakhrit as a suspect and treat him as a key state witness. CSD commander Maj-General Winai Thongsong confirmed nvestigators had reached a consensus to exclude Chakhrit as a suspect.

Police will soon complete their probe, leaving Chakhrit out, and recommend prosecution of the four other suspects, although the exact charges against them have not been decided.

Also released were Lieutenant Thawatchai Klinchana and Colonel Surapol Supradit. Thawatchai was arrested on the morning of August 24 while driving a Daewoo sedan loaded with explosives under the Bang Plat flyover, where the vehicle was intercepted.

Surapol was alleged to be the buyer of the sedan and a key operative in the car-bomb attack. Thawatchai posted bail worth Bt500,000. He was required to report to the Bangkok Military Court on October 11. The value of Suraphol's bail was not known.

Lt-Colonel Manas Sukprasert is now the only suspect still in military detention.

[Mid]

[blaze]

Some 15 military officers, civilians detained for questioning over Bangkok bombings

BANGKOK: -- About 100 commando police raided 18 areas in Bangkok and other central provinces and detained some 15 military officers and civilians for questioning regarding the Bangkok bomb attacks on New Year's Eve.

Police sources the 15 persons were not charged yet but were detained under the martial law.

The raids in Bangkok, Nonthaburi, Lop Buri, Nakhon Pathom, and Suphan Buri took place at about 6 am.

The sources said the detained persons included Lt Col Suchart Khadsungnone, an officer of the Special Warfare Command from Lop Buri and Pipop Juengluang-on, 50, the organiser of a van passenger service in Bang Bon district as well as Col Surapol Supradit.

-- The Nation 2007-01-20

A familiar name from the past or just coincidence?

From The Nation Septermber 30, 2006:

Car-bomb suspects get bail

Three Army suspects in the alleged plot to assassinate caretaker prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra with a car bomb were released on bail yesterday.

Sgt-Major Chakhrit Janthana, the only suspect police said had been cooperative in their investigation, was freed from military custody in Nakhon Pathom but was still under the protection of Crime Suppression Division (CSD) police at Chokechai Soi 4.National Police chief General Kowit Wattana had reportedly given investigators permission to drop Chakhrit as a suspect and treat him as a key state witness. CSD commander Maj-General Winai Thongsong confirmed nvestigators had reached a consensus to exclude Chakhrit as a suspect.

Police will soon complete their probe, leaving Chakhrit out, and recommend prosecution of the four other suspects, although the exact charges against them have not been decided.

Also released were Lieutenant Thawatchai Klinchana and Colonel Surapol Supradit. Thawatchai was arrested on the morning of August 24 while driving a Daewoo sedan loaded with explosives under the Bang Plat flyover, where the vehicle was intercepted.

Surapol was alleged to be the buyer of the sedan and a key operative in the car-bomb attack. Thawatchai posted bail worth Bt500,000. He was required to report to the Bangkok Military Court on October 11. The value of Suraphol's bail was not known.

Lt-Colonel Manas Sukprasert is now the only suspect still in military detention.

Some mighty fine sleuthin' there CMAmerica!

[chuchok]

This thread is going to be great.

[george]

Over 10 suspects behind New Year's Eve bombings

BANGKOK: -- More than 10 people are currently suspected as being behind the bombings here and its neighboring province of Nonthaburi on New Year's Eve, according to Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont.

Citing a report submitted by national police chief Pol. Gen. Kowit Wattana, the prime minister told journalists that it was still not known whether the suspects have connections with any politician as further police investigation is still necessary.

He said Gen. Kowit had already interrogated some of the suspects but had not yet sent details to him.

Touching on earlier media reports that some retired military officers were behind the blasts which killed three persons and wounded 42 others, including nine foreigners, Gen. Surayud said he still could not provide details as those people were still only suspects.

"If we discuss what the police suspect," Gen. Surayud said, "the case -- as well as related agencies -- could be damaged. Presently, those are only suspects and not perpetrators."

Gen. Surayud said he had never set a deadline for the national police chief to arrest those responsible for the blasts, but had only asked for reports of developments in the case.

--TNA 2007-01-20

[Tony Clifton]

Some 15 military officers, civilians detained for questioning over Bangkok bombings

BANGKOK: -- About 100 commando police raided 18 areas in Bangkok and other central provinces and detained some 15 military officers and civilians for questioning regarding the Bangkok bomb attacks on New Year's Eve.

Police sources the 15 persons were not charged yet but were detained under the martial law.

The raids in Bangkok, Nonthaburi, Lop Buri, Nakhon Pathom, and Suphan Buri took place at about 6 am.

The sources said the detained persons included Lt Col Suchart Khadsungnone, an officer of the Special Warfare Command from Lop Buri and Pipop Juengluang-on, 50, the organiser of a van passenger service in Bang Bon district as well as Col Surapol Supradit.

-- The Nation 2007-01-20

A familiar name from the past or just coincidence?

From The Nation Septermber 30, 2006:

Car-bomb suspects get bail

Three Army suspects in the alleged plot to assassinate caretaker prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra with a car bomb were released on bail yesterday.

Sgt-Major Chakhrit Janthana, the only suspect police said had been cooperative in their investigation, was freed from military custody in Nakhon Pathom but was still under the protection of Crime Suppression Division (CSD) police at Chokechai Soi 4.National Police chief General Kowit Wattana had reportedly given investigators permission to drop Chakhrit as a suspect and treat him as a key state witness. CSD commander Maj-General Winai Thongsong confirmed nvestigators had reached a consensus to exclude Chakhrit as a suspect.

Police will soon complete their probe, leaving Chakhrit out, and recommend prosecution of the four other suspects, although the exact charges against them have not been decided.

Also released were Lieutenant Thawatchai Klinchana and Colonel Surapol Supradit. Thawatchai was arrested on the morning of August 24 while driving a Daewoo sedan loaded with explosives under the Bang Plat flyover, where the vehicle was intercepted.

Surapol was alleged to be the buyer of the sedan and a key operative in the car-bomb attack. Thawatchai posted bail worth Bt500,000. He was required to report to the Bangkok Military Court on October 11. The value of Suraphol's bail was not known.

Lt-Colonel Manas Sukprasert is now the only suspect still in military detention.

I still think that the "plot to assassinate Thaksin" with a car bomb was a Pro-Thaksin setup, trying to get compassion votes, Colonel Surapol Supradit was one of the "actors" then and is still is.

[hammered]

Probably worth waiting a day or two to see what comes out of all this if anything. Lets just hope it is conclusive. People got killed in this bombing.

[blaze]

Wasn't Col Surapol in the employ of General Pallop? And hasn't General Pallop also gone on record as saying the current regime is way too soft on Taksin?

And is this not the same General Pallop who in 2005 claimed, with no evidence at all, that southern insurgents were being trained in Libya- a claim the defence minister as well as the American ambassador said was groundless.

And where in the last couple of days, have we heard mention of Libya in connection with things Thai? So is there a relationship between the round up of military people and the JI report- a relationship that threads throughy Ret'd Gen Pallop? Ahhhh feget it.... probably nuthin'.

[Mid]

Fifteen held over Thai bombings

UPDATED ON:

SATURDAY, JANUARY 20, 2007

19:38 MECCA TIME, 16:38 GMT

"I was informed by the police that they have detained some suspects and it is very regrettable that some officers are involved," Surayud Chulanont, the prime minister, said.

[cclub75]

Day after day, Sonthi proves that he's probably coming from another galaxy, far, far away...

In an interview with Army TV Channel 5 before he left on a trip to China on Sunday, army commander Sonthi Boonyaratkalin said he expected more arrests in the case.

Gen Sonthi, who is leader of the Council for National Security, said all the arrested men have denied involvement in the two waves of bombs on New Year's Eve.

In fact Gen Sonthi refused to label them as suspects at all. Their interrogation, he said, "does not mean they are suspects. We have asked them to come in for questioning."

Here are the men "asked to come"...

One of 15 suspects allegedly involved in the New Year's Eve bombings in Bangkok and nearby Nonthaburi covers his face with a jacket after being apprehended yesterday during a major search and arrest operation carried out by 100 commando officers.

[brazil]

ITS A SHAM!!!

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2007/01/21...es_30024687.php

the brainwashing continues

[Tony Clifton]

You're right! Pol. Col.Lt. Thaksin's old faithful friends in brown are still as useless as before.

[blaze]

Sonti and Sarayuth sound pretty content with the goings ons. Saprang sounds pretty pissed. The suspects include people seconded by ISOC just before the attempted assasination of Taksin. These people were commanded, at the time, by Gen Pallop. Both Gen Pallop (has he ever participated in a botched coup attempt?) and Gen Saprang have gone on record as saying that Sonti and Sarayuth are too soft (on Taksin only?- or on their lack of committment to an appointed PM?). The second coup may just have been pre-empted. While the rest of us were too busy to notice- too busy trying to catch ol' Takky stealing nails from a Chinese construction site.

[beammeup]

Its good to see them moving forward with their investigation without being afraid to step on a few toes. I hope they get to the bottom of this soon.

[pumpuiman]

You can't believe any of this bull. These guys are obvious spin doctors(although terrible at it)

They cannot be trusted to conduct any investigation.

Return the power to Thailand's people with fair internationally monitored elections.

[SeanBangkok]

cant they find an astrologist to settle the matter once and for all?

[John K]

I am a bit confused with all the names so please tell me if I am seeing this right.

Essentially and assuming the bombs were set by pro Thaksin people, it is the anti Thaksin people that are now getting arrested by the police that are still in Thaksin’s pocket? Is this a correct statement?

[ColPyat]

I am a bit confused with all the names so please tell me if I am seeing this right.

Essentially and assuming the bombs were set by pro Thaksin people, it is the anti Thaksin people that are now getting arrested by the police that are still in Thaksin’s pocket? Is this a correct statement?

No it isn't.

The correct statement is that the people who are arrested now as suspects are the people who hate Thaksin, and who believe that the coup is far too lenient. That is and was one of the earliest speculations, that the suspects of the bomb attacks were to be found within the military junta's fractions, and had nothing to do with Thaksin or his supporters.

There are members of the military junta whose mindset is comparable to the Burmese generals, even though it might be difficult to believe for the ones who are under the impression that Thaksin represents the personified evil of Thailand.

[John K]

So it is a bit like shooting yourself in the foot because you are not running fast enough...

[blaze]

I am a bit confused with all the names so please tell me if I am seeing this right.

Essentially and assuming the bombs were set by pro Thaksin people, it is the anti Thaksin people that are now getting arrested by the police that are still in Thaksin’s pocket? Is this a correct statement?

It might be if your assumptions had a basis in truth- which it looks increasingly like they don't. The people being arrested include persons attached formally in some cases, informally in others, to one of Taksin's most formidable enemies. To people who may believe that this regime is way too liberal and that democracy has no place in the Kingdom. Dhammocracy is more to their liking. Maybe. I don't know. Do your own searches. Go back to the initial attempt on Taksin's life and - take it from there. Backwards and forwards. Start with the assumption that usually the correct answer is the most obvious. Though not nescessarily the one that confirms our prejudices. And not nescessarily the simplist.

But expect this to be spun to link Taksin, JI, decadent American pop culture, foreign superstores, George Soros and irredentist Burmese royalists.

I don't know- maybe it was Takky. Maybe it wasn't. Follow the threads posted by Younghusband, Colpyat etc that refer to the intricate web of competing 'elites' - study modern Thai history (it didn't begin with Taksin)- have fun.

[Tony Clifton]

I am a bit confused with all the names so please tell me if I am seeing this right.

Essentially and assuming the bombs were set by pro Thaksin people, it is the anti Thaksin people that are now getting arrested by the police that are still in Thaksin’s pocket? Is this a correct statement?

That's what I think.

They police haven't yet released anything official even about the bomb near Thaksin's house while they were holding suspects caught on the spot. What's taking so long? Did they mess up along the way with their badly written theatre play and now can't divulge anything without looking like idiots, as usual? Why is the army close to revealing what happened on New Year's while the police are still fumbling? What about the bomb at Prem's, Pornthip. Chamlong? Conveniently nothing again.

I also firmly believe that any army boys involved are either receiving pro-Thaksin cash, or in Thaksin's house bomb case, framed.

They botch everything intentionally do add more confusion. Can't wait till the CNS holds it's promise on the police force overhaul. Everything else could function to perfection but as long as the Royal Thai police force conduct themselves like macaques wearing uniforms, they're projecting a banana republic image to the world.

Edited January 21, 2007 by Tony Clifton

[slimdog]

I am a bit confused with all the names so please tell me if I am seeing this right.

Essentially and assuming the bombs were set by pro Thaksin people, it is the anti Thaksin people that are now getting arrested by the police that are still in Thaksin’s pocket? Is this a correct statement?

Basically the people who have been arrested are those who are either known to be associated with the Taksin car bomb or are suspected to have been involved. Whether the car bombing was a serious attempt on Taksin or just a hoax has not been determined yet.

The timing could be because the Police are under pressure to find the culprits, or, it could be that they have information, most likely from the Australians about the explosives used.

The timing would be about right.

It has been reported that C4 explosives were used as the primary on both the car bomb and possibly, the New Years Eve bombs, if this is the case then the Australians will be able to tell if the explosives came from the same batch. They could probably even come up with information like where it was manufactured, when, and who it was originally sold to. Virtually all explosives sold today, either for military use or industrial, carry markers, which are still evident even after they have been detonated.

There was a very good article in one of the English language papers in the last week or so, in which the author said that the easiest way to find out who masterminded the bombs attacks, find out who made the bombs..

[John K]

Of the scenarios here look at it from a distance and seeing the big picture as to what look to make the most sense.

Colpyat’s scenario would suggest that bombs used to disrupt the government in a form of protest of anger. If there are factions like he suggests then the logical action would be to stage another coup and not just set off some bombs.

Blaze has a point that this all just may be a similarity to what happened in Iraq when Saddam was removed, essentially the opening salvo of a civil war with small groups trying to regain some power. The most likely players are the people who had their cash flow stopped as they would have a financial motivation. That would place the TRT at the head of the list but certainly players from pre Thaksin times could be involved. The particular names and associations are irrelevant at this point as it is the underlying reasons that hold the key. This is possible scenario but more pieces of the puzzle need to be seen.

Tony as unsure as I am about this latest development it still looks a lot like Thaksin kicking the new government in the shin because he is pissed. Add that to the sudden increase in Thaksin talking and it looks to be (at the moment) the most likely scenario. It does not take much doing to show that this new government is still only held together by threads. Making them look bad only makes Thaksin look good and that the coup was a mistake. Based on the content of what Thaksin has been saying it tends to make the most sense at this point in time. Like the car bomb that never was Thaksin is using this as a platform to make comments to make himself look good. He got milage out of that so more bombs will do it again.

It almost looks like the people who are being arrested are just on someone’s “be nasty to” list because they stepped on toes in the past. Now they are just along for an unpleasant ride as the police try to extract confessions in their usual subtle way. I wonder when the news will show them drugged and beaten.

[wintermute]

You can't believe any of this bull. These guys are obvious spin doctors(although terrible at it)

They cannot be trusted to conduct any investigation.

Return the power to Thailand's people with fair internationally monitored elections.

Just the fact that this was censored indicates there's more than meets the eye here.

I hope anyone with connections to western media sources properly informs them of what is really going on.

[wintermute]

Of the scenarios here look at it from a distance and seeing the big picture as to what look to make the most sense.

Colpyat's scenario would suggest that bombs used to disrupt the government in a form of protest of anger. If there are factions like he suggests then the logical action would be to stage another coup and not just set off some bombs.

Blaze has a point that this all just may be a similarity to what happened in Iraq when Saddam was removed, essentially the opening salvo of a civil war with small groups trying to regain some power. The most likely players are the people who had their cash flow stopped as they would have a financial motivation. That would place the TRT at the head of the list but certainly players from pre Thaksin times could be involved. The particular names and associations are irrelevant at this point as it is the underlying reasons that hold the key. This is possible scenario but more pieces of the puzzle need to be seen.

Tony as unsure as I am about this latest development it still looks a lot like Thaksin kicking the new government in the shin because he is pissed. Add that to the sudden increase in Thaksin talking and it looks to be (at the moment) the most likely scenario. It does not take much doing to show that this new government is still only held together by threads. Making them look bad only makes Thaksin look good and that the coup was a mistake. Based on the content of what Thaksin has been saying it tends to make the most sense at this point in time. Like the car bomb that never was Thaksin is using this as a platform to make comments to make himself look good. He got milage out of that so more bombs will do it again.

It almost looks like the people who are being arrested are just on someone's "be nasty to" list because they stepped on toes in the past. Now they are just along for an unpleasant ride as the police try to extract confessions in their usual subtle way. I wonder when the news will show them drugged and beaten.

Thaksin is the convenient scapegoat. He's a corrupt that's for sure but he's still democractically elected. The current "staff" is a hodge podge of military men and university professors hedging their bets on jury rigged policies. Something really fishy is going on..we probably won't know for sure for at least a few years there is a big inner Thai power struggle going on. I expect a lot more bodies to turn up.