All Bombing Suspects Released

[ColPyat]

I don't think the Thai Police have a clue on what they are looking for. Its a guessing game with them..They are just trying to make everyone think they are doing there job. The police force here needs a complete revamping from the top down. They should look within the department.. where the the real crimminals are.

The old litany - bad bad police...

Yes, the police needs reform, but the at least equally corrupt army with as much criminals needs a reform as well, unfortunately nobody talks about that. Just because low level police corruption is more visible to the general public does not mean that corrption in the armed forced does not exist equally.

What makes this case so difficult to solve is that the culprits are most likely to find in the army.

[hammered]

I don't think the Thai Police have a clue on what they are looking for. Its a guessing game with them..They are just trying to make everyone think they are doing there job. The police force here needs a complete revamping from the top down. They should look within the department.. where the the real crimminals are.

The old litany - bad bad police...

Yes, the police needs reform, but the at least equally corrupt army with as much criminals needs a reform as well, unfortunately nobody talks about that. Just because low level police corruption is more visible to the general public does not mean that corrption in the armed forced does not exist equally.

What makes this case so difficult to solve is that the culprits are most likely to find in the army.

The high visibility of the police and their reputation with the general public particularly poorer parts of the public means that by and large they are not trusted and not really liked. On the other hand the military as a body is generally liked by the Thai public. It probably just comes down to a lot of people have had negative dealings with the police while very few have had negative dealings with the army, or navy or air force.

Another factor is that the police are still seen as being very close to the previous administration by the middle class and other anti-Thaksin elements. This is particularly true of those in charge of the New years eve bomb investigations.

It all adds up to the police not being trusted or liked by the middle classes or by the poor, which means they are in a lose lose situation. Unfortunatley for them the police have largely brought it upon themselves, and nobody outside their circles will lose any sleep if they are reformed. The military on the other hand has managed to maintain a generally good reputation. Even those who oppose the coup look at elements within the military rather than the military as an entity. Many of the poor also are very proud of the Thai military. Aside from practical power considerations the military is in a position where reform is extremely unlikely, and would likely not be considered necessary by most of the people. This is all about politics. It is not about what is needed. In that way there is no difference between this and the previous government. They both shaped/shape things to their advantage.

On the bombs I really dont know if we will ever get to the botom of it. No politcal bombing has ever been solved in Thailand and this one doesnt look likely either.

[angmohquee]

Reminds me of movies they made when I was a boy.

They starred Brian Rix.

Think they went under the generic of "farce".

Thought it was more like Tom Mix - under the name of cowboy

[Old Man River]

What amazes me is how quick the CNS were able to eliminate southern terrorists as possible suspects. If you don't have any clue who did it, how can you possibly know who did not do it?

[wintermute]

The old litany - bad bad police...

Yes, the police needs reform, but the at least equally corrupt army with as much criminals needs a reform as well, unfortunately nobody talks about that. Just because low level police corruption is more visible to the general public does not mean that corrption in the armed forced does not exist equally.

What makes this case so difficult to solve is that the culprits are most likely to find in the army.

Heh exactly Police and Army..same same but different. In otherwords they are the same side of the corrupt coin they just wear different uniforms. It just so happens that the military has more guns and more people which is why they are currently in control. It's almost impossible to root out high level corruption in the military because these guys have entire brigades under their control. What the hel_l are you going to do about someone who controls an army? The most dangerous governments in the world have all been military juntas. Nazi Germany managed to combine all forms of government into the reich. I imagine if the military in Thailand ever wanted to consolidate its power it would try to fold the police into the authority of the military and then have both only answerable to a select number of "councilmen." That day probably isn't too far away the new junta has tried to alter the structure of the police several times already.

Edited January 29, 2007 by wintermute

[wintermute]

What amazes me is how quick the CNS were able to eliminate southern terrorists as possible suspects. If you don't have any clue who did it, how can you possibly know who did not do it?

It's fishy as hel_l. Literally a couple hours after the bombings you already had relatively high ranking people discounting the south and blaming thaksin straight away.

[Plus]

Charges against the suspect were not suddenlty dropped after CNS interference. Nice theory, but it falls flat as there were never any charges in the first place.

They took guys in for questionining, they can't hold them forever. This is not the US.

Real evidence is not going to be presented to the generals public. It's like a PA announcement: "Anyone holding a stock of plastic explosives produced by X with serial number Y please be informed that we found the traces already and are actively searching for you".

If police trail stops at the Lopburi Military Camp entrance, that's good enough. Junior officers are not going to incriminate their commanders (in public) and you can't convict them on "no one else in Thailand uses this particular type of wiring technique" evidence. Police were expected to find the bombers, having enough evidence to convict is a next step. Even if the guys say: "Yes, we did it", but off the record - they walk free.

[Old Man River]

Charges against the suspect were not suddenlty dropped after CNS interference. Nice theory, but it falls flat as there were never any charges in the first place.

They took guys in for questionining, they can't hold them forever. This is not the US.

Real evidence is not going to be presented to the generals public. It's like a PA announcement: "Anyone holding a stock of plastic explosives produced by X with serial number Y please be informed that we found the traces already and are actively searching for you".

If police trail stops at the Lopburi Military Camp entrance, that's good enough. Junior officers are not going to incriminate their commanders (in public) and you can't convict them on "no one else in Thailand uses this particular type of wiring technique" evidence. Police were expected to find the bombers, having enough evidence to convict is a next step. Even if the guys say: "Yes, we did it", but off the record - they walk free.

So you are convinced that they know exactly who did it, but can't find sufficient evidence to arrest exactly who did it? All they can say for sure is exactly who did not do it. Does this have an ending?

By the way, we don't hold people indefinitely in the US. We do that outside of the US.

[chownah]

They took guys in for questionining, they can't hold them forever.

I think you are mistaken. With the existing gov't they certainly can hold anyone forever.

[farangsay]

CNS discusses bombing progress

(Bangkokpost.com)

Council for National Security chairman Sonthi Boonyaratkalin was scheduled to meet with fellow junta members today to discuss the progress into the probe on the New Year's Eve bombings.

National police chief Kowit Wattana was to present more evidence on the nine bombings that took place in Bangkok and the neighbouring Nonthaburi provinces, which left three people dead and more than 40 wounded.

Pol Gen Kowit was in the hot seat, after all 19 bomb suspects whom police had arrested about two weeks ago were released due to lack of evidence.

Gen Sonthi said repeatedly that Pol Gen Kowit would be held responsible if he arrested scapegoats.

Meanwhile, CNS deputy secretary-general Saprang Kalayanamitr said Tuesday police "must be held responsible" for arresting the wrong people on the bombing case.

"Confusion occurred because the ability of the probe team is limited," said Gen Saprang.

The meeting between CNS members began at 8 a.m.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/breaking_news/b...s.php?id=116414

[Jai Dee]

Royal Thai Police assured diplomatic officials of seizing BKK bombings culprits

The Royal Thai Police explained the nine bombings in Bangkok and neighboring Nonthaburi in New Year's Eve to foreign police from all embassies, insisting the police can control the situation and the incident did not aim at foreigners.

Pol. Gen. Issaraphan Sanitwong Na Ayutthaya, the Royal Thai Police deputy commissioner-general, explained the bombings case to foreign police and diplomatic officials from 13 countries. He assured them that the Thai police are able to control the situation and the incident did not aim at foreigners.

Pol. Gen. Issaraphan also said each diplomatic official did not determine the timeframe to seize the culprits. However, the Royal Thai Police insisted that they will be captured as soon as possible.

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

[Jai Dee]

RTP commissioner-general to present BKK bomb findings to NSC

The Royal Thai Police Commissioner-General is prepared to report on investigative progress on the recent Bangkok bombing to the National Security Council.

The Commander in Chief of the Army Gen Sonthi Boonyaratkrin, in his capacity as Chairman of the National Security Council, said that on January 30 the council would conduct a meeting to discuss progress made in the recent Bangkok and Nonthaburi bombings with the Royal Thai Police Commissioner General Pol Gen Kowit Watana (โกวิท วัฒนะ). Pol Gen Kowit would be presenting data obtained from a recent questioning of suspects to the NSC.

Gen Sonthi indicates that Pol Gen Kowit would be held responsible if the bombers are not apprehended, but that the matter was up to the government to decide. Gen Sonthi said so far Pol Gen Kowit had performed his duties reasonably well.

The National Security Council Chairman added that the incident in which members of the armed forces may sue for defamation would be handled by justice officials and that the army would not be involved.

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

[Jai Dee]

Surayud says police chief may be removed if fails evaluation

Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont said Pol Gen Kowit Wattana may lose his job as national police chief if he fails the performance evaluation.

He said he had yet to wait for announcement of the Council for National Security and the Internal Security Operations Command over the progress of the Bangkok bombings case before making a decision as to whether to remove the police chief.

Source: The Nation - 31 January 2007

[Jai Dee]

Sonthi assigns Anupong to announce progress of bombings case

Army Commander-in-Chief Gen Sonthi Boonyaratglin said Thursday that he has assigned his assistant Gen Anupong Phaojinda to announce the progress of the investigations into the New Year bombings.

Sonthi, chairman of the Council for National Security, said Police Commissioner-General Pol Gen Kowit Wattana gave him a five-inch-thick report and he had no time to go through it.

Sonthi said he assigned Anupong in his capacity as assistant secretary-general of the CNS, to study the report and later brief the mass media about the progress of the investigations.

Source: The Nation - 1 February 2007

[Prakanong]

This certainly does nothing to advance the image of the Royal Thai Police.

Perhaps, but for me it enhances the view of the courts and justice system. In the P.I. these suspects would have "attempted" an escape, shot and killed, and another case solved.

Well that a really great comparison?

Why not use Rwanda or Liberia and make the Thai police look world class?

[Jai Dee]

Gen. Sonthi sympathizes with Pol. Gen. Wattana regarding the BKK bombings case

The Royal Thai Army commander-in-chief and Council for National Security (CNS) chairman, Gen. Sonthi Boonyaratglin, stated that he has sympathy for the Royal Thai Police commissioner-general, Pol. Gen. Kowit Wattana.

Gen. Sonthi said he does not have the authority to consider the transfer of Pol. Gen. Kowit. However, he said Pol. Gen. Kowit is a good and hardworking person, but he may not excel in the investigation work. The Bangkok bombings investigation has not progressed much and the society would like the case to be concluded soon.

Gen. Sonthi sent the Bangkok bombings investigation progress of the police to CNS assistant secretary Anupong Phaojinda so he could carry on the case and report it to the public.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 02 February 2007