Bombing In Bangkok

[AlexLah]

Who wins and who looses by planting and detonating bombs?

Could it be that the army will declare martial law in all provinces again?

As a result the elections will be delayed?

And as a result of that the army guys in charge will have more time to secure their (The army's) positions?

Think the unthinkable and you will know.....

[Plus]

It doesn't look like they going to declare martial law or stage another coup.

Any other ideas?

PS. It does look like they are not in control. Who would benefit from that?

[TAWP]

plus>> Perhaps avoid abreviating New Year as NY, since it leads into a completely different attack and your response that 'it might not have been muslims' would take a different tone (and derail this thread).

[blaze]

It doesn't look like they going to declare martial law or stage another coup.

Any other ideas?

PS. It does look like they are not in control. Who would benefit from that?

Looks like they are not in control? Because they don't have round the clock surveilance on every telephone booth in the country?

If somebody wants to demonstrate that the gov't is not in control, they blow up some lead power plants- then two weeks later they shut down the airports- blow up a few TV stations- along with daily bombings and assassinations- they don't explode a phone booth every six months.

But assuming your hypothesis is correct - that these bombs are intended to demonstrate the weakness of the government- who WOULD such a demonstration benefit? Normally, it benefits the militaristic right wing- (if they were stupid enough to think that the Thais would buy into the notion that because once every six months a phone booth gets blown up- somehow the govt is a bunch of pansies and now it's time for real men to take charge). Or it benefits the gov't in its attempts to pass legislation based on the premise that the country is under threat. (An equally cynical view of the public's estimation of what constitutes threat)

It sure doesn't benefit any one seriously intent on bringing down the army in a military dicatatorship -these revolutionaries would come across as no more of a threat to public order than a bunch of middle school kids with access to the lab.

[blaze]

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.

Not that I think Saprang is in any way responsible for this or any other bombings- why would you make this statement? He had no more reason to commit this bombing than to attempt to bomb Thaksin (he hated Thaksin more than even you do- but so did a lot of people)- to attempt to 'frame' TRT people with the New Yrs eve bombing (thereby demonstrating that the Sonthi Sarayudh approach to TRT is too tame) or with the totally meaningless (as far as we know- which ain't much) message sent by the May 'bomb'.

If he was above suspicion on all those others, then why isn't he still above suspicion?

[Cyberstar]

Bomb? ... Considering its description and the damage it did when it went off in the hands of the officers inspecting it - is sounds like what we call a medium sized firecracker, where i come from.

[John K]

Bomb? ... Considering its description and the damage it did when it went off in the hands of the officers inspecting it - is sounds like what we call a medium sized firecracker, where i come from.

Political pop.

[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...

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.

What is misleading about my quotes of your posts? In the quote from the New Years bombing, you said you were stumped. In your posts on this thread, you initially said that one possibility had been eliminated or at least thoroughly discounted ("We now know this to be paranoid fantasy.") Later, you say it "cannot be entirely ruled out." I was seeking clarification of what exactly your stance was. As for me, I admit to not knowing who has been responsible for this series of bombings, especially the latest.

In that regard, it seems that we share that same uncertainty.... at least according to your last post.

I have my suspicions, but until they are solved, I don't make such definitive statements as, ""We now know this to be paranoid fantasy." It was that sort of statement that prompted inquisitive questions from a number of posters, not only myself, and justifiably so as it seemed to indicate knowledge that none of the questioners were aware of. I was simply seeking clarification of this in a polite manner. I simply quoted your post from January to put it all into context as it seemed to contradict what you were saying in this thread. I apologize if it made you take such a defensive position that you felt it necessary to make snide comments in response to my non-argumentative and polite inquiries.

Anyway, it today's news on the bombing... some non-statements really...

PM suspects a political motive

Politics is the suspected motive behind Sunday night's bomb explosion near the army headquarters on Ratchadamnoen avenue, Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont said yesterday. ''At this stage, we can conclude from the evidence that the assailants intended to create political turmoil,'' he said.

New army chief Gen Anupong Paochinda confirmed there was a possibility the explosion was politically motivated. An army source said findings by Ordnance Department officers indicated the explosive had a TNT component. The way the bomb was prepared and arranged was specifically intended to injure disposal officers, the source said.

Continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/02Oct2007_news03.php

Edited October 1, 2007 by sriracha john

[peterpanner]

Retarded execution, reporting and commenting. The world is still ok.

[Tony Clifton]

One thing remains constant, these multiple bombing investigations always end up in a dead end.

Someone owes Thai people an explanation.

[younghusband]

New Years bombings are not taken by most serious commentators to be the work of Thaksin.Of course there is an outside chance this could be wrong.

Edited October 2, 2007 by Jai Dee
Flame comments deleted

[peterpanner]

We're in a third world country with politicians who have absolutely no clue how to satisfy the people (Thakswhatever got them happy with his 100 Baht distributions, wow, great politician).

This country has a huge potential, and I stress on HUGE, Thai people are smart and friendly. They are just so eternally uneducated.

Nothing will change until this country actually learns that outside Thailand is not Disney land.

[sriracha john]

Police Confident in Finding Mastermind behind Bombing at Army Headquarter

The Prime Minister believes Sunday night's bombing at the Army Headquarter is an attempt to stir up political turmoil. In the investigation into the case, police are reviewing the closed circuit cameras in the area and comparing the case to previous bombings in the capital.

Metropolitan Police Chief Assawin Kwanmuang revealed after meeting with the team investigating Sunday night's bombing at the Army Headquarters that the police are comparing this latest case to the bombings in Bangkok on New Year's Eve, the bombing in front of Major Ratchayothin Shopping Complex, and the bombing at a telephone booth in front of Soi Ratchawithee 24.

Police believe this bombing wasn't intended to kill as there was only a small amount of explosives.

They are trying to find the bombers through closed circuit cameras in the area.

National Police Chief Seripisut Temiyavej said this latest bombing is very similar to past explosions in the capital but more evidence is needed to prove whether they were carried out by the same group of people.

The National Police Chief does not believe the bombing was politically motivated or was associated to the unrest in the south.

Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont revealed he has been informed about the explosion and believed it was aimed to cause political unrest.

The Council for National Security Chairman, General Sonthi Boonyaratglin confirmed that the initial investigation found similarities of this latest bombing to the bombing of a public telephone booth in front of Soi Ratchawithee 24 earlier this year and the series of bombings in Bangkok on New Year's eve.

However, General Sonthi does not believe it's linked to opposition against the appointment of the new Army Commander in Chief or opposition against his possible appointment as deputy prime minister.

- Thailand Outlook

Edited October 2, 2007 by Jai Dee
Response to flame comments deleted

[Plus]

Looks like they are not in control? Because they don't have round the clock surveilance on every telephone booth in the country?

No, because they show that the govt has powerful enemies, it can't catch the bombers, and it can't stop them. A few more bombs like that in the run up to the elections and the govt will lose enough public confidence to influence the vote.

But assuming your hypothesis is correct - that these bombs are intended to demonstrate the weakness of the government- who WOULD such a demonstration benefit? Normally, it benefits the militaristic right wing...

On a one off occasion - possibly, but in the long run I can't see how the right wing has benefited from this campaign and why they would continue. Some targets are also way off mark - why would they put a bomb at Prem's house or Santi Asoke? Right wing looking for an excuse for power grab would target the general public, not military HQ.

If you want to indulge in right wing conspiracies - look at 9/11. That kind of target was a perfect excuse for neo-cons to come to power.

Someone has blown up Prem's security guard's shack - no big deal and not for the first time. It doesn't concern people on the street. It will never justify a call for a new, right wing coup.

Undermine govt's ability to preach to people - yes, bring in Saprang - no. That's my opinion at the moment.

[John K]

Once again the drama of bombs in Bangkok seems to be upon us. Before this completely gets out of control let me point out a few things.

First the track record has been this tends to be some sort of diversion. It probably has two or more reasons. My guess is a send off dis for Sonthi, and to see if his replacement has the weakness of distraction.

Second this little noise maker that has some how gained the title of bomb sounds like it was a glorified M-80 firecracker. A M-80 will take off fingers, as it is a very healthy charge. As a kid I watched farmers use them to deal with crop destroying pests by throwing one in the hole of an animal and shooting the animal as it came out.

If it was terrorists well they set them off when people are around and would do much more damage that just the loss of a finger.

The sooner this is non starter is forgotten the better for everyone.

[hammered]

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.

Imho this is a spot on analysis. We should also be wary of any statements by the authorities on who did it as there is likely not to be conclusive proof and within the "byzantine intrigues" (I like that) it is just as likely that those the message was aimed at will want to point fingers in different directions.

[Jai Dee]

A snippet from another news bulletin released this morning:

The Chairman of the transport committee under the National Legislative Assembly (NLA), Adm. Bannawit Kengrien (บรรณวิทย์ เก่งเรียน), says none of the NLA members carry intent to topple the interim government... As for bombing near the Royal Thai Army Headquarters, Adm. Bannawit says it is not relevant to the recent military reshuffle.

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

[quiksilva]

A well connected Thai client suggested that this was done by military types to unsettle the new middle management in the army who were appointed on Monday.

[rafval]

I dont get these bombs, great fun but why dont they shoot someone if they dont like them, bombs are pretty ignorable and it doesnt cost much to get someone shot, but I guess that a bit rational for thailand, stick to the bombs boys

[AlexLah]

I dont get these bombs, great fun but why dont they shoot someone if they dont like them, bombs are pretty ignorable and it doesnt cost much to get someone shot, but I guess that a bit rational for thailand, stick to the bombs boys

Exactly!

What would you do when you where in power and busy extending it, knowing the election is near and you are most likely going to loose.

Remember Thailand has been controlled by the army for a long time.

Thaksin did a good job by placing his friends in high posititions and basically taking away the power of the oldies.

These oldies are doing everything to get the power back in place how it used to be.

So they do a survey and they find that the public not really like the coupmasters.

Dammit they think, we are not ready yet.

Thai (army) thinktank have a meeting on how to get more support from the people.

We have to spread fear throughout Thailand by placing some bombs here and there, make sure we do not kill (too many) people as it is against Budhist rules to kill.

Then we can say that the protection of our poor Thai people is in our hands as we will increae the number of police or army personall in major cities.

Yes the army protect you and is good for you.

Please be afraid and trust us that we will find those nasty people that place firecrackers here and there.

[Old Man River]

A snippet from another news bulletin released this morning:

The Chairman of the transport committee under the National Legislative Assembly (NLA), Adm. Bannawit Kengrien (บรรณวิทย์ เก่งเรียน), says none of the NLA members carry intent to topple the interim government... As for bombing near the Royal Thai Army Headquarters, Adm. Bannawit says it is not relevant to the recent military reshuffle.

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

Sounds like he doth protesth too much.

[AlexLah]

They should blow up Bayoke tower to see some real reaction.

Or maybe nuke BKK and wipe it out.

Maybe then Thai people would wake up and realise something is happening....

[Old Man River]

Or maybe nuke BKK and wipe it out.

Can I assume you would want this during the 50% of the time you spend "around the globe"?

[Pepe']

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.

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

That's an amazing statistic!

Is there another country where no political bombing has never been solved?

[peterpanner]

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.

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

That's an amazing statistic!

Is there another country where no political bombing has never been solved?

I guess you don't know where that statistic has been pulled out of.

[sriracha john]

Bomb scare triggered by travel bag outside British embassy

A foreigner triggered a bomb scare outside the British embassy late Tuesday night by leaving a travel bag at its fence and running away.

A security officer of Central Chidlom Department Store alerted police after the man left the bag at the fence at 11:30 pm.

Bomb disposal officers rushed to the scene and checked the bag and found only a few clothes inside.

The security officer told police that the Caucasian man in white T-shirt and black trousers carried a brown bag and walked past the store to the embassy and left the bag there.

Police have yet to check records from the close-circuit TVs installed in the area to find out about the man.

- The Nation

[Jai Dee]

Metropol Police Bureau calls meeting of bombing near army headquarter

The Metropolitan Police Bureau calls a meeting of investigating teams on the bombing incident near the army headquarter.

A source said Pol.Lt.Gen.Atsawin Kwanmuang (อัศวิน ขวัญเมือง), commander of the Metropolitan Police Bureau, calls a meeting today to review the bombing and discuss progress of the case. The commander has earlier assigned investigating teams of the Nang Lerng (นางเลิ้ง) Police Station, the Metropolitan Police Bureau Region 1, and the police’s investigation center to investigate the case.

The Metropolitan Police Bureau has also cooperated with specialists from King Mongkut’s Institute of Technology Ladkrabang to inspect the remains of the bomb to see whether it is similar to those exploded in Bangkok during New Year.

The commander affirms the investigating teams will do their utmost to work on the case no matter the bombers will be arrested or not.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 03 October 2007

[Losangels]

Metropol Police Bureau calls meeting of bombing near army headquarter

The commander affirms the investigating teams will do their utmost to work on the case no matter the bombers will be arrested or not.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 03 October 2007

I find the above statement confusing

Isn't it their duty to find whoever resposible and arrest them?

Or does it mean we'll try our best, if we can find anyone, no big deal?

Or does it mean even if we find the culprit, we won't be able to arrest them

[alexth]

Wonder if they'll still gonna blame Thaksin for this too

[Jai Dee]

Finger prints found on bomb fragments from latest Army Headquarter explosion

Council for National Security spokesman Colonel Sansern Kaewkumnerd (สรรเสริญ แก้วกำเนิด) has revealed that Deputy commander of the Royal Thai Police Police Major Krisada Punkongchuen (กฤษฎา พันธุ์คงชื่น) has reported progress from the recent bomb explosion near the Army Headquarters. Police Major Krisada reported to a CNS meeting that various witnesses from the incident have given concurrent recounts of the events. He further added that fingerprints have been found on pieces of tape used on the explosives.

The fingerprints have retained a somewhat complete form and can be used as evidence in apprehending the bombers. Police Major Krisada admitted though that finding the wrong doers would take some time, especially as the incident has shown no clear motive to lead to the suspect.

Nonetheless, the CNS spokesman expressed confidence that the recent incident and a past explosion in front of Major Racthayothin on Ratchawithee 24 must be related or executed by the same group. He doubted though that the explosions are connected to insurgent activity in the deep South.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 09 October 2007