Four grenade attacks damage Bangkok Bank branches

[IvanDobsky]

"Current Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said the government had predicted unrest after the court ruling on Thaksin's wealth."

This incredible precognitive insight is without peer and could only have been mastered by studying at the most prestigious Ivy League universites that England has to offer! I am so impressed!!!

Amazing ability to predict the future I'm thinking! If there isn't any violence after the decision maybe breaking some glass and positioning some soldiers at the MRT entrances will make us look "in charge of the situation" for the evening news?

I wish only peace and a fairly elected government for the Thai people. They seem to have neither at the moment.

The 'Ivy League' universities are in the USA. Perhaps you mean Oxford?

A prediction of unrest could have been made by a Matteyum One student after the attacks on the yellows and the Songkran riots.

Peace, a fairly elected and corruption free government, a political party to represent the middle ground between the angry rhetoric of two mobs. An exiled politician that says one thing and then sticks to it. People who disagree about politics not resorting to violence. That would all be nice but don't hold your breath.

[ballpoint]

Can somebody who actually knows the area and what actually occurred confirm one thing.

There are two major branches on Silom Rd, in the Silom area.

(1) The Headquarters on the Southern side of Silom Rd down towards Sala Daeng BTS station... between Soi Convent and Narathiwat Rd; about Silom Soi 3 or 5.

the other

(2) On the Northern side of Silom Rd... a bit further opposite Wat Khaek close to Silom Soi 24 or 26.

I'm overseas at the moment - but my wife is staying close to the latter of the above.

Which one copped the grenade? As there is mixed reports in the press.

Thanks in advance.

Zank

It was the latter. Not the headquarters as originally reported.

[tombkk]

I was standing around 30 m across the road in Silom when this happened.

It was really loud sound.. just a single time. no smoke or fire seen.

We walked closer to see what was it...

[snip]

So let me get this right. An explosion goes of which shatters glass etc, the area is not yet secured and you walk TOWARDS it!. You walk TOWARDS, not AWAY, from a bomb attack.

Have you ever heard of the Darwin awards?

I wondered if anyone else picked up on that Darwin awards.....love the comparision

I know that these guys arent very good at what they do, whatever colour t shirts they are wearing, but it is only a matter of time before they pick up on the effectivness of 'secondary devices'. Made Northern Ireland an interesting place to be when I served her majesty

Made it to the three Southern provinces of Thailand some time ago. Hence, not a acomparison but making the guy a contender. to his defense, he said he didn't know what he had heard.

That aside, why did the police need over 30 minutes (according to his report, but no other reports mention anything about it)? Taffic jam?

[HAL9000]

please dont report back that global warming had something to do with this.

Obviously not hip that Global Cooling is the hot issue now

[zank]

Can somebody who actually knows the area and what actually occurred confirm one thing.

There are two major branches on Silom Rd, in the Silom area.

(1) The Headquarters on the Southern side of Silom Rd down towards Sala Daeng BTS station... between Soi Convent and Narathiwat Rd; about Silom Soi 3 or 5.

the other

(2) On the Northern side of Silom Rd... a bit further opposite Wat Khaek close to Silom Soi 24 or 26.

I'm overseas at the moment - but my wife is staying close to the latter of the above.

Which one copped the grenade? As there is mixed reports in the press.

Thanks in advance.

Zank

It was the latter. Not the headquarters as originally reported.

Thanks for the confirmation Ballpoint.

Just spoke to the wife - she heard the 'bang'.

Just glad it was a bit later, she/we both often walking down that stretch of road.

As well as plenty of farang tourists on most evenings.

Really glad no one got hurt (this time).

Zank

[SanSaiExPat]

Its another happy new Red dawn courtesy of The People revolution rising for The People, the People's revolution party speaking for The People etc. hoo~ray.

Shame about the innocent bystanders who always end up getting blown to bits eventually, but I suppose they are not The People, just 'some people' or 'remains of people'. Nurses and doctors and gravediggers are people too, and they get more work thanks to The People Party. Hiphip for the Reds.

*removed*

I don't care what anybody says,my opinion: Thaksin is a monster because he stirs up embers & tries to create infernos. I think he should have $0 & life in jail. That People Power for the rural poor thing is BS, there's urban poor too & they get bombed because that clown Thaksin has turned disagreements into bombs, and turned people on their friends.

Thaksin was the last democratically elected Prime Minister, and elected by a wide margin in almost every Province

Apart from being inaccurate, he is still a crook, although no doubt some reds are hoping that the judiciary can be bought or placemen put in some time in the future. A return of the funds can be put to good use, eh?

Gentleman, You can question the legitimacy of the Shinawatra government all you want but the facts are the facts. PM Shinawatra was the democratically elected Prime Minister of Thailand from 2001 until 2006 when he was illegally and unconstitutionally overthrown by the Thai Military. Until that time he was the leader of the TRT party and thus the Thai government and people. You wanted help on the history of the election results? Thai Rak Thai won 248 seats in parliament (more than any other party previously) Thaksin opted for a broad coalition, assimilating both the Chart Thai Party (forty-one seats) and the New Aspiration Party (thirty-six seats) as well as absorbing the smaller Seritham Party (fourteen). Thaksin succeeded in assuming a dominant position in almost every aspect of party politics and government. His cabinet became the first democratically elected government in Thailand's history that survived a full legislative term. Contrary to the unstable multi-party coalition cabinets of the pre- and post Thaksin era, his government provided political continuity. You try to cast doubt on his sweeping win and mandate and question that he won decisively? His re-election in 2005 had the highest voter turnout in Thai history. I am just stating the facts I am not praising him. It wouldn't be allowed on this or any other web site in Thailand. The fact that it’s ok to denigrate and criticize Thaksin but not ok to offer supporting information speaks volumes in an of itself. There is nothing I need to add.

[Moonrakers]

Its another happy new Red dawn courtesy of The People revolution rising for The People, the People's revolution party speaking for The People etc. hoo~ray.

Shame about the innocent bystanders who always end up getting blown to bits eventually, but I suppose they are not The People, just 'some people' or 'remains of people'. Nurses and doctors and gravediggers are people too, and they get more work thanks to The People Party. Hiphip for the Reds.

*removed*

I don't care what anybody says,my opinion: Thaksin is a monster because he stirs up embers & tries to create infernos. I think he should have $0 & life in jail. That People Power for the rural poor thing is BS, there's urban poor too & they get bombed because that clown Thaksin has turned disagreements into bombs, and turned people on their friends.

Thaksin was the last democratically elected Prime Minister, and elected by a wide margin in almost every Province

Apart from being inaccurate, he is still a crook, although no doubt some reds are hoping that the judiciary can be bought or placemen put in some time in the future. A return of the funds can be put to good use, eh?

Gentleman, You can question the legitimacy of the Shinawatra government all you want but the facts are the facts. PM Shinawatra was the democratically elected Prime Minister of Thailand from 2001 until 2006 when he was illegally and unconstitutionally overthrown by the Thai Military. Until that time he was the leader of the TRT party and thus the Thai government and people. You wanted help on the history of the election results? Thai Rak Thai won 248 seats in parliament (more than any other party previously) Thaksin opted for a broad coalition, assimilating both the Chart Thai Party (forty-one seats) and the New Aspiration Party (thirty-six seats) as well as absorbing the smaller Seritham Party (fourteen). Thaksin succeeded in assuming a dominant position in almost every aspect of party politics and government. His cabinet became the first democratically elected government in Thailand's history that survived a full legislative term. Contrary to the unstable multi-party coalition cabinets of the pre- and post Thaksin era, his government provided political continuity. You try to cast doubt on his sweeping win and mandate and question that he won decisively? His re-election in 2005 had the highest voter turnout in Thai history. I am just stating the facts I am not praising him. It wouldn't be allowed on this or any other web site in Thailand. The fact that it's ok to denigrate and criticize Thaksin but not ok to offer supporting information speaks volumes in an of itself. There is nothing I need to add.

And how does that stop him from being guilty?

[Yunnie]

I'm not surprised in a way. I knew something was going to happen soon and with today being Makabucha, They had to get the bombings in before Sunday.

I find it so ironic that whoever it is, is doing acts of violence that damages OTHER people's property, but can also injury innocent people. Then the next day act innocent and go to the temple (like today) and feel as though they "wash" their sins away by buying merit to improve their karma. These people are so selfish.

I'm just so tired of all the hypocrisy going around with the whole issue.

[Jingthing]

I am just stating the facts I am not praising him. It wouldn't be allowed on this or any other web site in Thailand. The fact that it’s ok to denigrate and criticize Thaksin but not ok to offer supporting information speaks volumes in an of itself. There is nothing I need to add.

You are so victimized, aren't you? You CAN praise him all you like. Go ahead. You are making up fictional restrictions that do NOT exist. Don't expect all of us to agree with you though. I smelled a rat in Mr. Thaksin from day one of his power.

[WinnieTheKhwai]

Gentleman, You can question the legitimacy of the Shinawatra government all you want but the facts are the facts. PM Shinawatra was the democratically elected Prime Minister of Thailand from 2001 until 2006 when he was illegally and unconstitutionally overthrown by the Thai Military. Until that time he was the leader of the TRT party and thus the Thai government and people. You wanted help on the history of the election results? Thai Rak Thai won 248 seats in parliament (more than any other party previously) Thaksin opted for a broad coalition, assimilating both the Chart Thai Party (forty-one seats) and the New Aspiration Party (thirty-six seats) as well as absorbing the smaller Seritham Party (fourteen). Thaksin succeeded in assuming a dominant position in almost every aspect of party politics and government. His cabinet became the first democratically elected government in Thailand's history that survived a full legislative term. Contrary to the unstable multi-party coalition cabinets of the pre- and post Thaksin era, his government provided political continuity. You try to cast doubt on his sweeping win and mandate and question that he won decisively? His re-election in 2005 had the highest voter turnout in Thai history. I am just stating the facts I am not praising him. It wouldn't be allowed on this or any other web site in Thailand. The fact that it's ok to denigrate and criticize Thaksin but not ok to offer supporting information speaks volumes in an of itself. There is nothing I need to add.

And how does that stop him from being guilty?

Red Shirts contend that it's meaningless to be guilty under coup laws that were engineered primarily to grab power away from the people.

[Moonrakers]

Gentleman, You can question the legitimacy of the Shinawatra government all you want but the facts are the facts. PM Shinawatra was the democratically elected Prime Minister of Thailand from 2001 until 2006 when he was illegally and unconstitutionally overthrown by the Thai Military. Until that time he was the leader of the TRT party and thus the Thai government and people. You wanted help on the history of the election results? Thai Rak Thai won 248 seats in parliament (more than any other party previously) Thaksin opted for a broad coalition, assimilating both the Chart Thai Party (forty-one seats) and the New Aspiration Party (thirty-six seats) as well as absorbing the smaller Seritham Party (fourteen). Thaksin succeeded in assuming a dominant position in almost every aspect of party politics and government. His cabinet became the first democratically elected government in Thailand's history that survived a full legislative term. Contrary to the unstable multi-party coalition cabinets of the pre- and post Thaksin era, his government provided political continuity. You try to cast doubt on his sweeping win and mandate and question that he won decisively? His re-election in 2005 had the highest voter turnout in Thai history. I am just stating the facts I am not praising him. It wouldn't be allowed on this or any other web site in Thailand. The fact that it's ok to denigrate and criticize Thaksin but not ok to offer supporting information speaks volumes in an of itself. There is nothing I need to add.

And how does that stop him from being guilty?

Red Shirts contend that it's meaningless to be guilty under coup laws that were engineered primarily to grab power away from the people.

Again:

And how does that stop him from being guilty?

[Jingthing]

Red Shirts contend that it's meaningless to be guilty under coup laws that were engineered primarily to grab power away from the people.

How convenient for them. Anarchists, are they?

[WinnieTheKhwai]

Gentleman, You can question the legitimacy of the Shinawatra government all you want but the facts are the facts. PM Shinawatra was the democratically elected Prime Minister of Thailand from 2001 until 2006 when he was illegally and unconstitutionally overthrown by the Thai Military. Until that time he was the leader of the TRT party and thus the Thai government and people. You wanted help on the history of the election results? Thai Rak Thai won 248 seats in parliament (more than any other party previously) Thaksin opted for a broad coalition, assimilating both the Chart Thai Party (forty-one seats) and the New Aspiration Party (thirty-six seats) as well as absorbing the smaller Seritham Party (fourteen). Thaksin succeeded in assuming a dominant position in almost every aspect of party politics and government. His cabinet became the first democratically elected government in Thailand's history that survived a full legislative term. Contrary to the unstable multi-party coalition cabinets of the pre- and post Thaksin era, his government provided political continuity. You try to cast doubt on his sweeping win and mandate and question that he won decisively? His re-election in 2005 had the highest voter turnout in Thai history. I am just stating the facts I am not praising him. It wouldn't be allowed on this or any other web site in Thailand. The fact that it's ok to denigrate and criticize Thaksin but not ok to offer supporting information speaks volumes in an of itself. There is nothing I need to add.

And how does that stop him from being guilty?

Red Shirts contend that it's meaningless to be guilty under coup laws that were engineered primarily to grab power away from the people.

Again:

And how does that stop him from being guilty?

Huh!? My response addressed that: If I make an arbitrary law that says you're guilty if you have more than 2 lines in your signature then from that point on you're guilty of that law. I thought that was obvious. So in that sense Mr. Thaksin is very much guilty as charged under coup laws and as prosecuted at the behest of the junta and the subsequent government they helped establish by banning all previous governments on frivolous charges such as the PM appearing on a TV cooking show. So: 'guilty as charged', for whatever it's worth!

Edited February 28, 2010 by WinnieTheKhwai

[Jingthing]

The reds are pulling this country down. Can't they just accept the current situation and work for POSITIVE change within the current context, instead of this endless drive to topple the government and bring back a horribly corrupt power mad exile? To non-reds it is really starting to look very insane and destructive. Nobody is saying the current system is perfect or super moral. However, the reds seem to want to turn back the clock and that is NOT possible. The Thaksin they loved is not the same Thaksin that exists now, and the country is in a very different place now.

Edited February 28, 2010 by Jingthing

[WinnieTheKhwai]

The reds are pulling this country down. Can't they just accept the current situation and work for POSITIVE change within the current context,

The 'current context' IS their issue. (Good term by the way, I might use that in the future as a nice euphemism for the structures put in place following the coup.)

instead of this endless drive to topple the government and bring back a horribly corrupt power mad exile? To non-reds it is really starting to look very insane and destructive. Nobody is saying the current system is perfect or super moral. However, the reds seem to want to turn back the clock and that is NOT possible. The Thaksin they loved is not the same Thaksin that exists now, and the country is in a very different place now.

True. I wish they'd get beyond the figure of Thaksin. Even the hard core socialists who should have no particular love for Thaksin are still on the bandwagon because they share similar short-term goals. It'd all be much cleaner if the focus was just on issues related to democracy and the constitution, possibly with a new figurehead. (But that's my opinion, which counts for nothing. Also I can't personally support the Reds while a couple lunatics like Seh Daeng are running around doing their thing. They're as mad as the Yellows.)

[WISteve]

Exploding grenades and broken glass in bank buildings simply damages the image of Thailand and distracts attention from the root problem of an un-elected government that continues to cling to power. The present group has shown us all (by having their surrogates occupy Government House and closing the airports) what lengths they will go to obtaining that position of power.

I think the former prime minister has no future in Thai politics and he needs to accept the millions he has now and move on with his life.

I think a fairly held general election would do more to defuse the situation and stop the violence than anything. But will the military and Bangkok elite ever respect the will of the people? That is the question.

[kennkate]

Why are a lot of people pointing the finger at the Thaskin's followers. No evidence it's just speculation.

Could just as well be the other side trying to discredit the Red shirts. Without evidence it is unwise to speculate

Facts not Fiction Please.

[WinnieTheKhwai]

Red Shirts contend that it's meaningless to be guilty under coup laws that were engineered primarily to grab power away from the people.

How convenient for them. Anarchists, are they?

Sigh. From Wikipedia: " Anarchism is a political philosophy encompassing theories and attitudes which consider the state to be unnecessary, harmful, or otherwise undesirable, and favour instead a stateless society or anarchy. "

Clearly that's not what any relevant party is looking for. If you're interested, there are websites out there that list Red Shirt goals. Though you're probably content to just holler on internet forums, so don't let me spoil the fun in that.

[TheGhostWithin]

Thanks for the confirmation Ballpoint.

Just spoke to the wife - she heard the 'bang'.

Just glad it was a bit later, she/we both often walking down that stretch of road.

As well as plenty of farang tourists on most evenings.

Really glad no one got hurt (this time).

Zank

Perhaps this was a way for the decision makers to send a firm message accross that we should be shopping ay Gaysorn, and not the Patpong markets, and also that we should be going to Bed Supper Club and not Ping Pong shows? The high baht, rapidly increasing hotel prices, endless TAT releases indicating the targetting of more wealthy tourists, and endless crack downs has not worked, so maybe someone decided to try something new Just a joke, please don't take it serious - Im sitting on the fence for this one

[Sabre]

no injury or death, same as the university bomb, the army headquarters bomb, the court bomb.

the more cynical of us would suggest these are staged.

The more cynical amongst us would be idiots to discount the affects of bomb attacks in Silom even if there was nobody hurt.

effects, not affects.

staged bombs, pretty obvious really to those not festering with hatred for the red shirts. People should wait for proof before blaming the reds, this could be turdgate all over again.

Too simple. Perhaps reds wanting to give the impression they were staged bombs. That could provide justification to rile up their more militant elements.

Too simple again. Perhaps the yellows wanting to give the impression it was the reds wanting to give the impression they were staged bombs. That could provide justification to rile up their more militant elements.

You see my point?

[Sabre]

Gentleman, You can question the legitimacy of the Shinawatra government all you want but the facts are the facts. PM Shinawatra was the democratically elected Prime Minister of Thailand from 2001 until 2006 when he was illegally and unconstitutionally overthrown by the Thai Military. Until that time he was the leader of the TRT party and thus the Thai government and people. You wanted help on the history of the election results? Thai Rak Thai won 248 seats in parliament (more than any other party previously) Thaksin opted for a broad coalition, assimilating both the Chart Thai Party (forty-one seats) and the New Aspiration Party (thirty-six seats) as well as absorbing the smaller Seritham Party (fourteen). Thaksin succeeded in assuming a dominant position in almost every aspect of party politics and government. His cabinet became the first democratically elected government in Thailand's history that survived a full legislative term. Contrary to the unstable multi-party coalition cabinets of the pre- and post Thaksin era, his government provided political continuity. You try to cast doubt on his sweeping win and mandate and question that he won decisively? His re-election in 2005 had the highest voter turnout in Thai history. I am just stating the facts I am not praising him. It wouldn't be allowed on this or any other web site in Thailand. The fact that it's ok to denigrate and criticize Thaksin but not ok to offer supporting information speaks volumes in an of itself. There is nothing I need to add.

And how does that stop him from being guilty?

Red Shirts contend that it's meaningless to be guilty under coup laws that were engineered primarily to grab power away from the people.

Again:

And how does that stop him from being guilty?

Think of it this way. If I held a personal little court in my living room, and then ruled you were guilty of a crime, would that make you guilty under the law? No. Why? Because I am not a Thai judge, and my 'court' session is not valid under Thai law. So where does Thai law come from? Tough question, but on one view it comes from a democratically elected government, passed by both houses of parliament and assented to by HRH the King of Thailand. Some would say that the administration following the coup was not democratically elected, and therefore that their laws held no legal force, and that therefore Thaksin's conviction is invalid.

That's one view. There are, of course, others.

[Sabre]

Did it occur to anybody that, perhaps nobody got hurt because whoever threw the grenade did it at a time, or in a place, where/when it wouldn't hurt anybody?

I am NOT saying that makes it all OK, but everybody seems to assume that it was just lucky that nobody got hurt, when it may have been more than luck.

[elcent]

Think of it this way. If I held a personal little court in my living room, and then ruled you were guilty of a crime, would that make you guilty under the law? No. Why? Because I am not a Thai judge, and my 'court' session is not valid under Thai law. So where does Thai law come from? Tough question, but on one view it comes from a democratically elected government, passed by both houses of parliament and assented to by HRH the King of Thailand. Some would say that the administration following the coup was not democratically elected, and therefore that their laws held no legal force, and that therefore Thaksin's conviction is invalid.

That's one view. There are, of course, others.

You got a point here.

He has had enough time and didn't use it wisely. Witchcraft, Astrology, Gold mining in Uganda, even when there's no gold. He was just waiting for a 'monkey deal' that didn't materialize.

I even would give him all the money but nail him for genocide, there is where the real issue is.

[Sabre]

What Thailand does not need is the furthering of the perception that there is terrorism. It doesn't do anyone any good to spread such rumours.

It is terrorism. What is your agenda in denying it?

If the shoe fits ...

ter·ror·ism

 

–noun

1.

the use of violence and threats to intimidate or coerce, esp. for political purposes.

Yes, but using that definition anybody who uses violence is basically a terrorist, as 'political' is a very broad term. The problem with defining terrorism is that it is really just a question of which side you are on. There have been attempts at definitions at the UN and so forth, but the problem is that whichever definition one adopts, the USA (and her allies) are the world's worst terrorists, so they haven't been able to define it legally, as I understand it.

political "concerning or related to politics, the art and process of governing; concerning a polity or its administrative components; motivated, especially inappropriately, by political (electoral or other party political) calculation; of or related to views about social relationships that involve power ..."

[cdnvic]

We can argue the semantics of the definition of terrorism forever but that's not really the subject here.

[khunjamespittman]

Its another happy new Red dawn courtesy of The People revolution rising for The People, the People's revolution party speaking for The People etc. hoo~ray.

Shame about the innocent bystanders who always end up getting blown to bits eventually, but I suppose they are not The People, just 'some people' or 'remains of people'. Nurses and doctors and gravediggers are people too, and they get more work thanks to The People Party. Hiphip for the Reds.

I don't care what anybody says,my opinion: Thaksin is a monster because he stirs up embers & tries to create infernos. I think he should have $0 & life in jail. That People Power for the rural poor thing is BS, there's urban poor too & they get bombed because that clown Thaksin has turned disagreements into bombs, and turned people on their friends.

It never ceases to amaze me to see posts like this on TV spouting venum and hatred trying to encite others. In the very next paragraph rant about other posters enflaming people. Please don't be too critical of these people lest you incur the rath of TV.

Is there someway TV can return to civility and rational discussions?

Regards,

[SanSaiExPat]

Exploding grenades and broken glass in bank buildings simply damages the image of Thailand and distracts attention from the root problem of an un-elected government that continues to cling to power. The present group has shown us all (by having their surrogates occupy Government House and closing the airports) what lengths they will go to obtaining that position of power.

I think the former prime minister has no future in Thai politics and he needs to accept the millions he has now and move on with his life.

I think a fairly held general election would do more to defuse the situation and stop the violence than anything. But will the military and Bangkok elite ever respect the will of the people? That is the question.

Although I can't agree with your assertion that the former PM has no roll in the future of the government. I can address your question regarding the likelihood of the "Elite" respecting the common man. Again, it is sectors of the Bangkok elite that ascribe themselves the right to overrule the electoral legitimacy created by the great majority of rural (and 2001 and 2005 even the Bangkok) voters. The underlying justification is aptly put by one of Thaksin's critics, Roj Ngarm-maen, a famous journalist who writes in Thai Post under his penname Plaew Si-ngern: 'The lower classes are underprivileged and passive. They are not allowed to think. If you want to say that the rural people vote for a government while the middle class ousts it, then that may be right. Society must be propelled by the middle classes. The lower classes are just followers. Look at any dictator, be it Thanom [Kittikachorn], Prapas [Charusathien] or Suchinda [Kraprayoon], and you’ll find that the rural folk put up no opposition' (The Nation, 24 December 2005). With a collective mind set like this from the "Elites" there is little hope they will respect any democratic election they haven't rigged or don't agree with.

[ThaksinKharma]

Also I can't personally support the Reds while a couple lunatics like Seh Daeng are running around doing their thing. They're as mad as the Yellows.)

Actually that should be much more so. There was never anyone in the yellow group that came anywhere near a lunatic as the Red Seh Daeng.

[ThaksinKharma]

Clearly that's not what any relevant party is looking for. If you're interested, there are websites out there that list Red Shirt goals.

Yes, there are.

A good place to start is to Google "Red Siam Manifesto" by red shirt Giles Ji Ungpakorn which provides insight into some of the goals of Red Shirts, especially #4 of his stated goals list.

It also will provide insight into why so many Thais are against the red shirts.

Edited March 1, 2010 by ThaksinKharma

[ThaksinKharma]

by banning all previous governments on frivolous charges such as the PM appearing on a TV cooking show.

I'll use another member's response for this one:

Facts not Fiction Please.

Samak was not banned for appearing on a TV cooking show.