More Questions Than Answers Over 'Foiled' PAD Bomb Plot

[webfact]

More questions than answers over 'foiled' bomb plot

By The Nation

Some things are too good to be true. When police uncovered powerful bombs on Monday evening, just a day before a huge protest by the yellow-shirt People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD), it was hard to believe it. Thai police usually only learn about bombs after they go off. No need to ask about the bombers, the police are guaranteed to take a very long time to find the culprits. In many cases, they never find them.

This time was very different, and there were many irregularities about the operation. News of the discovery of a bomb at the PAD stage at Makkhawan Bridge reached journalists around 6pm on Monday.

Shortly afterwards, Pol Maj-General Wichai Sangprapai, the Metropolitan Police Division 1 commander who oversees that area and should have been the first to know, told reporters he knew nothing about any bombs.

He did not know because the chief of the operation was Pol General Assawin Kwanmuang, assistant police chief and acting commander of Police Region 1. Overseeing the PAD protest areas on Rajdamnoen Avenue was not among Assa-win's duties.

Assawin displayed the bombs and a number of military weapons at a press conference at 10 o'clock that night. At 10am yesterday, police presented reporters with five culprits who said they were connected to a red-shirt group. The five suspects were identified as Thawatchai Iamnark, 38; Dorn Mata, 42; Nopphakhun Sriwongmongkhol, 60; Wiwat Watthanasakulyim, 60, and Manas Ranrat, 52.

The police arrest record indicated that Tha-watchai was arrested with a number of home-made bombs at Miksakawan Intersection on Rajdamnoen Avenue at 5.20pm on Monday. Police noticed him behaving suspiciously while riding a motorbike to the area, which is near the headquarters of the Metropolitan Police.

Based on information provided by Thawatchai, another team of police raided a house on Rama II Road in Chom Thong district 10 minutes later, arresting the other four suspects and confiscating military weapons. The house is about 20 kilometres from the location of Thawatchai's arrest.

The items seized were three rocket-propelled grenades; one RPG launcher; three sets of auxiliary boosters; four detonators; two 20mm rounds; 31 M79 grenades, four of which were armour-piercing, and 27 anti-personnel; 23 AK-47 bullets; 115 M16 bullets; 35 M60 machine-gun bullets; 117 carbine bullets; and a green Isuzu pickup truck with a Lampang licence plate.

Many observers said the arrest was a set-up, but none could say by whom and for what purpose. Key PAD member Prapan Koon-mee said the government had set up the bomb plot to scare yellow shirts away from protesting against its handling of the boundary dispute with Cambodia. Prapan claimed that Assawin, who is well connected with Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban, could be rewarded by the government with a higher position in the National Police Office. The government could also use the opportunity to point a finger at the PAD, claiming its protest could lead to violence and chaos in the country, he added.

Red-shirt leader Jatuporn Prompan, an MP for the opposition Pheu Thai Party, said his group was not involved in the plot.

The set-up reflected an internal rift in the National Police Office and was aimed at discrediting national police chief Wichian Potphosri and his team in the Metropolitan Police, Jatuporn said.

Another observer said the PAD might have staged the plot to discredit its two major enemies, the red shirts and Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva's government, at the same time.

More quickly than other media, the PAD mouthpiece ASTV-Manager yesterday jumped to the conclusion that the red shirts had sent their fighters to bomb the yellow shirts.

A police official said it was a PAD security guard who alerted the police to the bomb and led them to the suspect, suggesting the PAD might know more than anyone else. If true, the plot would kill two birds with one stone for the PAD. It could also blame the government for failing to control the situation and ensure their safety.

Few analysts subscribed to police claims of a red plot, seeing no benefits for the red shirts in attacking the PAD. The two rival groups now have Abhisit's government as a common enemy. This time the PAD protest was aimed at the government over the Cambodia issue and was nothing to do with the reds or former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

-- The Nation 2011-01-26

[webfact]

Suspect 'just wanted to scare people'

By The Nation

A suspect in police detention has confessed that he plotted to scare people with bombs ahead of the yellow-shirt rally.

Thawatchai or Dam Iamnak, 37, yesterday said he came up with the bomb plots on his own because he desperately wanted to push for political change.

"I had joined red-shirt rallies before but I did not get the democracy I wanted," he said at a press conference.

Thawatchai was arrested at the Missagawan Intersection on Monday while on his way to allegedly plant bombs behind Government House.

Metropolitan Police Division 6 commander Maj-General Suwat Jangyodsuk said Thawatchai was found with TNT explosives and other material to detonate the bombs.

Police also arrested four other men at a rented house in Bangkok's Chom Thong district on the same day for possessing three rocket-propelled grenades (RPG), plenty of ammunition and a number of weapons.

The four suspects are Dorn Mata, 42, Noppakhun Sriwongmongkhon, 60, Wiwat Wattanasakunyim, 60, and Manas Ranrat, 52.

Suwat has linked Thawatchai to at least four bomb attacks in Bangkok, including the fatal one in front of Big C Rajdamri on July 25 last year.

"He knows well how to detonate a bomb with a cellphone," Suwat said.

According to him, Thawatchai's gang is one of the about 10 groups seeking to upset peace in the country.

However, Thawatchai denied that the four had any knowledge of his bomb plots.

He said he acted alone and did not intend to cause any casualties.

"I just wanted the bombs to make loud bangs and give off thick plumes of smoke to produce scaring effects," the suspect said.

Thawatchai claimed he had got all the weapons from a man known only as Pon, whom he met during the red-shirt rally earlier this year.

"We share the same political ideology. So when he asked whether he could deposit the weapons under my care, I had no objection," Thawatchai said.

He said he then deposited the weapons at the home of Dorn, a taxi motorcyclist.

Dorn said he too agreed to look after the weapons because of the shared political ideology.

"But as time dragged on, I was concerned police would find out. I thought about destroying all these weapons but the three men asked to take a look," Dorn said.

He claimed he and the three others opened the boxes of weapons just to have a look, not to take them out for use.

Undercover policemen arrested them at the rented house after they opened the boxes full of weapons.

"I don't have knowledge about how to use weapons and bombs," Dorn insisted.

Pol Lt-Colonel Kamthorn Ouijaroen, deputy superintendent of the Metropolitan Police Bureau's Explosive Ordnance Disposal Sub-Division, said the bombs found in Thawatchai's possession had a radius of destruction of between 10 and 30 metres.

Pol General Assawin Kwanmuang, senior adviser to the national police chief, said a lot of money and efforts had been used to track down the suspects.

"We had been monitoring them for a few months," he revealed.

In response to the arrest of the suspected bombers, red-shirt leader Jatuporn Prompan said he felt another coup was coming.

"No matter what, I can assure you that the red shirts are not involved in the bomb plot," he said.

-- The Nation 2011-01-26

[whybother]

So, it's clear then.

It was setup by the government to scare the yellow shirts away from protesting.

It was setup by a police chief (Assawin) to get a promotion.

It was setup by the government to claim that the protests could lead to violence and unrest.

The red shirts weren't involved and it was setup to discredit police chief Wichian.

It was setup to discredit the red shirts and the government at the same time.

The red shirts have sent their fighters to bomb the yellow shirts.

It was set up by the yellow shirts to blame the government for failing to control the situation and ensure their safety.

Maybe it's just a coincidence, and they all just happened to organise the same person carry some bombs around.

[Robby nz]

Whoever dunit one thing is clear.

Most of the munitions shown, while they could be taken apart and the contents used in bomb making, need something to fire them with such as launchers and rifles.

If there were plans to use the munitions then somewhere there will also be the weapons to fire them.

That being the case there is still a lot of dangerous stuff out there to be found.

[animatic]

So, it's clear then.

It was setup by the government to scare the yellow shirts away from protesting.

It was setup by a police chief (Assawin) to get a promotion.

It was setup by the government to claim that the protests could lead to violence and unrest.

The red shirts weren't involved and it was setup to discredit police chief Wichian.

It was setup to discredit the red shirts and the government at the same time.

The red shirts have sent their fighters to bomb the yellow shirts.

It was set up by the yellow shirts to blame the government for failing to control the situation and ensure their safety.

Maybe it's just a coincidence, and they all just happened to organise the same person carry some bombs around.

Or:

"I had joined red-shirt rallies before but I did not get the democracy I wanted," he said at a press conference.

It's an idiot who has no clue what actual democracy means,

but if he doesn't get it he will 'scare people' till he gets 'the democracy' HE wants.

A true died in the wool democratic philosopher. < insert irony smiley

Edited January 26, 2011 by animatic

[jayjay0]

Who is the one group of protesters designed to include that kind of protest?

[jillwilliams999]

Suspect is not a terrorist. He 'just wanted to scare people'. I wonder why a Halloween costume or a big firecracker does not come to his mind.

[Credo]

So, it's clear then.

It was setup by the government to scare the yellow shirts away from protesting.

It was setup by a police chief (Assawin) to get a promotion.

It was setup by the government to claim that the protests could lead to violence and unrest.

The red shirts weren't involved and it was setup to discredit police chief Wichian.

It was setup to discredit the red shirts and the government at the same time.

The red shirts have sent their fighters to bomb the yellow shirts.

It was set up by the yellow shirts to blame the government for failing to control the situation and ensure their safety.

Maybe it's just a coincidence, and they all just happened to organise the same person carry some bombs around.

If made into a multiple choice question, it could be used on the University Entrance Exam for Thai Universities.....mandatory for those majoring in political science.  

[jillwilliams999]

The 5 arrested somehow looks very happy (to me) in the photos.

[OzMick]

Ignore the hype and accusations, the smoke and mirrors, and the exculpatory BS - look at the confessions and we have:

5 Red shirts

2 bombs ready to be planted and inflict death and injury

3 RPG rounds with propellant and launcher

a load of ammunition and 79s ready for a weapon

and a politician out on bail on terrorism charges who knows nothing, as usual

Perhaps the reds aren't educated enough to know that the enemy of my enemy is my friend, perhaps the enmity towards the topplers of Thaksin runs too deep, but more likely they were bored and it was too good an opportunity to miss.

[geriatrickid]

Pol General Assawin Kwanmuang, senior adviser to the national police chief, said a lot of money and efforts had been used to track down the suspects.

Yes, a lot of money was spent. How was it spent and on whom was it spent?

This plot stinks as bad as a bunghole.

[OzMick]

Pol General Assawin Kwanmuang, senior adviser to the national police chief, said a lot of money and efforts had been used to track down the suspects.

Yes, a lot of money was spent. How was it spent and on whom was it spent?

This plot stinks as bad as a bunghole.

Does it matter? Terrorists were apprehended - they have confessed, and will now join others in jail awaiting trial. How is that a bad outcome? Where is the smell?

[phiphidon]

the chief of the operation was Pol General Assawin Kwanmuang, assistant police chief and acting commander of Police Region 1.

Overseeing the PAD protest areas on Rajdamnoen Avenue was not among Assawin's duties.

Assawin displayed the bombs and a number of military weapons at a press conference at 10 o'clock that night. At 10am yesterday, police

presented reporters with five culprits whosaid they were connected to a red-shirt group. The five suspects were identified as Thawatchai

Iamnark, 38; Dorn Mata, 42; Nopphakhun Sriwongmongkhol, 60; Wiwat Watthanasakulyim, 60, and Manas Ranrat, 52.

Maybe it's payback time? This from The Nation, August 2008

Metropolitan police chief transferred

By The Nation

Metropolitan Police Commissioner Pol Lt Gen Asawin Kwanmuang, who was in charge of handling the protests in Bangkok,

is transferred to an inactive post on Sunday.

The order gave no reason.The transfer came just a month before an order which promoted Asawin to a post of assistant police

commissioner became effective in October. Asawin said he was not upset about the transfer. Asawin was said to have close

connection with Sondhi Limthongkul, a co-leader of People's Alliance for Democracy, and other anti-government activists.

He has been known for not favouring severe measures against protesters. However he said, "What I am worried much is about

the protest as I do not want any violence to happen."He said he did not know who will replace him. He said sarcasitically that the

new boss will have better vision than him.

http://www.nationmul...cs_30082077.php

[dumpling]

Pol General Assawin Kwanmuang, senior adviser to the national police chief, said a lot of money and efforts had been used to track down the suspects.

Yes, a lot of money was spent. How was it spent and on whom was it spent?

This plot stinks as bad as a bunghole.

Does it matter? Terrorists were apprehended - they have confessed, and will now join others in jail awaiting trial. How is that a bad outcome? Where is the smell?

How naive, this lot will not see jail time, if they do as they enter the front door they will be quietly ushered out of the back .This was so they 'the government' can impose the emergency laws they are so fond of.

They are trying to scare Joe public and those on the fence to support them and to give themselves a purpose and a reason to remain in power, its one of the oldest tricks in the book.

This could be a bad outcome if they impose emergency laws again, the press will eat that up more so than a story on protesters, as there a so many protest going on all over the globe at the moment.

I wish they would just get a move on with an election before this country's already tarnished image is dragged through the gutters again.

[aaacorp]

Ignore the hype and accusations, the smoke and mirrors, and the exculpatory BS - look at the confessions and we have:

5 Red shirts

2 bombs ready to be planted and inflict death and injury

3 RPG rounds with propellant and launcher

a load of ammunition and 79s ready for a weapon

and a politician out on bail on terrorism charges who knows nothing, as usual

Perhaps the reds aren't educated enough to know that the enemy of my enemy is my friend, perhaps the enmity towards the topplers of Thaksin runs too deep, but more likely they were bored and it was too good an opportunity to miss.

if you just trust evidences you are the perfect guy for politicians and political parties...just a sheep believing "evidences" even if it's obvious that such thing would hurt more than help red ones.

That's why politicians love guys like you....

[hanuman1]

It's an idiot who has no clue what actual democracy means,

but if he doesn't get it he will 'scare people' till he gets 'the democracy' HE wants.

If you're correct, there must be billions of idiots in this world, because Democracy does indeed mean different things to different people. To some, it's a birth-right whose tenets form as deep-seated a belief as the most fundamental laws of morality (wherever those laws come from). To others it's some kind of imported or even forced foreign political system they have to get to know and understand. To yet others it's a vehicle whose rules must be followed simply to achieve power. And to other still it represents freedom, change and other such life-improving promises. I could go on, but i think you get my drift.

So what's your definition of it?

[Buchholz]

I wish they would just get a move on with an election before this country's already tarnished image is dragged through the gutters again.

good possibility for May (according to today's news)

[Buchholz]

Ignore the hype and accusations, the smoke and mirrors, and the exculpatory BS - look at the confessions and we have:

5 Red shirts

2 bombs ready to be planted and inflict death and injury

3 RPG rounds with propellant and launcher

a load of ammunition and 79s ready for a weapon

and a politician out on bail on terrorism charges who knows nothing, as usual

Perhaps the reds aren't educated enough to know that the enemy of my enemy is my friend, perhaps the enmity towards the topplers of Thaksin runs too deep, but more likely they were bored and it was too good an opportunity to miss.

if you just trust evidences you are the perfect guy for politicians and political parties...just a sheep believing "evidences" even if it's obvious that such thing would hurt more than help red ones.

At what point in time did Reds concern themselves with whether something hurt them or not?

[whybother]

Pol General Assawin Kwanmuang, senior adviser to the national police chief, said a lot of money and efforts had been used to track down the suspects.

Yes, a lot of money was spent. How was it spent and on whom was it spent?

This plot stinks as bad as a bunghole.

Does it matter? Terrorists were apprehended - they have confessed, and will now join others in jail awaiting trial. How is that a bad outcome? Where is the smell?

How naive, this lot will not see jail time, if they do as they enter the front door they will be quietly ushered out of the back .This was so they 'the government' can impose the emergency laws they are so fond of.

They are trying to scare Joe public and those on the fence to support them and to give themselves a purpose and a reason to remain in power, its one of the oldest tricks in the book.

This could be a bad outcome if they impose emergency laws again, the press will eat that up more so than a story on protesters, as there a so many protest going on all over the globe at the moment.

I wish they would just get a move on with an election before this country's already tarnished image is dragged through the gutters again.

"This was so they 'the government' can impose the emergency laws they are so fond of."

And yet, the government have NOT imposed any emergency laws.

[Pi Sek]

^^

Minor detail, whybother - stop trying to obfuscate.

[asiawatcher]

So, it's clear then.

It was setup by the government to scare the yellow shirts away from protesting.

It was setup by a police chief (Assawin) to get a promotion.

It was setup by the government to claim that the protests could lead to violence and unrest.

The red shirts weren't involved and it was setup to discredit police chief Wichian.

It was setup to discredit the red shirts and the government at the same time.

The red shirts have sent their fighters to bomb the yellow shirts.

It was set up by the yellow shirts to blame the government for failing to control the situation and ensure their safety.

Maybe it's just a coincidence, and they all just happened to organise the same person carry some bombs around.

Good summary but this is simply good enough reason to ban street demonstrations. And I love the denial by Jutaporn. Nothing to do with his group - a Red is a Red - moron.

[LomSak27]

A lot of theories here for those who want to avoid the obvious conclusions

[timekeeper]

anyone can see they are red shirts

two of them wore red shirts at the press conference...............guilty!

[LomSak27]

anyone can see they are red shirts

two of them wore red shirts at the press conference...............guilty!

[whybother]

A lot of theories here for those who want to avoid the obvious conclusions

Do you mean there are more theories than that?