No More Leniency Towards Criminal Organisations: Thai Opinion

[webfact]

EDITORIAL

No more leniency towards criminal organisations

BANGKOK: -- Thailand must abandon its 'see no evil' policy if it wants to be taken seriously in the battle against international crime and terrorism

Over a decade ago in early 2000, cadres of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) were building a one-man submarine in Phuket. It was the kind of submarine used in suicide missions against Sri Lanka's largest city, Colombo.

Thailand didn't really know what had hit it, and didn't have a real plan to handle the issue. Part of the reason was that the country's security and intelligence apparatus didn't want to pick a fight with this well organised rebel group, for fear of retaliation.

But building a mini-submarine was not the only activity that LTTE operatives were up to in Thailand. One of the LTTE's top men, Selvarasa Pathmanadan, alias "KP", was said to having been going in and out of Thailand until his arrest in 2009.

KP was just one of many so-called international rebel figures the Thai authorities didn't want to mess with. Prior to that, there was the arrest of Naga rebel leader Thuingaleng Muivah in Bangkok in 2000. He, too, had been in and out of Thailand until the curtain fell on him.

Thailand has also been a hub for down-and-out rebel leaders from neighbouring countries including Burma, Cambodia and Laos. It's one thing to permit Thailand to be a rest and recuperation place for political cliques from neighbouring countries, but when Thailand is at risk of becoming a launching pad for Iran-backed Hezbollah, one of the world's most feared militant groups, it is entirely another matter. Something will have to change if Thailand is to be taken seriously as a responsible parter in the global community.

The recent arrest of its suspects is not the first time Hezbollah has made headlines in Thailand. In March 1994, a Hezbollah-linked group planned a car bomb attack at the Israeli Embassy in Bangkok, which was situated in Soi Langsuan. By sheer luck, the mission was aborted as the bomb mysteriously failed.

But this time around, there is too much heat for Bangkok's liking. A pro-Iranian group, Hezbollah has once again placed Thailand under an unwanted spotlight, and Bangkok has been forced to act. And not surprisingly, the authorities went about the task in a very clumsy manner, shooting themselves in the foot while unintentionally revealing a lack of sophistication and professionalism as they struggled to deal with the issue.

One can say that the Thai authorities were forced to act because the US Embassy in Bangkok had posted a warning of a possible terrorist attack in Bangkok on Friday, January 13.

The suspect, a Lebanese-born Swedish citizen, Hussein Atris, has been on a watch list since December 10 last year, after local autorities were warned that Hezbollah operatives, who were already present in Thailand, with others possibly arriving, could carry out attacks in Bangkok. Possible targets included US and Israeli citizens.

After hours of intense interrogation, Atris disclosed the location of a three-storey building in Mahachai, Samut Sakon, on the outskirts of Bangkok, where he had stored explosive materials - urea-based fertiliser and ammonium nitrate. The Thai authorities believed that these supplies were destined for third countries, not for local targets. In other words, if Iran was attacked by the US or Israel, Bangkok would become a launch pad for counter attacks.

The Thai government reacted furiously to the US announcement and demanded that the American Embassy lift the warning now that the suspect was in custody along with the explosive materials found at his warehouse in Samut Sakon. The notion of boosting the country's counter-terrorism credibility didn't cross their minds. They appeared to be more concerned with tourist dollars, as well as the upcoming Chinese New Year celebration.

The above-mentioned so-called liberators are not the only undesirable people who have entered Thailand over the past decades. Criminals and transnational criminal groups of all stripes have been using the country as a base to carry out all sorts of illegal activities such as arms and drug dealings and human trafficking.

But the presence of Hezbollah is an indication that something has to give. And the first thing that might have to be let go is the long-standing notion that as long as we don't interfere with these foreign organizations, they won't harm us. If Thailand wants to be taken seriously in the international arena, it will have to take this route.

-- The Nation 2012-01-26

[BookMan]

I would love to see the authorities taking some action on terrorist threats. I'd love even more to be able to have confidence in their actions!

[LPCustom69]

The terrorist scum have been coming here for decades.

[mrtoad]

No need to worry, Chalerm is on it.

[ozzieman05]

Its great to hear the Govt is now ready to crack down on the major criminal gangs

Now lets see who is the biggest

Does the name Thaskin come to mind

[supaprik]

"If Thailand wants to be taken seriously in the international arena, it will have to take this route."

regardless of what Thailand does, I seriously doubt it will ever be taken seriously by anyone with a brain! sad but true, this of course doesnt mean the Thai Gov can keep turning a blind eye to oblviously what is a serious problem for not only Thailand but for mankind

[noitom]

This editorial organizes and summarizes some key and alarming events that when viewed in one central focus raise up all kinds of concerns about security. Starting with the Tamil submersible construction in Phuket, a criminal methodology that was pioneered and commonly used by drug cartels in South America, the litany of Thai lapses in behavior and security are very disconcerting and scary.

This is a reasonably good editorial pointing out, in one stream of consciousness, the danger and risk in the current Thai environment and the "attitude" behind it. Not wanting to "step on the toes" of known high risk individuals and groups for fear of reprisal or moving in the direction of conflict is exactly the attitude and cultural DNA that gives rise to the entire corrupt Thai system. This attitude of complacency combined with a financial/personal gain is what Thailand is all about.

The editorial concludes that while it may be okay to run an R & R locale and a world class tourist house of ill repute, it is quite another matter to accept terrorism and its associated narco trafficking, counterfeiting, money laundering, and weapons deals. Furthermore, it is incumbent on any homeland to secure its borders to human trafficking and other illegal activity as well as prohibiting and standing watch on its turf that terrorist groups aren't permitted to meet, congregate and organize their activities. It is unconscionable that Thai officials would knowingly "look aside" as rogue quasi-rebel and potential and known terrorist individuals and groups come and go as they please with impunity and payoffs.

The Nation and the Bangkok Post should pursue investigative reports centered on this issue in a relentless campaign. Thailand needs to take ownership of its own security and demonstrate to its constituencies of citizens, foreign residents, tourists, and other world governments that it is capable of earning the right to be a tourist hub and partner to other nations and commercial interests.

[anterian]

The Thai mantra is "Don't rock the boat", just keep your head in the sand.

[belg]

thai way : as long as the right pockets get filled = look the other way

[z12]

But domestic red shirt & black shirt terrorists are ok eh.

[blackthorn2005]

Thailand needs to sort out it's domestic organised crime before it considers entering the world stage.

[Chang_paarp]

Who is going to take action? The police?

[mrtoad]

Thailand needs to sort out it's domestic organised crime before it considers entering the world stage.

Could be problematic ; starting with PT, UDD and then on to BIB etc

[Tanaka]

No more leniency towards criminal organisations

They could start with sacking the entire police force and start again providing adequate salaries and police schools.

[TAWP]

The terrorist scum have been coming here for decades.

And now they are in the government too.