Foreign Minister Surapong Plays Down Terrorist Link To Bangkok Blasts

[webfact]

EXPLOSIONS

FM plays down terrorist link to Bangkok blasts

BANGKOK: -- Thai officials on Wednesday said it was too early to link three blasts in Bangkok to international terrorist groups.

"At the moment, there is no evidence linking this incident to terrorism," Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul said.

On Tuesday, an explosion in a rented house in Bangkok prompted the four foreign residents to flee, police said.

One man, after failing to hail a cab, threw a grenade at a taxi, injuring the driver and three pedestrians. He later threw another at a police car, but it bounced back and blew up in front of him, severing both legs.

The suspect was initially identified as Iranian national Saeib Morabi. Police arrested another Iranian, Mohammad Hazai, 42, at Suvarnabhumi International Airport late Tuesday as he was about to board a plane to Kuala Lumpur.

He had been identified by surveillance cameras as one three Iranians staying at the house where the bomb was detonated, police said.

The two other suspects, including one woman, were still at large. Police said they found C-4 plastic explosives in the house that they rented in Bangkok.

"We are checking with the Iranian embassy whether the two men under custody are Iranians," Surapong said. "They could be holding fake documents," he noted. Bangkok is a regional hub for purchasing fake identification documents.

Iran on Wednesday denied any involvement and condemned the attacks by accusing Israel.

"The Zionist regime is trying to tarnish the historic ties between Iran and Thailand by such acts," Foreign Ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast told state television network IRIB.

The incident prompted 10 embassies to issue travel warnings to their citizens visiting Bangkok.

Last month, the US and 10 other embassies issued travel warnings after being informed of planned terrorist attacks on US and Israeli citizens in the Thai capital.

On January 16, police found 400 boxes of bomb-making materials in a shophouse believed to be linked to that plot.

Police said they were alerted to the cache by Attis Hussein, a Swedish-Lebanese man arrested days after the US embassy travel alert on suspicion of being a member of the Hezbollah militant group.

Maintaining security and the country’s appeal as a tourist destination is a key task for authorities in Thailand, which drew 19 million visitors last year.

Although Iranians, unlike many Middle Eastern nationals, cannot get a visa on arrival, "there has been a significant increase in Iranian tourists visiting Thailand last year," said a Thai diplomat who asked to remain anonymous.

-- The Nation 2012-02-15

[webfact]

RT @RichardBarrow: Thai DPM Chalerm: Yesterday's triple blast not terrorist, just a minor symbolic act /via @Juarawee #FacePalm

[AleG]

Of course PTP and friends don't like to call throwing grenades around an act of terrorism. Cuts too close to the bone.

[rubl]

RT @RichardBarrow: Thai DPM Chalerm: Yesterday's triple blast not terrorist, just a minor symbolic act /via @Juarawee #FacePalm

As this is posted in two topics I guess I'll be excused for replying on both as well.

Reply by tourist: "Well that's nice. Me not going to Thailand now is also merely a minor symbolic act"

Edited February 15, 2012 by rubl

[rubl]

Of course PTP and friends don't like to call throwing grenades around an act of terrorism. Cuts too close to the bone.

We haven't heard from Pheu Thai party list MP's and UDD leaders k. Nattawut and k. Jatuporn yet, did we? I mean this minor symbolic act is clearly a copyright infringement

[whybother]

Bangkok is a regional hub for purchasing fake identification documents.

Another hub.

[whybother]

"At the moment, there is no evidence linking this incident to terrorism," Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul said.

BANGKOK, February 15, 2012 (AFP) - Iranian suspects behind a failed attack in Bangkok aimed to assassinate Israeli diplomats, a Thai official said Wednesday, in the third bomb plot to shake world capitals this week.

If that's not a link to terrorism, I don't know what is.

[Jingthing]

RT @RichardBarrow: Thai DPM Chalerm: Yesterday's triple blast not terrorist, just a minor symbolic act /via @Juarawee #FacePalm

Shockingly wrong. Does he even believe that or is it a face thing? Not sure which is worse. Edited February 15, 2012 by Jingthing

[DocN]

Naaaaaah...those were Iranian students of Physics or Chemistry on a field- trip....

[DP25]

These people just make the situation worse with comments like that. Everyone in the world knows it was a terrorism attempt, but that he messed up and blew his own house up and then legs off.

As bad as my country's politicians can be I'm grateful that none of these cancers that Thailand is infested with could last at home

[mania2301]

woowww....a symbolic act!! i wouldn't want to be in bangkok if any of these terrorist decide to perform some more symbolic act to revenge their friends already in police custody.

[toenail]

Thank you foreign minister Surapong T for re-enforcing the belief not to believe in what the present Thai government says... on anything.

[andyww]

These people just make the situation worse with comments like that. Everyone in the world knows it was a terrorism attempt, but that he messed up and blew his own house up and then legs off.

Do they? This appears to be a botched attempt to assasinate Israeli diplomats. Terrorism is usually defined as targetting innocent members of the public or buildings. Of course its true to say that when someone attempts to blow up a car, its better not to be in the vicinity, but there is an important difference in intent. These people had a clearly defined task to do, probably knew the names of the people they were aiming for. They failed. End of story. There is little justification for imposing travel advisory etc in this case.

The Western press are not reporting this as terrorism, they are treating it as a failed assasination attempt and they are correct in doing so given the evidence.

[Steely Dan]

woowww....a symbolic act!! i wouldn't want to be in bangkok if any of these terrorist decide to perform some more symbolic act to revenge their friends already in police custody.

Had they completed a fertilizer bomb large enough to fill a truck they could have taken down an apartment block quite easily killing hundreds at a stroke, now that would indeed be more than symbolic.

[Ricardo]

RT @RichardBarrow: Thai DPM Chalerm: Yesterday's triple blast not terrorist, just a minor symbolic act /via @Juarawee #FacePalm

And the C4 plastic-explosive found in their house had been planted there, as an sign of international-friendship ?

And Foreign-Minister Surapong thinks it's normal to throw grenades at passers-by, or at a Thai police-car, "no evidence linking this incident to terrorism" because the grenades exploded, thus removing that part of the evidence, perhaps ?

They might do better to await the arrival of the 'official version of events', from Dubai.

[daninthai]

These people just make the situation worse with comments like that. Everyone in the world knows it was a terrorism attempt, but that he messed up and blew his own house up and then legs off.

Do they? This appears to be a botched attempt to assasinate Israeli diplomats. Terrorism is usually defined as targetting innocent members of the public or buildings. Of course its true to say that when someone attempts to blow up a car, its better not to be in the vicinity, but there is an important difference in intent. These people had a clearly defined task to do, probably knew the names of the people they were aiming for. They failed. End of story. There is little justification for imposing travel advisory etc in this case.

The Western press are not reporting this as terrorism, they are treating it as a failed assasination attempt and they are correct in doing so given the evidence.

You have no clue what terrorism is. Sorry to be rude, but broaden your education before you start commenting on topics.

Terrorism:

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

2. the state of fear and submission produced by terrorism or terrorization.

3. A terroristic method of governing or of resisting a government.

Clearly not what you say it is.

Edited February 15, 2012 by daninthai

[MikeOboe57]

These people just make the situation worse with comments like that. Everyone in the world knows it was a terrorism attempt, but that he messed up and blew his own house up and then legs off.

Do they? This appears to be a botched attempt to assasinate Israeli diplomats. Terrorism is usually defined as targetting innocent members of the public or buildings. Of course its true to say that when someone attempts to blow up a car, its better not to be in the vicinity, but there is an important difference in intent. These people had a clearly defined task to do, probably knew the names of the people they were aiming for. They failed. End of story. There is little justification for imposing travel advisory etc in this case.

The Western press are not reporting this as terrorism, they are treating it as a failed assasination attempt and they are correct in doing so given the evidence.

Thanks for the clarification. These three stooges had only the most honorable intentions so it would be an insult to label them as terrorists.

After blowing up their house one of them went on a killing rampage which fortunately failed to produce the desired effect (blow up a car, kill policemen and passers-by).

And tossing packs of C4 explosives at individuals will inevitably cause "collateral damage", which means indiscriminate killing and maiming of "innocent" bystanders.

So you'd better just try to keep a minimum distance of at least 20 metres from people looking like Goldie Hawn, Barbra Streisand, Woody Allen and Walther Matthau when the next batch of honourable Iranian gentlemen declares open season on the "Zionists"...

[Reasonableman]

woowww....a symbolic act!! i wouldn't want to be in bangkok if any of these terrorist decide to perform some more symbolic act to revenge their friends already in police custody.

Luckily, they didn't have a nuclear device for an even more symbolic act.

[Ulysses G.]

These people just make the situation worse with comments like that. Everyone in the world knows it was a terrorism attempt, but that he messed up and blew his own house up and then legs off.

Do they? This appears to be a botched attempt to assasinate Israeli diplomats.

How do you know that? Are you posting from Malaysia?

[Colin Yai]

Of course PTP and friends don't like to call throwing grenades around an act of terrorism. Cuts too close to the bone.

Yeah quite correct AG ,they just cannot go around telling the truth now can they!!

[Reasonableman]

RT @RichardBarrow: Thai DPM Chalerm: Yesterday's triple blast not terrorist, just a minor symbolic act /via @Juarawee #FacePalm

Shockingly wrong. Does he even believe that or is it a face thing? Not sure which is worse.

The sad thing is that some people will actually swallow this pap.

Edited February 15, 2012 by Reasonableman

[Colin Yai]

RT @RichardBarrow: Thai DPM Chalerm: Yesterday's triple blast not terrorist, just a minor symbolic act /via @Juarawee #FacePalm

And the C4 plastic-explosive found in their house had been planted there, as an sign of international-friendship ?

And Foreign-Minister Surapong thinks it's normal to throw grenades at passers-by, or at a Thai police-car, "no evidence linking this incident to terrorism" because the grenades exploded, thus removing that part of the evidence, perhaps ?

They might do better to await the arrival of the 'official version of events', from Dubai.

Nice one Ricardo, you,re my man ,but try and not write the simple facts of the matter too much ,as it may cause embarrassment for some members who see it a USA /Israeli plot to start WW3

[Misterwhisper]

The official statements of these clowns just get more bizarre by the day.

[andyww]

These people just make the situation worse with comments like that. Everyone in the world knows it was a terrorism attempt, but that he messed up and blew his own house up and then legs off.

Do they? This appears to be a botched attempt to assasinate Israeli diplomats.

How do you know that? Are you posting from Malaysia?

I do not know that, which is why I wrote "appears to be".

I am merely reflecting the view of the news commentators in the Western press, including the BBC, who have not mentioned terrorism at all in their reports. In fact the views are nothing like the majority of comments on ThaiVisa which seem to suggest tourism will collapse and Thailand is descending into a terrorist battleground.

[janverbeem]

Of course it is no terrorist act.

These days every tourist has some spare C4 in his backpack to throw at taxidrivers who refuse to take them somewhere.

[chooka]

Surapong Tovichakchaikul - Nothing to see here, go about your business/spending it was only a car backfiring no need for alarm. Don't listen to those silly little warnings your silly little governments are giving. Thailand knows what's best for you and we will take care of your wallets. Will never be a terrorist incident in Thailand I assure you of this.

[Ricardo]

RT @RichardBarrow: Thai DPM Chalerm: Yesterday's triple blast not terrorist, just a minor symbolic act /via @Juarawee #FacePalm

And the C4 plastic-explosive found in their house had been planted there, as an sign of international-friendship ?

And Foreign-Minister Surapong thinks it's normal to throw grenades at passers-by, or at a Thai police-car, "no evidence linking this incident to terrorism" because the grenades exploded, thus removing that part of the evidence, perhaps ?

They might do better to await the arrival of the 'official version of events', from Dubai.

Nice one Ricardo, you,re my man ,but try and not write the simple facts of the matter too much ,as it may cause embarrassment for some members who see it a USA /Israeli plot to start WW3

No, I'm sure MP-Jatuporn warned us, that wasn't due until June, just after the forthcoming coup, and FM-Surapong is ready to assure us that the dust-clouds will drift past Thailand, because we're friends with everyone, and Science-Minister Plodprasop has a statement ready-to-roll, that radioactive exotic-meat buffets are good for you, and will bring in hordes of tourists, so 'Stay Calm, Don't Panic, We're In-Charge' as-ever !

Coming to a Comedy-Show near You, Shortly !

[Unkomoncents]

This guy (Surapong) is known as "His Excellency" according to the Web. I am so excited to see how the 'excellent-ness' gets his stooge (blockface) into the country. Oh, can I preempt the entire Thai government by saying: "Hello. Everything is fine! Everyone is good! We don't like Westerners! Attack Westerners, not Us. We so GOOD. Mee so GOOOOD. Give me money for your food." I capitalize 'us' so that it's clear, in the post, that I acknowledge the hilariously ignorant, haughty Thai (stereotype).

[BigRick]

This guy (Surapong) is known as "His Excellency" according to the Web. I am so excited to see how the 'excellent-ness' gets his stooge (blockface) into the country. Oh, can I preempt the entire Thai government by saying: "Hello. Everything is fine! Everyone is good! We don't like Westerners! Attack Westerners, not Us. We so GOOD. Mee so GOOOOD. Give me money for your food." I capitalize 'us' so that it's clear, in the post, that I acknowledge the hilariously ignorant, haughty Thai (stereotype).

I don't think it is that bad. I have lived here 16 months and like any country you have good and bad people, Most of the Thai people I interact with in my neighborhood are actually very nice. I would agree about downplaying what is clearly not something Thailand wants to be involved with. I doubt the powers that be see this as any kind of oppurtunity because it is not a positive event. They already have a stricter visa restriction for Iranian nationals. You also have to take into account this involves a possible Islamic attack<Epic fail on the idiot with the grenade I only wish Nelson Muntz from The Simpsons was there to go HAHA> in a majority Buddhist country. You also have to remember he threw the grenade at the police and or a Taxi. I have yet to see a Farang driving a taxi of being a cop. Here there is a level of distraction I have not seen in many places. I do not know if it is part of coping with thier culture being inundated by outside influences or 3 years of bad stuff happening.

[z12]

""We are checking with the Iranian embassy whether the two men under custody are Iranians," Surapong said. "They could be holding fake documents," he noted. Bangkok is a regional hub for purchasing fake identification documents."

So these fake Iranians would try to fly and fly to Malaysia, good one. nice try.

Edited February 15, 2012 by z12