Why not tell people the truth about city blast?

[Lite Beer]

EDITORIAL
Why not tell people the truth about city blast?
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Police stance on Ramkhamhaeng bomb is at odds with information that the suspect was an insurgent

National police chief Pol Gen Adul Saengsingkaew has repeatedly dismissed any connection between the May 26 bomb in Ramkhamhaeng Soi 43 and the insurgency in the south, however, it is not hard to sense that he is not telling the public the whole truth.

Adul was understandably frustrated with having to answer questions in public over the possible link. Sharing his frustration was Army chief Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha, who urged the media to give the police some breathing space to do their work.

But the damage has already been done. Provincial investigator Pol Col Sathanfa Wamasing had gone on the record to say that the alleged bomber, Idris Satapo, 24, has been linked to an insurgent group and possibly the cell that murdered Wat Phrom Prasit abbot and two other monks in Pattani's Panare district in October 2005.

According to various sources, Idris has admitted that he was a lookout for the May 26 bomb attack on Ramkhamhaeng street stalls and that he gave some names, all of whom are on the authorities' black list of militant suspects in the deep South.

And while the country's top security big wigs dismissed the claim of possible links between the Ramkhamhaeng blast and the insurgency in the south, their instructions to their men suggest otherwise.

Moreover, it has been reported that the Metropolitan Police Bureau said all police units in the capital had been ordered to coordinate efforts to monitor areas where students from Ramkhamhaeng University hang out, and check the background of teens hailing from the three southern border provinces.

Giving out conflicting information about sensitive issues is a common trait among security leaders in Thailand. The half-hearted explanation from Adul and Prayuth, along with conflicting remarks from a senior field officer, suggest that Thailand's security apparatus does not have a contingency plan on how to handle urgent and sensitive matters.

Certainly, the thought of Malay Muslim separatist insurgents taking their fight outside of the Deep South has crossed their mind and the public knows this as well.

Authorities often comfort themselves by telling the public that such a thing will never happened - but they never explained why they think that.

And so when there is an incident, such as on May 26 in Ramkhamhaeng, that suggests something different, our top security men react in a way that is hardly reassuring.

It is somewhat scary to see top security officials believing their own fantasy and wishful thinking. It's so odd how they can't even entertain the thought that insurgents from the deep South might target Bangkok. It's not that these militants have to travel far or go through all sorts of immigration and official barriers to get to the capital. After all, these insurgents are all Thai citizens with official national identification cards from the Interior Ministry.

Perhaps, if our security big-wigs and policy-makers were afraid that the truth would scare people in the big city, or tourists, they might decide to hold information back. But if they were really concerned, they should stop thinking what's good for us and come clean.

A few foreign tourists might cancel trips to Thailand. But a true and honest answer could help mobilise the general public to work with the authorities to tackle possible incidents and challenges relating to public safety and national security. A society that is alert and on its toes is good for the country.

-- The Nation 2013-06-23

[NongKhaiKid]

The BIB etc make the rods for their own backs as at first they suggested no less than four possible motives then cut and paste later to suit their needs, not unlike a certain abduction and murder.

[DocN]

Since when does anyone around here ever tell the truth?

[DiNiro]

The Nation, promoting truth?

Funny.

[meatboy]

Since when does anyone around here ever tell the truth?

nobody knows the meaning of the word.

[Thai at Heart]

Because telling the truth represents a big problem.

So, revert to type and cover it up.

More rice for breakfast anyone.....

[arthurboy]

Since when does anyone around here ever tell the truth?

And why do these people shoot off at the mouth anyway after this kind of incident?

In Thailand, it's always been de rigueur for senior officials to make arrogant, loud mouthed statements without first having the evidence to do so.

It's always a little too convenient, don't you think?

Muppets, the lot of them.

[A Member]

Since when does anyone around here ever tell the truth?

And why do these people shoot off at the mouth anyway after this kind of incident?

In Thailand, it's always been de rigueur for senior officials to make arrogant, loud mouthed statements without first having the evidence to do so.

It's always a little too convenient, don't you think?

Muppets, the lot of them.

It's loss of face to have to say the most appropriate things such as an enquiry is at a very early stage and needs through investigation so they come out with immediate, ill considered remarks that have no foundation and for good measure throw in a multiple choice list of motives.

[Mampara]

Since when does anyone around here ever tell the truth?

They do actually eventually tell the truth, but only when the cat's out of the bag.

[soi41]

To expats and Thais, don't worry! The local Hercule Poirot, Mr Chalerm is on the case!

[lemonjelly]

<According to various sources, Idris has admitted that he was a lookout for the May 26 bomb attack on Ramkhamhaeng street stalls and that he gave some names, all of whom are on the authorities' black list of militant suspects in the deep South.>

Earlier statements issued by the police said the bomb used in Ramkanhaeng bore no resemblance to bombs used in the south. To my knowledge, the insurgents have not yet brought their fight to BKK, if they did, would they not do it in a grander style, take the Lee Gardens bombing for example. One has to wonder, was Id-ris giving false confessions just to stop interrogation techniques?

Edited June 23, 2013 by lemonjelly

[IMA_FARANG]

Worldwide, when the "truth" is inconvenient for the government to reveal, they simply reveal whatever is their version of what they call the "truth".

That applies to Europe and the U.S. also.

The "truth" doesn't suit governments in power well, that's why governments have public relations specialists or as they are called in Thailand "spokesmen".

All governments much prefer that the less the public actually knows, the better they like that fact.

Having a educated and well informed public is not in the best interest of any government these days.

Your a silly fool if you believe otherwise.

[55Jay]

More inclined to believe the first Pol Col down south.

The National guy, Abdul, subject to political pressure to keep people calm and toe the party line that everything's under control.

A 3 to 4 man team on a bomb hit in BKK, over a vendor dispute, injuring 7 people, just doesn't ring true.

[hellodolly]

<According to various sources, Idris has admitted that he was a lookout for the May 26 bomb attack on Ramkhamhaeng street stalls and that he gave some names, all of whom are on the authorities' black list of militant suspects in the deep South.>

Earlier statements issued by the police said the bomb used in Ramkanhaeng bore no resemblance to bombs used in the south. To my knowledge, the insurgents have not yet brought their fight to BKK, if they did, would they not do it in a grander style, take the Lee Gardens bombing for example. One has to wonder, was Id-ris giving false confessions just to stop interrogation techniques?

One could also reason that here in Bangkok it is easier to get the ingredients for a different type bomb than they use in the south.

I don't really know or have any facts to back up my idea. But I do believe that buying the material for bomb making in the South is more closely monitored than in Bangkok.

That being said I also would wonder if the insurgents in the South really have the man power to start up an operation in Bangkok. Or is it local sympathizers. Islam is a growing religion here in Thailand.

[chuang]

Since when does anyone around here ever tell the truth?

nobody knows the meaning of the word.

The TRUTH always hurts..

[Emdog]

I was wondering when they would bring the revolt north. Maybe there is secret agreement that they can blow up and behead all they want down south as long as it stays there. If I were an insurgent, I sure as heck would hit where it got the most attention, and that would be in BKK.

[tomross46]

" The Truth, You Want the Truth, Your Not Ready For The Truth". " I did not have sex with that woman, that woman Monica Lawinski ", " We are no listening to the telephone calls or reading the e-mail of Americans", " I know nothing about Fast and Furious"

How to tell if a politician is lying, watch his lips, if they move he is lying.

Edited June 23, 2013 by tomross46

[hansgruber]

Truth isn't profitable.

[55Jay]

Truth can be scary.

[robertson468]

If the Thai Authorities were to concede that terrorist activities are spreading out from the Southern Counties, all the Embassies would leap on this and Thailand would very rapidly become "persona non gratas" for hundreds of thousands of holiday makers. This is why they are making it up as they go along, but unfortunately not everyone is joined up with "today's story in the saga" and other accidentally tell the truth.

[drdoom6996]

Since when does anyone around here ever tell the truth?

+1

[Bagwan]

Worldwide, when the "truth" is inconvenient for the government to reveal, they simply reveal whatever is their version of what they call the "truth".

That applies to Europe and the U.S. also.

The "truth" doesn't suit governments in power well, that's why governments have public relations specialists or as they are called in Thailand "spokesmen".

All governments much prefer that the less the public actually knows, the better they like that fact.

Having a educated and well informed public is not in the best interest of any government these days.

Your a silly fool if you believe otherwise.

Ain't that the truth? Hence the US Government being so anxious to get their dirty mitts on Edward Snowden. He is not the first intelligence analyst to be ground into the dust by the crooks in Washington, Langley and other places. In many cases 'the truth' actually covered up by Governments s bears no relation to actuality i.e Governments are lied to by the 'spook' organisations hidden from thepublic eye, supposedly under Government control, but all too frequently act independently in accordance with their own agendas.

Google 'whistleblowers' and be appalled.

[TomTao]

Since when does anyone around here ever tell the truth?

If the truth was told, it may lead some to speculate that the sepratists had decided to move thier campaign of terror north to the economic heartland, and that may scare some tourists off, if such a word got around, and the government can't have tourist numbers dropping, that would be a disaster.

[Noistar]

I was wondering when they would bring the revolt north. Maybe there is secret agreement that they can blow up and behead all they want down south as long as it stays there. If I were an insurgent, I sure as heck would hit where it got the most attention, and that would be in BKK.

Or Phuket or Pattaya.

[Mudcrab]

<According to various sources, Idris has admitted that he was a lookout for the May 26 bomb attack on Ramkhamhaeng street stalls and that he gave some names, all of whom are on the authorities' black list of militant suspects in the deep South.>

Earlier statements issued by the police said the bomb used in Ramkanhaeng bore no resemblance to bombs used in the south. To my knowledge, the insurgents have not yet brought their fight to BKK, if they did, would they not do it in a grander style, take the Lee Gardens bombing for example. One has to wonder, was Id-ris giving false confessions just to stop interrogation techniques?

One could also reason that here in Bangkok it is easier to get the ingredients for a different type bomb than they use in the south.

I don't really know or have any facts to back up my idea. But I do believe that buying the material for bomb making in the South is more closely monitored than in Bangkok.

That being said I also would wonder if the insurgents in the South really have the man power to start up an operation in Bangkok. Or is it local sympathizers. Islam is a growing religion here in Thailand.

get yourself some fertiliser and some diesel and you have yourself a bomb. Timothy McVie (excuse the spelling if incorrect) used it to great effect with his truck bomb in the US.

[Mudcrab]

Since when does anyone around here ever tell the truth?

If the truth was told, it may lead some to speculate that the sepratists had decided to move thier campaign of terror north to the economic heartland, and that may scare some tourists off, if such a word got around, and the government can't have tourist numbers dropping, that would be a disaster.

it will depend on the separatists, if that is what they are. If they want regional autonomy then the end game is reasonably achievable...however if they want Islamic supremacy then that is a different issue and you can well expect an escalation. The situation with Afghanistan and indeed Syria (eventually) will ensure there are quite a few Islamic "freedom fighters" with a bit of spare time on their hands. This may be quite inconvenient and indeed unpleasant in some quarters.

[jayjayjayjay]

This is not political. If you worried, make your own mind and get out of dodge! Be responsible for you own actions.... Keep it simple Idiot

[55Jay]

I'm just trying to make heads or tails of the Gov's recent announcement they are considering an administrative separation for the southern provinces, like Pattaya for instance, with its own guv'na. Then they said, naw, not really.

Many here on TV said, "Yeah, why not?"

Others said, "No Way, we'll have Sharia law in a short period of time, don't give 'em an inch".

So, what's the deal? Never give an inch and keep them reigned in under Thai rule? Or let them go on their own?

Edited June 23, 2013 by 55Jay