'Al-Qaeda' Video Threatening Thaksin's Life Dismissed As Fake

BANGKOK: -- Top intelligence official said the video of 3 men claiming to be Al-Qaeda operatives and placing bounty on former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra is definitely fake.

In a video posted to Youtube website, 3 individuals clad in Arabic-looking costumes identified themselves as members of the Salafi network at an unknown location.

One of them was holding portrait of Mr. Thaksin, while the man in the middle read out a statement in English detailing their intention to avenge deaths of Muslims in the 3 border provinces of Southern Thailand who were allegedly killed by Thaksin′s heavy-handed policy to quell the separatist insurgency there in 2004.

Although the region, an independent kingdom called Pattani before it was incorporated into modern Siam, was long known for separatist insurgencies, the latest wave of violence flared in 2004 when Mr. Thaksin was the Prime Minister of Thailand.

The self-proclaimed militant denounced policies toward the Southern region conducted by the government of Mr. Thaksin′s sister, Ms. Yingluck Shinawatra. He warned that Mr. Thaksin′s time is over, and that Al-Qaeda′s "Dead Squads" would always hunt him.

"We will try to assassinate you at any time and any place. You will no longer be safe in any corner of this world," the man promised.

The video was posted on 26 July - Mr. Thaksin′s birthdat. It was circulated widely by anti-government social network users for a while, but it is now set as "private" and not accessible to general public.

Lt.Gen. Paradorn Pattanatabutr, secretary-general of the National Security Council, told Khaosod that the "amateurish" video is clearly not a work of Al-Qaeda or any other Islamist organization.

"The people who made this clip are no other than the same group who want to overthrow Mr. Thaksin," Lt.Gen. Paradorn declared.

The secretary-general added that the ongoing insurgency in the Southern border provinces is also not connected to Al-Qaeda or Mr. Thaksin. In fact, he said, it concerns the Thai authorities and local separatists.

Asked if the Thai government would have to clarify details about the videoclip with Malaysian government - who is mediating a ceasefire between the Thai security forces and the insurgents - Lt.Gen. Paradorn said the Malaysian government is well aware that the troubles in Southern Thailand are not related to Al-Qaeda.

"They are also aware that right now there is anti-democracy movement campaigning against the government," Lt.Gen. Paradorn said tartly.

Source: http://www.khaosod.co.th/en/view_newsonline.php?newsid=TVRNM05EazBNalUyTkE9PQ==&subcatid=

--KHAOSOD ONLINE 2013-07-28

Fake, like everything else in the country ?

DSI on the case looking for the democrats involved

A "FAKE", bugga, could solve a lot of the countries woes.

It appears that Oak is at it again.

I suppose I could be really cynical, unusual for me, and suggest it's the PTP flying a false flag to generate sympathy for the blameless birthday boy

No it's not the work of al Qaeda. It's the work of Moslem looking guys with machine guns claiming they want to kill Thaksin for his governments actions.

What would necessarily be fake about that ?

"The people who made this clip are no other than the same group who want to overthrow Mr. Thaksin," Lt.Gen. Paradorn declared.

Overthrow Thaksin from what?

Seem rather desperate to get al Qaeda out of the subject don't they.

"The people who made this clip are no other than the same group who want to overthrow Mr. Thaksin," Lt.Gen. Paradorn declared.

Overthrow Thaksin from what?

Another admission that he is the one and only government ? I love reading statements from official spokespeople, they are the worst in the business and I suppose to be fair it's hard to talk with both feet in your mouth.

If you did want to put a hit on someone a little misdirection wouldn't hurt, just saying.

Yes Paradorn. We can all clearly see that the 3 in the video are none other than Abdul Zafir Vejjajiva, Mohammed Suthep and Saddam Hussain Korn. The cameraman is Tul Bin Pattani.

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

I can't find the video and was looking forward to a chuckle.

Definitely a fake. Thaksin had nothing to do with any muslim deaths in the south, they all spontaneously died because they were weak from fasting during Ramadan. At least that's what he claimed at the time.

A post has been removed. Please stay on topic.

They got their 15 minutes of fame.

Reminds me of the Bt.1 million baht reward to anyone who could bring Thaksin back to Thailand (in handcuffs?). Fake offer, no substance, no follow-up, collective forgetfulness, ......welcome to the Thai way.

I watched most of the video last night before it was taken down, and what I saw was in Arabic. It appears that they also used English as well. But no Thai??

Fake, like everything else in the country ?

DSI on the case looking for the democrats involved

Mr. T just relax

Dismissing this as fake is a no panic , we are in control , trust us , message , it really is a non event ,because whether it's Al - Qaeda or someone else, it probably will happen at some stage, so they better realise this sooner than later, as not being a fake.

Interesting birthday greeting.

I guess "girl in cake" is getting quite passe nowadays...

I watched most of the video last night before it was taken down, and what I saw was in Arabic. It appears that they also used English as well. But no Thai??

I wonder if there are any native Arabic speakers that could shed some light on the dialect or region where this might have been made. Could it have been an older video with some dubbing to change the wording?

This really isn't a very nice thing to do. If I didn't know better, I would think that there are people out there that do not like Mr. Thaksin very well.

Episode 2 has Thaksin begging his sister to pay the ransom.

It's not until episode 3 that they cut his head off.

I've put in an order for the whole series, director's cut.

I watched most of the video last night before it was taken down, and what I saw was in Arabic. It appears that they also used English as well. But no Thai??

I wonder if there are any native Arabic speakers that could shed some light on the dialect or region where this might have been made. Could it have been an older video with some dubbing to change the wording?

It didn't look like an old video, and if it was, how old?

The dubbing would have worked fine while they had the scarves over their faces, but not so well when the scarves were removed.

I don't think the video is available anymore.

I watched most of the video last night before it was taken down, and what I saw was in Arabic. It appears that they also used English as well. But no Thai??

I wonder if there are any native Arabic speakers that could shed some light on the dialect or region where this might have been made. Could it have been an older video with some dubbing to change the wording?

It didn't look like an old video, and if it was, how old?

The dubbing would have worked fine while they had the scarves over their faces, but not so well when the scarves were removed.

I don't think the video is available anymore.

Still up(2 times) as of 9am.

Interesting that during the English language part of the video, the speaker removes his veil so his face can clearly be seen. Do I hear a slight Philipines accent from this clearly Arabic man? I'm no expert but it does not appear to be a hoax or a joke.The fact they are reposting it faster than youtube can remove it shows they are serious.

Past threaths , there have been a few, orginated from, and were leaked to the public from the Shin secret service,. Ask 'Oak', daddy or any of the hired help, where this earth shattering plot was dreamed up?

Maybe the birthday bash did not turn out the number wanted, so this ploy for another group of the bleeding heart club is thrown out.

It does meet the past timing of another trip abroad by the PM.

'Al-Qaeda' Video Threatening Thaksin's Life Dismissed As Fake

Fake or not, makes no difference. The death warrant will be filtered through the world. Al-Qaeda are groups with an agenda, there is no large organization in control, but if one small organization put a person on the international hit list, Dubai might not be a safe place to live.

It's nothing more than another Yellow Skirts trick.

Terrorists would not differentiate between the ruling factions in Thailand.

It's as real as this.......

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1uwOL4rB-go

If you've never seen that clip before have a look, well worth it.

I can't find the video and was looking forward to a chuckle.

This is why you cant find it.