EDITORIAL
Video threat should not be dismissed so easily
The Nation

The country's security apparatus needs to be free of political interference if it is to work effectively

BANGKOK: -- Security authorities were quick to conclude that a video recently posted online by a group of men who claimed to be members of al-Qaeda, in which they vowed to kill fugitive former prime minster Thaksin Shinawatra, was a hoax.

It's strange how quick and efficient the authorities can be if they really want to. But do they know the truth - or are they just jumping the gun, simply because Thaksin's image and international standing is at stake?

It's good to be alert and prompt. But the manner in which the authorities have gone about dealing with this makes us wonder if their enthusiasm is driven by concern for the national interest or one man, the country's de facto leader.

Security issues must not be politicised because it undermines national security and intelligence work.

Regardless of whether the three hooded men seen in the video were genuine or part of a ploy to put the ousted former premier in a bad light, our security officials should not take the issue lightly. The fact that three hooded men have tapped into the "global war on terrorism" theme to make their case against Thaksin should be a cause for concern.

In light of the ongoing political divide that grips Thailand, such a ploy is not necessarily out of the question. Indeed, stakeholders on both sides of the political divide in Thailand's gutter politics have employed all sorts of dirty tricks to discredit their opponents.

Although making reference to the Tak Bai massacre might have undermined their credibility and their rationale for wanting to kill Thaksin - since the tragedy took place ten years ago - we cannot ignore the fact that this so-called "ploy" has once again put Thailand in an unwanted international spotlight.

After all, Thailand's appalling rights record and culture of impunity on the part of its security forces in the troubled deep South - where controversial emergency laws, torture and abduction are used to try to quell the ongoing Malay-Muslim insurgency - have already cast the country in a bad light in foreign eyes.

But if radical Muslim groups with global networks come to see the conflict in the Malay-speaking South as a religious one, they might not need an invitation to enter into the conflict. They will see it as part of their duty and obligation to attack Thailand. In this respect, how we handle the alleged al-Qaeda video is important.

The claim that someone wants to kill Thaksin is nothing new. Last November the same threat was reported emanating from the Myanmar sector of the Golden Triangle. It prompted him to cancel a planned trip to the border town of Tachilek, where he was due to meet red-shirt supporters.

Like the recent threat from the self-proclaimed al-Qaeda members, the one in November was greatly politicised, with political figures making contradictory statements.

If anything, the politicking and the "sexing up" of the issue demonstrate that our authorities have no qualms about compromising national security for political gain.

In short, security issues must not be twisted to benefit individuals, because the act itself compromises national security.

Furthermore, it's essential that security and intelligence agencies be free from government interference so they can provide sound analysis without worrying about political implications. There has to be a line somewhere. But in Thailand, sadly, no one seems to know where that line is drawn.


-- The Nation 2013-08-02

I'm not dismissing it at all!

The picture of Thaksin they're holding up is clearly dated, this makes me think the video is old.

Video threat should not be dismissed so easily

Neither should it be a cause of concern or discussion with the Government. Thaksin has made his bed, he is just a fugitive criminal now.

Why is it a concern to anyone at all? He's a convicted criminal. If we was here, doing his time, in a nice luxury hotel (prison) then he wouldn't be in any danger.

If the Govt spent more time worrying about the real people, they'd get a whole hell of a lot more.

I'm pretty sure if anything happens out of this, it's gonna be a case of Shoulda Woulda Coulda

Yes Thaksin is a despicable person in many people's eyes. He's definitely an escaped convict, and there should be no "official" concern about death threats against him, but the fact of the matter is that he's the de facto Prime Minister of Thailand. Just ask Yingy.

Or a rather cheap way to sow reasonable doubt.

If Thaksin is killed by some group or other that wants him out of the picture,

then they now have a perfect scapegoat.

I will freely admit to not being Thaksin's most ardent supporter, but its saddening to see him receiving death threats over what was arguably his best action as PM, being brave enough to brutally crack down on the muslim separatists. I find it beyond disgusting that teachers, children and people who's only crime is not being muslim are being targeted and killed on a daily basis by these cowardly scumbags. I have long advocated an extreme solution to this problem if a final warning to stop the killings go unheeded. The situation has gone on way too long, a simple call from Major Gannon to Spider Shepard and Jimmy Sharpe could probably end the skuffle in a weekend if past form is any guide.

I will freely admit to not being Thaksin's most ardent supporter, but its saddening to see him receiving death threats over what was arguably his best action as PM, being brave enough to brutally crack down on the muslim separatists. I find it beyond disgusting that teachers, children and people who's only crime is not being muslim are being targeted and killed on a daily basis by these cowardly scumbags. I have long advocated an extreme solution to this problem if a final warning to stop the killings go unheeded. The situation has gone on way too long, a simple call from Major Gannon to Spider Shepard and Jimmy Sharpe could probably end the skuffle in a weekend if past form is any guide.

The esculation of violence was a direct outcome of abuse & killings of insurgents whilst in custody in 2004, so do not know why you determine it was his "best action". BTW from Wikipedia. "Thaksin established the National Reconciliation Commission to oversee efforts to bring peace to the troubled South. In its final report in June 2006, the commission proposed introducing elements of Islamic law and making Pattani-Malay (Yawi) an official language in the region along with Thai. The Thaksin administration assigned a government committee to study the report, but nothing came of it"

Suggest you read and absorb the analysis at the URL below from Rand Corporation on the strategy & tactics used to end insurgencies.

http://www.rand.org/pubs/research_briefs/RB9351/index1.html

Edited August 2, 201312 yr by simple1

Very unlikely that it is AQ. They would not differentiate between political factions of the Thai government. They want to kill every Western man woman and child. Obama and Bush.

muslim extremists are against everyone who doesn't follow the teachings they do. Thaksin is a criminal, but unlike some others, it's unlikely that he'd blow himself up in some large western city, kill teachers and others just because they are "infidels", cover the women in potato sacks and beat the sh*t out of them, throw rape victims to jail for adultery and the list goes on and on. That makes Thaksin's crimes look like kindergarden.

Not sure if this "threat" was suppose to make Thaksin into a more sympathetic figure - but it didn't work.

I am a bit confused by the article - the thrust of it seems to be that the threat is not being taken seriously but then there is this line:

"If anything, the politicking and the "sexing up" of the issue demonstrate that our authorities have no qualms about compromising national security for political gain."

So which is it??

Or a rather cheap way to sow reasonable doubt.

If Thaksin is killed by some group or other that wants him out of the picture,

then they now have a perfect scapegoat.

Only if it happens in Thailand where investigation is an oxymoron.

The more this whole thing gets publicized, well...

Once the radicals know Thaksin is a "Muslim Killer"... then... OH gosh this could get dangerous for the nice man living in the MUSLIM COUNTRY of Dubai.

This whole subject should be reproduced in Arabic and spread around, as we do want to be fair to the man and his nice Arab neighbors.

The more this whole thing gets publicized, well...

Once the radicals know Thaksin is a "Muslim Killer"... then... OH gosh this could get dangerous for the nice man living in the MUSLIM COUNTRY of Dubai.

This whole subject should be reproduced in Arabic and spread around, as we do want to be fair to the man and his nice Arab neighbors.

Maybe purely coincidental but Thaksin appears to have moved residential address to China now.

Maybe purely coincidental but Thaksin appears to have moved residential address to China now.

I don't think it was a coincidence at all GJ, I think he realized he just had to get the hell out of Dodge City.

The picture of Thaksin they're holding up is clearly dated, this makes me think the video is old.

or it took them 10 years to upload the video to you-tube

These people will do about almost anything to keep this arrogant nepotist in clear view. Who cares. He is a convicted felon on the run and should be of no consequence to Thailand and it's politics.

This only continues to highlight the continual hypocracy of this country in an attempt to restore some credibility to this scumbag.

These people will do about almost anything to keep this arrogant nepotist in clear view. Who cares. He is a convicted felon on the run and should be of no consequence to Thailand and it's politics.

This only continues to highlight the continual hypocracy of this country in an attempt to restore some credibility to this scumbag.

I would agree with you on this. The Democrats have tried their hardest to make everything about Thaksin - it was the central plank of their last general election campaign and still is. The Democrat leaning english language newspapers also play this up as well with daily stories that Thaksin has farted and such like.

These people will do about almost anything to keep this arrogant nepotist in clear view. Who cares. He is a convicted felon on the run and should be of no consequence to Thailand and it's politics.

This only continues to highlight the continual hypocracy of this country in an attempt to restore some credibility to this scumbag.

I would agree with you on this. The Democrats have tried their hardest to make everything about Thaksin - it was the central plank of their last general election campaign and still is. The Democrat leaning english language newspapers also play this up as well with daily stories that Thaksin has farted and such like.

What the Democrats said about Thaksin in the last election is pretty much right, isn't it? He's effectively running the country, and the government are attempting to whitewash his crimes.

The more this whole thing gets publicized, well...

Once the radicals know Thaksin is a "Muslim Killer"... then... OH gosh this could get dangerous for the nice man living in the MUSLIM COUNTRY of Dubai.

This whole subject should be reproduced in Arabic and spread around, as we do want to be fair to the man and his nice Arab neighbors.

Maybe purely coincidental but Thaksin appears to have moved residential address to China now.

Back to his roots then.

These people will do about almost anything to keep this arrogant nepotist in clear view. Who cares. He is a convicted felon on the run and should be of no consequence to Thailand and it's politics.

This only continues to highlight the continual hypocracy of this country in an attempt to restore some credibility to this scumbag.

I would agree with you on this. The Democrats have tried their hardest to make everything about Thaksin - it was the central plank of their last general election campaign and still is. The Democrat leaning english language newspapers also play this up as well with daily stories that Thaksin has farted and such like.

What the Democrats said about Thaksin in the last election is pretty much right, isn't it? He's effectively running the country, and the government are attempting to whitewash his crimes.

What the Democrats said at the last election was that it was effectively a referendum on whether Thaksin should get an amnesty for his crimes - as yet that hasn't happenned and the current proposals do not include it.

I am not sure to what extend he is running the country and wish he would just go away but it seems that he is just as big a prop to the opposition and they have far more interest in keeping him in the limelight.

What the Democrats said at the last election was that it was effectively a referendum on whether Thaksin should get an amnesty for his crimes - as yet that hasn't happenned and the current proposals do not include it.

I am not sure to what extend he is running the country and wish he would just go away but it seems that he is just as big a prop to the opposition and they have far more interest in keeping him in the limelight.

If it was "effectively a referendum", Thaksin effectively lost 48 to 52.

I am sure Thaksin would love to continue his skype calls in to the cabinet without it being highlighted by the Democrats.

What the Democrats said at the last election was that it was effectively a referendum on whether Thaksin should get an amnesty for his crimes - as yet that hasn't happenned and the current proposals do not include it.

I am not sure to what extend he is running the country and wish he would just go away but it seems that he is just as big a prop to the opposition and they have far more interest in keeping him in the limelight.

If it was "effectively a referendum", Thaksin effectively lost 48 to 52.

I am sure Thaksin would love to continue his skype calls in to the cabinet without it being highlighted by the Democrats.

It was the Dems that were trying to make it a referendum about Thaksin,not PT, so it could be argued that with only 35% voting for them that they lost. The problem is that they are still using the same failed strategy with the same failed leader promoting it rather than coming up with something new that they can get people to vote for.

Or a rather cheap way to sow reasonable doubt.

If Thaksin is killed by some group or other that wants him out of the picture,

then they now have a perfect scapegoat.

I agree this movie was by actors and when someone soon hits him they will say it was group in the movie.

Meanwhile who really did it I feel sorry for Mr T

What the Democrats said at the last election was that it was effectively a referendum on whether Thaksin should get an amnesty for his crimes - as yet that hasn't happenned and the current proposals do not include it.

I am not sure to what extend he is running the country and wish he would just go away but it seems that he is just as big a prop to the opposition and they have far more interest in keeping him in the limelight.

If it was "effectively a referendum", Thaksin effectively lost 48 to 52.

I am sure Thaksin would love to continue his skype calls in to the cabinet without it being highlighted by the Democrats.

It was the Dems that were trying to make it a referendum about Thaksin,not PT, so it could be argued that with only 35% voting for them that they lost. The problem is that they are still using the same failed strategy with the same failed leader promoting it rather than coming up with something new that they can get people to vote for.

Yes - PT tried to pretend for a short time that their non-experienced, non-political, non-voted for party list PM (now PM/DM) was actually running the governemt.

Thaksin thinks, PT does - how very true. They all do as they are told by their employer. The pretending has stopped now - open trips by minisiters to meet the boss and get instructions, Yingluck denying things for them to happen a few days later; the boss meeitng with a key major wannabe contractor - hmmm wonder what was discussed there.

Anyone who believes that PT is a party that acts and is run democratically is naieve to say the least. It's a one man party dictatorship who would love to have the same control on the country has he does his own poltitical party. That's why the Dems continue to refer regularly to him. They know he is running the government and what his end game is.

The video is another farce, just like all the previous "leaked" assination attempts. Show the "sheeple" what a brave great leader they have - flaunts all this danger to do his best for the country. Yeah, right. So brave he won't return until all his crimes have been whitewashed and he's sure the military, police and red thugs are behind or at least not against him.

Why on earth would and terrorist organization bother with an ex-pm who is a convicted fugitive criminal? Perhaps they think he's the real PM too -the government security people certainly do.

Your raising a very cumbersome point here which unfortunately makes a lot of sense. Creating scapegoats before actually commit just so happens to be a general practice worlwide. Very few people realizes this fact though.

Or a rather cheap way to sow reasonable doubt.

If Thaksin is killed by some group or other that wants him out of the picture,

then they now have a perfect scapegoat.