Grenade kills two in Bangkok as fears mount over political violence

[webfact]

VIOLENCE
Deadly blast in city
The Nation


A bomb blast hits the People

Ratchaprasong bomb kills two less than a day after Trat attack kills girl

BANGKOK: -- Violence looms increasingly over the capital and other provinces as anti-government protesters apply pressure to the government, including a campaign this week by the People's Democratic Reform Committee to "hunt" for Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra.

The latest attack by an unknown group took place late yesterday afternoon when an explosion at a protest site in the Ratchaprasong area killed two people, including a four-year-old boy, and injured at least 22 people.

The bomb went off less than 24 hours after the deadly attack on an anti-government protest site in eastern Trat province on Saturday night, which killed a five-year-old girl and injured 35 others.

National Security Council secretary general Paradorn Pattanathabutr said the government's men were not behind any violence over the weekend.

The authorities would seek cooperation from guards of the People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) to step up security measures for the safety of protesters and the public after the Civil Court ruled to prohibit officials from intervening in the protest, he said.

The government did not create violence as an excuse to enforce the emergency decree in other provinces where the PDRC was also staging anti-government protests, he said.

"In Bangkok, we are keeping a close eye on every protest site to provide safety for the people, although the court does not allow us to do anything," he said.

The Ratchaprasong bomb went off in front of a Big C store 100 metres from the protest stage. A security guard said he saw a man dressed in black loading "suspicious objects" into a tuk-tuk near the store before the explosion.

Earlier, an M79 grenade was found in a car park between the Civil and Appeals courts on Ratchadapisek Road at about 12.30pm yesterday.

Phahon Yothin police and an explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) team were sent to the scene to examine the explosive. The police used a car tyre to cover the unexploded grenade and cordoned off the area to keep people, many of whom were close to panic, away.

A large number of court officials had shown up at their offices yesterday because a new cooperatives committee was to be elected.

According to an EOD agent, it was initially believed one of the two courts was the target for an attack. But the grenade might have hit a tree before falling and failing to explode.

Police were examining footage from surveillance cameras to find clues to the identity of the culprits.

The heavy casualties in Trat province resulted after a group of armed men opened fire and hurled a grenade at a market in Khao Saming district at about 9.30pm Saturday. PDRC demonstrators were gathering for a rally, but many of the victims were not involved in the PDRC activities.

After the attack, Trat Governor Benjawan Anpruang declared the district a disaster zone.

"We will give Bt2,500 in financial assistance to each injured victim. For the dead victim [a 5-year-old girl], her family will receive Bt25,000 in financial help," Benjawan said.

The governor said owners of shops damaged in the attacks could also contact the Khao Saming District Office for help.

Trat police chief Pol Maj-General Tisatat Buranarat said police were investigating the case.

Condemnation of the bloody attacks has come from many sides - including the PDRC, the Democrat Party, the Pheu Thai Party and the anti-violence YaBasta Thailand group.

The PDRC and the Democrat Party are demanding the government quickly nail the culprits.

"The attacks constitute blatant crimes. If the government ignores these cases, we will conclude that it and the Centre for Maintaining Peace and Order [CMPO] have condoned such forms of terrorism," Akanat Promphan said. The PDRC would provide assistance to the victims, using its available funds.

The PDRC announced a campaign to hunt for Yingluck, who is reportedly working from a safehouse somewhere in the capital.

Pheu Thai Party spokesman Prompong Nopparit yesterday also condemned the attack in Trat. "It's a despicable act,' he said. He believed a third party carried out the attack in the hope of gaining benefit from the situation. "Such an attack wouldn't benefit the government," he said.


-- The Nation 2014-02-24

[webfact]

Grenade kills two in Bangkok as fears mount over political violence

by Thanaporn PROMYAMYAI

BANGKOK, February 24, 2014 (AFP) - A woman and a child were killed in a grenade attack Sunday in a main Bangkok shopping district, drawing the Thai prime minister's denunciation of "terrorist acts" as fears over violence mount after nearly four months of political crisis.

The Sunday afternoon attack came a day after a young girl died and dozens were hurt in a drive-by shooting at a protest rally in eastern Thailand.

The explosion occurred during an anti-government rally in an area popular with tourists for its street stalls, hotels and proximity to one of the biggest shopping malls in Thailand's capital.

"A 40-year-old woman and a 12-year-old boy died and 22 people were injured," the Erawan emergency centre said in an update on its website. Two children were among the injured.

A damaged tuk-tuk was left abandoned on the blood-splattered road as soldiers and police sealed off the area.

Police said shrapnel fragments indicated the blast was caused by a grenade fired from a M79 launcher.

In a posting on her official Facebook page Premier Yingluck Shinawatra denounced the incidents as "terrorist acts for political gain", stating the childrens' deaths "were particularly saddening and disturbing".

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon also condemned the escalation of violence in Thailand over the past week, a spokesperson said, "in particular armed attacks against protesters in which even children have been killed".

He called for violence "from any quarter" to cease immediately.

Thailand has seen months of anti-government rallies aimed at ousting Yingluck's embattled administration.

The protests have been met with sporadic gun and grenade attacks -- mainly in Bangkok -- by unknown attackers.

On Saturday a five-year-old girl died and 30 were injured -- including another girl -- when gunmen sprayed bullets at a anti-government rally in the Khao Saming district of Trat province, 300 kilometres (185 miles) east of the capital.

The kingdom has been bitterly split since a military coup ousted Yingluck's brother Thaksin Shinawatra as prime minister in 2006.

The current unrest is the worst since Thaksin-allied Red Shirt protests against a Democrat-led government in 2010 sparked clashes and a bloody military crackdown that left more than 90 people dead.

In recent months 19 people have died and hundreds more have been injured, fuelling fears of a spiral of unrest.

- 'A real fight' -

Red Shirt leaders met Sunday in Nakhon Ratchasima, the gateway to the Shinawatra-supporting northeast, to discuss ways to bolster Yingluck's crisis-hit administration.

Prominent leader Nattawut Saikuar warned the group was now in a "real fight" but refused to elaborate on its plans.

"We will carry on fighting to the end," he said, amid fears any street action by the group could lead to clashes.

Some analysts say the seemingly intractable crisis could lead to protracted violence or a form of wider civil conflict.

The political divide broadly pits the Thaksin-supporting rural north and northeast against anti-government protesters -- who represent the Bangkok-centred establishment as well as many southerners.

The anti-government movement seized on Saturday's drive-by attack in Trat as an example of authorities failing to protect rally-goers.

"Weapons of war were used in an act of planned and organised terror," protest spokesman Akanat Promphan told AFP.

"This atrocity has worsened the severity of the violence against innocent protesters... it is a matter of national security," he told AFP.

Both sides have traded blame for sparking previous clashes, including a dramatic gunbattle between police and protesters in Bangkok's historic heart last week which left five people dead -- including a policeman -- and dozens wounded.

Anti-government protesters are carrying out a self-proclaimed "shutdown" of several key intersections across Bangkok -- including near the site of Sunday's blast.

But their numbers are dwindling from highs of tens of thousands in the past.

Yingluck's government last week suffered another blow when a court banned it from using force against peaceful demonstrators, severely crimping its powers to handle the protests and mounting violence.

In a two-pronged challenge, the embattled premier is facing both street pressure and a series of legal threats from Thailand's notoriously interventionist courts.

She faces charges of neglect of duty over a controversial rice subsidy scheme that could see her removed from office.

Protesters accuse Yingluck's billionaire family of using taxpayers' money to buy the loyalty of rural voters through populist policies such as the rice scheme.

They are demanding that she step down to make way for a temporary unelected council that would oversee loosely defined reforms to tackle corruption and alleged vote-buying.

-- (c) Copyright AFP 2014-02-24

[bangon04]

""In Bangkok, we are keeping a close eye on every protest site to provide safety for the people, although the court does not allow us to do anything," he said."

"The anti-government movement seized on Saturday's drive-by attack in Trat as an example of authorities failing to protect rally-goers."

Maybe the police are unable to adequately protect the public from random acts of violence, and it may be unrealistic to expect total security without the full cooperation of the army.

But the Royal Thai Police does seem to have a thoroughly lamentable record in detection and prosecution of the attackers in so many cases. A national and international disgrace.

[chooka]

""In Bangkok, we are keeping a close eye on every protest site to provide safety for the people, although the court does not allow us to do anything," he said."

"The anti-government movement seized on Saturday's drive-by attack in Trat as an example of authorities failing to protect rally-goers."

Maybe the police are unable to adequately protect the public from random acts of violence, and it may be unrealistic to expect total security without the full cooperation of the army.

But the Royal Thai Police does seem to have a thoroughly lamentable record in detection and prosecution of the attackers in so many cases. A national and international disgrace.

The court has hog tied the police and made them void all they are allowed to do now is sit back and watch.

In most civilised countries the police are a separate organisation where neither the government or the courts have power over them and control of them.

[neverdie]

None of this is acceptable, no matter what way you look at it, no matter what side you think you are on. There are some sick individuals out there both in Politics and in the general society and soon enough there will be some of them posting on the pages below.

RIP to,the deceased. I hope the injured make speedy recoveries. These incidents along with the hundreds of others in the past few years, just go to confirm that society has broken down almost completely. This type of thing can happen almost at any place, at any time, these days.

[uty6543]

I wonder who gave the orders for these attacks. Was it just a couple of extremists acting on there own misguided initiative or were orders issued from high command overseas. I think we all know he is capable of it.

[JRSoul]

"terrorist acts for political gain" says the PM. Who does she think gains?

"Such an attack wouldn't benefit the government," says Prompong Nopparit, with his usual level of credibility. Not our boys,must be 3rd party homicidal maniacs.

[JRSoul]

The court has hog tied the police and made them void all they are allowed to do now is sit back and watch.

In most civilised countries the police are a separate organisation where neither the government or the courts have power over them and control of them.

I thought is was the function of the courts to interpret laws, decide guilt or innocence, and appropriate punishment.

[Boxclever]

""In Bangkok, we are keeping a close eye on every protest site to provide safety for the people, although the court does not allow us to do anything," he said."

"The anti-government movement seized on Saturday's drive-by attack in Trat as an example of authorities failing to protect rally-goers."

Maybe the police are unable to adequately protect the public from random acts of violence, and it may be unrealistic to expect total security without the full cooperation of the army.

But the Royal Thai Police does seem to have a thoroughly lamentable record in detection and prosecution of the attackers in so many cases. A national and international disgrace.

The court has hog tied the police and made them void all they are allowed to do now is sit back and watch.

In most civilised countries the police are a separate organisation where neither the government or the courts have power over them and control of them.

Basically the courts have santioned anarchy.

The police can do nothing to stop the violence now.

[Robby nz]

Don't see anything in the court orders that prevents normal policing.

Someone is just using it as an excuse to do nothing.

It is after all supposed to be the job of the police to protect the public regardless of who they are.

[chooka]

The court has hog tied the police and made them void all they are allowed to do now is sit back and watch.

In most civilised countries the police are a separate organisation where neither the government or the courts have power over them and control of them.

I thought is was the function of the courts to interpret laws, decide guilt or innocence, and appropriate punishment.

Yes that is their function. The Government makes the laws, Police enforce those laws and prosecutes offenders and the courts judge possible breaches of the laws. All separate identities

[JRSoul]

The court has hog tied the police and made them void all they are allowed to do now is sit back and watch.

In most civilised countries the police are a separate organisation where neither the government or the courts have power over them and control of them.

I thought is was the function of the courts to interpret laws, decide guilt or innocence, and appropriate punishment.

Yes that is their function. The Government makes the laws, Police enforce those laws and prosecutes offenders and the courts judge possible breaches of the laws. All separate identities

And the courts have decide that protesters have the right to do so without politically directed police harassment and suppression. Do you have a problem with that?

[kingalfred]

I would warn anyone to not walk around the areas near the protest sites which appear to be just vendors in a market walking street in a happy atmosphere.These areas,it seems are soft targets ,away from the main protest stages and at Rajaprasong a grenade killed and wounded many more. Steer well clear of all areas. This advice is no more than the governments of many countries are issuing to its citizens in Bangkok.Indeed some have advised them to stay away from the capital.

Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

Edited February 24, 2014 by kingalfred

[cdnvic]

Please read the pinned post regarding rumour mongering before posting.

[moe666]

""In Bangkok, we are keeping a close eye on every protest site to provide safety for the people, although the court does not allow us to do anything," he said."

"The anti-government movement seized on Saturday's drive-by attack in Trat as an example of authorities failing to protect rally-goers."

Maybe the police are unable to adequately protect the public from random acts of violence, and it may be unrealistic to expect total security without the full cooperation of the army.

But the Royal Thai Police does seem to have a thoroughly lamentable record in detection and prosecution of the attackers in so many cases. A national and international disgrace.

The court has hog tied the police and made them void all they are allowed to do now is sit back and watch.

In most civilised countries the police are a separate organisation where neither the government or the courts have power over them and control of them.

I do not know what civilized country you are from but the one I am from the government and the courts do control the police and there actions.

[kingalfred]

The court has hog tied the police and made them void all they are allowed to do now is sit back and watch.

In most civilised countries the police are a separate organisation where neither the government or the courts have power over them and control of them.

I thought is was the function of the courts to interpret laws, decide guilt or innocence, and appropriate punishment.

Yes that is their function. The Government makes the laws, Police enforce those laws and prosecutes offenders and the courts judge possible breaches of the laws. All separate identities

And the courts have decide that protesters have the right to do so without politically directed police harassment and suppression. Do you have a problem with that?

yes I do,They are blocking public highways for 6 weeks now,Any court that says such protestors cannot be removed if they wont go voluntarily is not worthy of the name and contributes to the events that happened yesterday at rajaprasong.

Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[moe666]

""In Bangkok, we are keeping a close eye on every protest site to provide safety for the people, although the court does not allow us to do anything," he said."

"The anti-government movement seized on Saturday's drive-by attack in Trat as an example of authorities failing to protect rally-goers."

Maybe the police are unable to adequately protect the public from random acts of violence, and it may be unrealistic to expect total security without the full cooperation of the army.

But the Royal Thai Police does seem to have a thoroughly lamentable record in detection and prosecution of the attackers in so many cases. A national and international disgrace.

The court has hog tied the police and made them void all they are allowed to do now is sit back and watch.

In most civilised countries the police are a separate organisation where neither the government or the courts have power over them and control of them.

Basically the courts have santioned anarchy.

The police can do nothing to stop the violence now.

You are giving the police a pass on doing there jobs, as the explosions happened away from the protest sight why were they not patrolling this area. The courts didn't tell the police to stop preforming there basic function of protecting the public just there were a few things they could not do to intimidate the protesters.

[moe666]

The court has hog tied the police and made them void all they are allowed to do now is sit back and watch.

In most civilised countries the police are a separate organisation where neither the government or the courts have power over them and control of them.

I thought is was the function of the courts to interpret laws, decide guilt or innocence, and appropriate punishment.

Yes that is their function. The Government makes the laws, Police enforce those laws and prosecutes offenders and the courts judge possible breaches of the laws. All separate identities

But if the courts find that the police are doing there job illegally they can step in and stop these activities. The Miranda rule I believe is one such law,

[Somtamnication]

Therein lies the problem. The police are NOT protecting anyone. It is a free-for-all.

[JRSoul]

And the courts have decide that protesters have the right to do so without politically directed police harassment and suppression. Do you have a problem with that?

yes I do,They are blocking public highways for 6 weeks now,Any court that says such protestors cannot be removed if they wont go voluntarily is not worthy of the name and contributes to the events that happened yesterday at rajaprasong.

Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

Strangely enough, your opinion is not worth much here. But feel free to go down to the court and point out the error of their decision. Take a toothbrush.

"contributes to the events that happened yesterday at rajaprasong." Did it contribute to the murders in Trat also? When did it become acceptable to murder people blocking a road?

[kratiam]

""In Bangkok, we are keeping a close eye on every protest site to provide safety for the people, although the court does not allow us to do anything," he said."

"The anti-government movement seized on Saturday's drive-by attack in Trat as an example of authorities failing to protect rally-goers."

Maybe the police are unable to adequately protect the public from random acts of violence, and it may be unrealistic to expect total security without the full cooperation of the army.

But the Royal Thai Police does seem to have a thoroughly lamentable record in detection and prosecution of the attackers in so many cases. A national and international disgrace.

The court has hog tied the police and made them void all they are allowed to do now is sit back and watch.

In most civilised countries the police are a separate organisation where neither the government or the courts have power over them and control of them.

Basically the courts have santioned anarchy.

The police can do nothing to stop the violence now.

Absolute nonsense & mischievous too!

[noikrit]

And the TV Red Shirt Brigade rant on about the Anti Protesters being Thugs ..... <deleted> !!! ..... Get a grip on reality !! ....

[kingalfred]

Some of you are "Dancing on the head of a pin! " If the protest sites are deemed dangerous and unsafe to public safety or for any other and need to be cleared then law enforcement should be able to ask them to leave and if they refuse, remove them.Then thats called "intimidation"? This is the state the farce has become.

Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[kingalfred]

And the courts have decide that protesters have the right to do so without politically directed police harassment and suppression. Do you have a problem with that?

yes I do,They are blocking public highways for 6 weeks now,Any court that says such protestors cannot be removed if they wont go voluntarily is not worthy of the name and contributes to the events that happened yesterday at rajaprasong.

Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

Strangely enough, your opinion is not worth much here. But feel free to go down to the court and point out the error of their decision. Take a toothbrush.

"contributes to the events that happened yesterday at rajaprasong." Did it contribute to the murders in Trat also? When did it become acceptable to murder people blocking a road?

Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

Edited February 24, 2014 by kingalfred

[BSJ]

""In Bangkok, we are keeping a close eye on every protest site to provide safety for the people, although the court does not allow us to do anything," he said."

"The anti-government movement seized on Saturday's drive-by attack in Trat as an example of authorities failing to protect rally-goers."

Maybe the police are unable to adequately protect the public from random acts of violence, and it may be unrealistic to expect total security without the full cooperation of the army.

But the Royal Thai Police does seem to have a thoroughly lamentable record in detection and prosecution of the attackers in so many cases. A national and international disgrace.

The court has hog tied the police and made them void all they are allowed to do now is sit back and watch.

In most civilised countries the police are a separate organisation where neither the government or the courts have power over them and control of them.

I come from the same state as you and indeed the government controls the police.

[JRSoul]

Strangely enough, your opinion is not worth much here. But feel free to go down to the court and point out the error of their decision. Take a toothbrush.

"contributes to the events that happened yesterday at rajaprasong." Did it contribute to the murders in Trat also? When did it become acceptable to murder people blocking a road?

as is yours .take your dummy

Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

I am not comparing your opinion with mine (equally worthless) but with that of the appropriate Thai court.

Take a toothbrush was a reminder that dissent of a Thai court decision is illegal.

Edited February 24, 2014 by JRSoul

[ikurauni]

I wonder who gave the orders for these attacks. Was it just a couple of extremists acting on there own misguided initiative or were orders issued from high command overseas. I think we all know he is capable of it.

There is no actual proof to this attack but there exists circumstantial motivation for the attack.

Are the farmers still in Bangkok? I heard that many of them went back home.

Why do we see more explosions now? I bet people are scared to go out to the protesting sites.

If they do more attacks on a daily basis, eventually not too many people would want to be there. This is exactly what the government would like to accomplish so that they can arrest Suthep and other leaders to end the crisis.

[Crushdepth]

I wonder who gave the orders for these attacks. Was it just a couple of extremists acting on there own misguided initiative or were orders issued from high command overseas. I think we all know he is capable of it.

The 2010 bomb throwers and shooters were clearly organised. There's a fairly consistent trend in which side does the throwing and which gets thrown at.

Having a billionaire criminal fugitive leader does nothing to inspire my confidence either.

[MaxLee]

"After the attack, Trat Governor Benjawan Anpruang declared the district a disaster zone.

"We will give Bt2,500 in financial assistance to each injured victim. For the dead victim [a 5-year-old girl], her family will receive Bt25,000 in financial help," Benjawan said."

Typical Thai manner. Pay cheap compensation, case closed. No more investigations needed...

[chooka]

""In Bangkok, we are keeping a close eye on every protest site to provide safety for the people, although the court does not allow us to do anything," he said."

"The anti-government movement seized on Saturday's drive-by attack in Trat as an example of authorities failing to protect rally-goers."

Maybe the police are unable to adequately protect the public from random acts of violence, and it may be unrealistic to expect total security without the full cooperation of the army.

But the Royal Thai Police does seem to have a thoroughly lamentable record in detection and prosecution of the attackers in so many cases. A national and international disgrace.

The court has hog tied the police and made them void all they are allowed to do now is sit back and watch.

In most civilised countries the police are a separate organisation where neither the government or the courts have power over them and control of them.

I come from the same state as you and indeed the government controls the police.

Been part of them for a long time and can assure that the government does not control the police. The run separate from the government. The chief Commissioner who is selected by a non government body controls the police. The government has no say in the operation.